Anne Frank's Chestnut Tree

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Anne Frank's Chestnut Tree

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Overview

Hidden away in their Secret Annex in Amsterdam during World War II, Anne Frank and her family could not breathe fresh air or see the blue sky for years. But through an attic window Anne could see the branches of a tall chestnut tree. This small glimpse of nature gave Anne hope and courage. It inspired her writing, which, in turn, inspired the whole world. Jane Kohuth explores Anne Frank's strong belief in the healing power of nature in this Step 3 leveled reader biography for newly independent readers ages 5–8.

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ISBN-13:	9780375981135
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	09/24/2013
Series:	Step into Reading Book Series: A Step 3 Book
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

JANE KOHUTH has a degree in English and creative writing from Brandeis University as well as a master's degree in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School. She is also the author of the Step into Reading title Ducks Go Vroom and the picture book Estie the Mensch.

ELIZABETH SAYLES's luminous art can be seen in over twenty children's books, including The Goldfish Yawned, a Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book; Millions of Snowflakes; and Billy Crystal's I Already Know I Love You, a New York Times #1 bestselling picture book.

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Editorial Reviews

09/01/2013
Gr 2–4—This beginning reader introduces Anne Frank as she admires the chestnut tree that stands outside the window of the Secret Annex. The next statement instantly catches readers' attention: "she had not been outside for 597 days." Observing it helped her keep track of the passing seasons and calm her emotions. The changes wrought by the Holocaust are described in terms a child can understand: Anne cannot go swimming, is not allowed to go to movies, and must change schools. However, due to the book's controlled vocabulary, some concepts are oversimplified; for example, the term concentration camp is used but not defined, though "Anne's parents knew that when Jews were sent away, they were never heard from again." Readers are told that "Anne did not survive the war. But her diary did." They also learn that the chestnut tree no longer stands, but that seedlings from it have been planted all over the world. Like Anne, its legacy continues. The somber colors in Sayles's paintings contribute to the serious tone and historical feel of the story. Students in need of more more context can read Josephine Poole's Anne Frank (Knopf, 2005), which is at a higher reading level.—Jackie Partch, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

School Library Journal

2013-09-01
This brief but powerful introduction to Anne Frank's life uses a format suitable for both newly independent readers and older readers who need simplified text. The chestnut tree is used as a framing device, providing a narrative hook to introduce Anne and her life in captivity in World War II–era Amsterdam. A quote from Anne's diary is paired with a powerful image of Anne looking out through an attic window at the tree's bare branches. The concluding pages detail how the tree finally met its end in a powerful storm; sadness is countered with the hopeful description of hundreds of saplings from the famous tree planted around the world. A rather overwrought final page draws a parallel between these new trees and Anne's words, which "have been planted in the minds of the millions who read her diary." (Oddly, the tree depicted here does not appear to be a chestnut.) The context of the Nazi era and the basic facts of Anne's life are skillfully summarized, ending with her family being sent to concentration camps and a brief acknowledgement that "Anne did not survive the war." Touching illustrations in muted tones augment the portrayal of Anne's character and add to the atmospheric depiction of her life in the Secret Annex. A sensitive introduction to a young woman whose words continue to live. (bibliography, author's note) (Early reader/biography. 6-12)

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