Review: The Tree in the Courtyard by Jeff Gottesfeld

Title: The Tree in the Courtyard 
Author: Jeff Gottesfeld 
Fortmat: Hardcover
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: March 8, 2016
Source: Publisher

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "The tree watched a little girl, who played and laughed and wrote in a diary. When strangers invaded the city and warplanes roared overhead, the tree watched the girl peek out of the curtained window of the annex. It watched as she and her family were taken away—and when her father returned after the war, alone.

The tree died the summer Anne Frank would have turned eighty-one, but its seeds and saplings have been planted around the world as a symbol of peace."

My Two Cents:

"The Tree in the Courtyard" is the perfect introduction to Anne Frank for young readers. Told from the perspective of the tree outside Anne's attic window, it gives a glimpse into what Anne's life was like before World War II, during her time in the attic, and the aftermath in a child-friendly way.

I credit "Anne Frank's Diary" with being one of the books that really started my interest in international events and relations. It's a book that I hold dear and am looking forward to eventually sharing with my daughters when they get a little bit older. In the interim, this may be a good book to start out with.

I have to mention the illustrations. They are absolutely gorgeous and so unique. This is a truly beautiful book with such a powerful message. This is a fantastic pick!