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michelle_neuwirth_gray9311's review
5.0
I loved this book. The story is wonderful and the illustrations are just breathtaking.
backonthealex's review
4.0
Tonight is the seventh night of Hanukkah, so I thought I would share this review of a story that takes place on that night, and that I originally wrote for my other blog, The Children's War.
Shortly after Kristalnacht
(November 9-10, 1938), young Oskar's parents decide to send him to America to live in New York City with his Aunt Esther, whom he has never met. Before he leaves, his father gives him some parting words of advice:
"Oskar, even in bad times, people can be good. You have to look for the blessings."
Oskar arrives in NYC on the seventh night of Hanukkah, which also happens to be Christmas Eve. It's a cold, snowy December night and Oskar, who arrived penniless, with only an address and a photo of his aunt, has a long walk up Broadway from the Battery to her house on West 103rd Street before sundown and the lighting of the Hanukkah candles.
Along the way, Oskar finds the blessings his father told him to look for. Watching an old woman outside Trinity Church feeding pigeons, he eats the bread she hands him to feed the birds. Seeing him so cold, tired and hungry, she gives him a small loaf of bread to eat.
At a Union Square newsstand, the news dealer gives Oskar the Superman comic he can't pay for but is attracted to.
Later, Oskar has his first "conversation" in America, whistling back and forth with Count Basie outside Carnegie Hall.
Encountering some boys playing in the snow in Central Park, Oskar offers a helping hand to a boy who has slipped. Seeing Oskar's frozen hands, the boy gives Oskar his warm mittens and in return, Oskar gives him his Superman comic.
Altogether, Oskar experiences eight blessings (one for each night of Hanukkah) as he journeys up Broadway to 103rd Street. But, of course, the last and most important blessing is finding his aunt.
The Simon's text is sparse but lyrical, a perfect read aloud book, and the story is carried forward wonderfully by Mark Siegel's paneled illustrations, done in a variety of sizes. Siegel has rendered the illustrations in greys and earth tones, with splashes of color, so that they convey the overcast cold, snowy day of Oskar's arrival. He has captured the variety of emotions that Oskar experiences on his long walk - fear, hope, confusion, wonder, surprise, happiness - both in Oksar's demeanor and his facial expression, and sometimes his emotion is only reflected in his eyes.
Oskar and the Eight Blessings works on so many different levels, but mostly it is a beautiful, sensitive Hanukkah story that really demonstrates that it is a season of hope and miracles. The fact that the seventh night of Hanukkah is Christmas Eve, also a season of hope and miracles, only adds to the ambiance of the blessings.
But Oskar and the Eight Blessings is also a gentle way to begin introducing the Holocaust to young readers by explaining to them what happened on Kristalnacht and why Oskar was sent away by his parents to safety can provide enough information to help with those more difficult discussions later on.
NYC can be a daunting place even today, and I can only imagine what it would have felt like to this young Jewish refugee in 1938, escaping the cruelty of the Nazis who had already been in power since 1933, having no money and not speaking English and looking for an aunt who not only doesn't know him but isn't even expecting him. But New York can also be magical, especially during the holidays, a place where blessings actually can happen. Be sure to look at the map of Manhattan to see the places where Oskar's received his blessings in his new world and read the Author's Note for some very interesting background to Oskar and the Eight Blessings.
This book is recommended for readers age 4 to 104 years old
This book was borrowed from a friend
This post was originally posted on Randomly Reading
Shortly after Kristalnacht
(November 9-10, 1938), young Oskar's parents decide to send him to America to live in New York City with his Aunt Esther, whom he has never met. Before he leaves, his father gives him some parting words of advice:
"Oskar, even in bad times, people can be good. You have to look for the blessings."
Oskar arrives in NYC on the seventh night of Hanukkah, which also happens to be Christmas Eve. It's a cold, snowy December night and Oskar, who arrived penniless, with only an address and a photo of his aunt, has a long walk up Broadway from the Battery to her house on West 103rd Street before sundown and the lighting of the Hanukkah candles.
Along the way, Oskar finds the blessings his father told him to look for. Watching an old woman outside Trinity Church feeding pigeons, he eats the bread she hands him to feed the birds. Seeing him so cold, tired and hungry, she gives him a small loaf of bread to eat.
At a Union Square newsstand, the news dealer gives Oskar the Superman comic he can't pay for but is attracted to.
Later, Oskar has his first "conversation" in America, whistling back and forth with Count Basie outside Carnegie Hall.
Encountering some boys playing in the snow in Central Park, Oskar offers a helping hand to a boy who has slipped. Seeing Oskar's frozen hands, the boy gives Oskar his warm mittens and in return, Oskar gives him his Superman comic.
Altogether, Oskar experiences eight blessings (one for each night of Hanukkah) as he journeys up Broadway to 103rd Street. But, of course, the last and most important blessing is finding his aunt.
The Simon's text is sparse but lyrical, a perfect read aloud book, and the story is carried forward wonderfully by Mark Siegel's paneled illustrations, done in a variety of sizes. Siegel has rendered the illustrations in greys and earth tones, with splashes of color, so that they convey the overcast cold, snowy day of Oskar's arrival. He has captured the variety of emotions that Oskar experiences on his long walk - fear, hope, confusion, wonder, surprise, happiness - both in Oksar's demeanor and his facial expression, and sometimes his emotion is only reflected in his eyes.
