Anne Frank's Chestnut Tree

September 1, 2013
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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September 1, 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

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July 1, 2013
Grades 1-3 Kohuth introduces beginning readers to Anne Frank, emphasizing her appreciation of the chestnut tree growing outside the Secret Annex, her family's Amsterdam refuge. After briefly explaining Hitler's rise to power, laws discriminating against Jews, and the reasons for moving above Mr. Frank's office, the author details the difficulties of life in hiding and explains that Anne kept a diary named Kitty. Although many familiar elements of this story are omitted (Peter van Pels and his relationship with Anne are never mentioned, for example), Kohuth does recap one diary entry, Fear, which expresses Anne's confidence in the healing power of nature. Of Anne's death, Kohuth only notes she did not survive, focusing instead on the museum that memorializes her wartime years. Sayles' full-color artwork exudes a dreamy quality, which should help to soften the story's more sensitive parts. This is less comprehensive than David A. Adler's A Picture Book of Anne Frank (1993) but will be useful for young patrons who want to learn more about Anne.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)