Picture Book: Gifts from the Enemy
Author: Trudy
Ludwig
Illustrator:
Craig Orback
Summary:
Based on Alter Wiener’s memoir of his Holocaust experience, this is a beautiful
but heartbreaking story of methodical cruelty and unexpected kindness. During
one of Wiener’s stints in the 5 prison camps he was forced to endure, a complete
stranger, a German worker, repeatedly and secretly left food for him. He believes
it saved him, for it gave him the energy and hope to survive. It also caused
him to question his own prejudices. If a German could be so kind, then how
could he believe all Germans were his enemy? The story ends with him stating as
his most important lesson: “There are the kind and the cruel in every group of
people. How those you meet in life treat you is far more important than who
they are.”
Hanna’s Comments: The subject here is harsh, but the story is powerful and important.
It encourages listeners to question how they might act is similar circumstances
as both victim and enemy. The Holocaust was a time in which too many Christians
did nothing to save the many being killed and victimized. One way we can
prevent a repetition of this kind of systematic negligence is to openly talk
about this difficult history and our obligations as humans and as lovers of
God. The back of the book includes an afterward from Alter Wiener, a bit about
the Holocaust and WWII, a vocabulary list, questions for discussion, and a list
of recommended activities for readers.
Publisher & Date of Publication: White Cloud Press, 2014
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 7 and up, 2nd and up
# of Pages:
32
Available in Spanish? Not at present
Formats other than Book: Tablet
PBT Category:
Fresh off the Press, Non-fiction
PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abuse/abuse of power, action, blessings,
bravery/courage, brokenness, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression,
choices/decisions, commitment, cruelty, danger, death/loss/grief,
dependence/interdependence, disobedience/obedience, encouragement, enemies,
ethics, Europe, evil, exile/separation/walls, feasting/food/hunger/nutrition,
found, generosity/giving/offering/stewardship, goodness,
gratitude/thankfulness/thanksgiving, hatred, helping, heroes, kindness,
mystery, prisons/prisoners, rebellion, reassurance, religious differences,
risking, Sabbath, sacrifice, savior/saving, secrets, servant hood/service/serving,
sharing, survival, treasure, victims
Scripture Connections: Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me (Psalm 23:4); woe to
those who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20); when you did it to one of
the least of these, you did it to me (Matthew 25:40)
Idea(s) for Application: Use this book in a program for older elementary,
tweens, or teens that focuses on difficult choices, random acts of kindness, or
opposing evil.
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