Angel Girl, by Laurie Friedman, illustrated by Ofra Amit

Based on the real story of a young Holocaust survivor, the subject matter of this story is significantly heavier than is often found in children's books. While the story does have an almost unbelievably happy ending, there is much potentially disturbing content in this story. The author has blunted much of the most graphic details of these events, but the story still provoked probing questions from my daughters (ages 7 and 10) that lead to a discussion of the Holocaust and the reasons its important to learn about it. Parents should be prepared for similar responses from their children if they read this book.

The book itself is powerfully written. The staccato rhythm of the single word "sentences" serve to powerfully convey the emotional content of the story. The illustrations also work well with the story content, without being overly graphic. I approached this book with some trepidation, not sure how this material could be presented for children this young, but the author and illustrator have done a terrific job. Provided that parents are ready to help the children understand the context of this story, I would highly recommend it. Amazon.com link

ETA--I just noticed on the Amazon page for this book, the full story is due out in memoir form in February 2009: Angel at the Fence: The True Story of a Love that Survived. I must add this to my wish list...