Oskar and the Eight Blessings works on so many different levels, but mostly it is a beautiful, sensitive Hanukkah story that really demonstrates that it is a season of hope and miracles. The fact that the seventh night of Hanukkah is Christmas Eve, also a season of hope and miracles, only adds to the ambiance of the blessings.
But Oskar and the Eight Blessings is also a gentle way to begin introducing the Holocaust to young readers by explaining to them what happened on Kristalnacht and why Oskar was sent away by his parents to safety can provide enough information to help with those more difficult discussions later on.
NYC can be a daunting place even today, and I can only imagine what it would have felt like to this young Jewish refugee in 1938, escaping the cruelty of the Nazis who had already been in power since 1933, having no money and not speaking English and looking for an aunt who not only doesn't know him but isn't even expecting him. But New York can also be magical, especially during the holidays, a place where blessings actually can happen. Be sure to look at the map of Manhattan to see the places where Oskar's received his blessings in his new world and read the Author's Note for some very interesting background to Oskar and the Eight Blessings.
This book is recommended for readers age 4 to 104 years old
This book was borrowed from a friend
This post was originally posted on Randomly Reading
calistareads's review
5.0
HOPE! This little amazing book is about hope and keeping hope alive when life is scary. Powerful, the writing and story are very powerful.
Oskar was put on a ship by himself during Kristallnacht and sent to NYC to find his Aunt Ester. He had to walk up Broadway by himself to 103rd street. He is tired and scared and he meets wonderful people along the way. This is like Mister Rogers mother's saying. In any disaster look for the helpers, they are always there.
It is Christmas Eve and always the 7th day of Hanukkah. He wants to get home before the Shamash is lit. The spirit of giving is in the air. Our country feels scary to me right now and this is a great reminder to look for the helpers, they are still there.
The art is beautiful and is as much a part of the story as the words are. Many frames are Oskar's perspective or another character. It is mysterious and skillful. A fantastic read.
Oskar was put on a ship by himself during Kristallnacht and sent to NYC to find his Aunt Ester. He had to walk up Broadway by himself to 103rd street. He is tired and scared and he meets wonderful people along the way. This is like Mister Rogers mother's saying. In any disaster look for the helpers, they are always there.
It is Christmas Eve and always the 7th day of Hanukkah. He wants to get home before the Shamash is lit. The spirit of giving is in the air. Our country feels scary to me right now and this is a great reminder to look for the helpers, they are still there.
The art is beautiful and is as much a part of the story as the words are. Many frames are Oskar's perspective or another character. It is mysterious and skillful. A fantastic read.
libraryjen's review
5.0
"Oskar, even in bad times, people can be good. You have to look for the blessings" says Oskar's dad (p. 3). A short, yet powerful story of the power of hope. In the Author's Note at the end Simon writes, "Oskar has lost everything, but from his despair he awakens to his freedom: the choice to see the good in his new world. I like to think that this orientation of optimism is the key to our survival, as individuals and as a species."
This simple story, with its beautiful illustrations, gives the reader just that - a sense of optimism and hope and a belief in the intrinsic good of the human soul. Highly recommended.
This simple story, with its beautiful illustrations, gives the reader just that - a sense of optimism and hope and a belief in the intrinsic good of the human soul. Highly recommended.
middle_name_joy's review
3.0
I have the same problem with as I did with [b:The Cats In Krasinski Square|26481|The Cats In Krasinski Square|Karen Hesse|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328868558s/26481.jpg|625552]: the true story is more interesting than the fiction.
I think the narrative was bogged down by cultural references and chance encounters with famous people of the time (that most kids today won't recognize) to deliver on its message.
Richard Simon's inspiration is lovely, but too lofty--and it didn't come across in the story itself, only in hindsight with aid of the Author's note.
I think the narrative was bogged down by cultural references and chance encounters with famous people of the time (that most kids today won't recognize) to deliver on its message.
Richard Simon's inspiration is lovely, but too lofty--and it didn't come across in the story itself, only in hindsight with aid of the Author's note.
mandarchy's review
5.0
I recorded myself reading this to my students and it was really hard. Knowing that some of the students would be too young to know about Kristallnacht, but their parents listening in would perhaps. How do we talk to our little children about the horrors of the past? Or how could a little boy take a trip over the sea and walk across Manhattan alone - impossible today. I think older students would appreciate the graphic novel style of the book. I liked the historic fiction - complete with cameos. But I started to cry by the end even though I tried to steel myself - my students know how easily I cry - I am crying right now. Good grief!
anetintime's review
4.0
Part of the joy of reading books is the sheer amount of variety one gets. Just as Knights is a quick fun read, Oskar and the Eight Blessings, is a book that you want to take your time. Walking with Oskar who is learning to look for blessings even in the middle of bad times and in the process learning to be a blessing himself. It's a quiet read which had my boy looking pensive. "Why would that boy's mom and dad send him away? Did he break the glass and they were mad at him mom?" And so one explains how during the war parents send their children away to keep them safe and it was a hard time for their children. At the close of the book we learned what the Night of Broken Glass was all about and the sending away of Oskar made a lot of sense to both of us. It was a good book.
elephant's review
5.0
I loved the illustrations in this sweet story of a young Jewish boy who was sent to New York City as a refuge from the Nazis in 1938. He arrives on the last day of Hanukkah and finds out that, as his father told him, people can be good and helpful.
adnama's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0