Anne Frank
Starred Review.Grade 3-5–In this moving picture-book biography, the familiar yet compelling story is told with simple poignancy and dignity. The famous diary is barely mentioned until well into the text; Poole has chosen instead to focus on Anne herself, and the fact that she was an ordinary girl born into extraordinarily difficult times. Although her elfish personality and sensitive soul are certainly alluded to, particular care is given to creating a context for the circumstances of her confinement and tragic demise. Both the text and illustrations quickly create a sense of foreboding. Spreads are dominated by Barrett's realistically rendered paintings done in subdued tones: Hitler's face looming large over small children in the street; broken glass flying through a storefront owned by a Jewish merchant; Anne and her friends denied entrance to the cinema; the girl's tearful good-bye to her beloved cat as she and her family prepare to go into hiding. At this point in the story, the details of her life as revealed in her diary are clearly explained but not sentimentalized or dwelt upon. The author details the difficulties of confinement, Anne's blossoming love for Peter, and the ultimate betrayal and capture of those hidden in the secret annex. Anne's death from typhus receives one sentence, balanced against the survival of her father and especially her diary, which was placed in his care and ultimately given to the world. For those looking to introduce Anne's writings or her story, this beautifully presented book is a worthy choice.–Teri Markson, Stephen S. Wise Temple Elementary School, Los AngelesCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.