The Champion of Children: The Story of Janusz Korczak [Hardcover]

Tomek Bogacki (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

In 1912, a well-known doctor and writer named Janusz Korczak designed an extraordinary orphanage for Jewish children in Warsaw, Poland. Believing that children were capable of governing themselves, he encouraged the orphans to elect a parliament, run a court, and put out their own weekly newspaper. Even when Korczak was forced to move the orphanage into the Warsaw Ghetto after Hitler’s rise to power, and couldn’t afford to buy food and medicine for his charges, he never lost sight of his ideals. Fully committed to giving his children as much love as possible during a terrifying time, Korczak refused to abandon them.

In his most beautiful and heartfelt book to date, with evocative acrylic illustrations and spare, poignant prose, Tomek Bogacki tells the story of a courageous man who, during one of the grimmest moments in world history, dedicated his life’s work— and ultimately his life itself—to children.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—Korczak was a doctor, writer, and advocate for children's rights in pre-World War II Poland. He ran an orphanage for Jewish children and acted as a beloved father figure right up until he and the children perished together in Treblinka. Bogacki's picture-book biography is heartfelt and well researched. However, it seems overwhelmed by its own subject, as the author condenses the details of Korczak's upbringing and the context of the Holocaust into a backdrop for the story of the orphanage. As a result, Korczak doesn't come across as the fascinating man he was, and the book is a bit confusing. Bogacki's childlike illustrations seem wrong for the dark subject matter and dark scenes, particularly since most children don't learn about the Holocaust until fifth grade, and these pictures seem too young for that audience.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL
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Review

2009 National Jewish Book Award Finalist in the category of Illustrated Children’s Books

“The endpapers offer a study in contrast, the first showing Warsaw before the war, full of red rooftops and tall trees, while the closing spread shows Warsaw after the war, awash with shadowy silvers and grays. An author’s note describes how Boagacki, himself Polish-born, grew up hearing the stories of Korczak.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Inspiring is a rare word for a realistic Holocaust title, but it is true of this picture-book biography.” —Booklist 

“For anyone teaching about the Holocaust, this moving portrait of humanitarian Janusz Korczak is worth a look.” — Instructor

 

“The Best Jewish Picture Books of 2009." "…this is a gorgeous, gently-told book that every Jewish kid should eventually read.”  —Tablet

 

“A passionate picture-book biography of the Holocaust-era children’s advocate and doctor.”

                                                          —Kirkus Reviews

 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); First Edition edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374341362
• ISBN-13: 978-0374341367
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #783,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #99 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Judaism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a stunning portrait of a man who influenced the way people viewed the rights of children ..., November 15, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Champion of Children: The Story of Janusz Korczak (Hardcover)

Janusz Korczak was born into family of privilege, but he was always sensitive to the needs of other children. His father unknowingly introduced him to the lowest of the low, the poorest of the poor and he could easily see for himself how difficult their lives must be. Even as a young boy he wanted to help them and "If he were [a] king . . . he would create a better world for these children, a world where no one suffered." When Warsaw was annexed to Russia, his own life became miserable. Children were forced to speak Russian in school and because children had no rights they could be "severely punished, even beaten, for the slightest misstep." Children in those days had rough lives.

When Janusz was eleven, his father died and he had to assume more responsibility in his family. He also was determined to help the lesser privileged children in Old Town Warsaw. As an adult he was a physician who worked in the hospital for Jewish children by day and helped the poor children by night for free. It was not long before he became the director of an orphanage for Jewish children. At 92 Krochmalna Street the orphaned children were allowed to "govern themselves." Most importantly he "taught them that making a mistake was sometimes the best way to learn not to make it again." Wartime had come and they were all thrown into the Warsaw Ghetto. More and more children came under his care. They were asked to go to the train station . . .

If this book doesn't bring tears to your eyes not much will. This story was heartwarming and heartbreaking all rolled into one. This short biography about Janusz Korczak was very well written, so much so that by the end I almost felt like I knew him. His personality simply flowed from these pages. The beautiful watercolors somehow had a childlike aura about them and were very touching. In the back of the book there is a small map accompanied by a historical note and a note from the author briefly discussing his inspiration and sources. The end pages, illustrated in watercolor, depict Warsaw, Poland before and after World War II. This is a stunning portrait of a man who influenced the way people viewed the rights of children.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children, September 18, 2009

By 

Yana V. Rodgers "econkids.rutgers.edu" (New Brunswick, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Champion of Children: The Story of Janusz Korczak (Hardcover)

Already at a young age, Janusz Korczak had a keen awareness of the suffering of homeless children on the streets of Warsaw, Poland. He grew up dreaming about how he could fight for the rights of children and help improve their well-being. Even after his father died and Janusz had to work to support his family, he still donated as much as he could to children in need. He ultimately became a pediatrician, and at the same time he wrote children's books and adult books about children's rights.

Korczak also started a new orphanage for Jewish children that had an innovative form of student-led governance. Tragically, several decades later when World War II broke out, the Nazis forced Korczak and all the orphanage residents to move to a walled Jewish quarter of Warsaw known as the ghetto. Although there was not enough space or food for the children in the ghetto home, Korczak did his best to provide them with care and comfort. He never abandoned the orphans, not even when he had options for escape, and not even when they were sent to their deaths in a concentration camp.

Korczak's legacy as an advocate for children has made a lasting contribution. His work helped to motivate the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN also declared 1979 as the International Year of the Child. Tomek Bogacki's gripping illustrations and straightforward text work well together to pay tribute to this inspiring man. The book should serve as a useful tool for parents and teachers seeking to introduce younger readers to events from the Holocaust in an age-appropriate way.

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring and poignant portrait of a remarkable man, October 1, 2010

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Champion of Children: The Story of Janusz Korczak (Hardcover)

Having taught Holocaust history in the past, I'm quite familiar with the story of Janusz Korczak. He was a remarkable man and a strong and vocal advocate of children's rights. In this simple yet well-written picture book, children will be able to get to know Korczak, who spent a great part of his life advocating for the rights of downtrodden children. Though his real name was Henryk Goldszmit, he was better known as Janusz Korczak, which was his pen name. Since he was a young child, Korczak had a deep sense of compassion for orphaned children, street children, and any child that was without food, shelter, or care.

As Korczak grew older, his dreams of providing a better life for less privileged children was reinforced, especially when his own family became impoverished as a result of his father's death and Korczak had to become the main breadwinner. As he grew up, Korczak studied medicine, and went on to publish articles and books about caring and educating children. He eagerly accepted the position of director of an orphanage for Jewish children. The ideas that Korczak implemented in his orphanage were ahead of his time - care and love were emphasized, older children acted as mentors to younger children, and a democratic system was put into place in the orphanage.

Unfortunately, historical events put an end to Korczak's well-run orphanage. When the Nazis conquered Poland in 1939, things turned ugly for the Jews, and when the Jews were ordered to move into the Warsaw Ghetto, Korczak (who was Jewish) and his orphans were also compelled to move. The book portrays the resilience displayed by Korczak in those dark days - he continued to provide unwavering love and care for his beloved orphans, and tried his best to see to their needs, though starvation was rampant in the ghetto. Finally, in 1942, the dreaded Nazi order for deportation came - Korczak's orphans were asked to report for deportation to Treblinka, a notorious extermination center. Though he could have saved himself with the help of willing friends beyond the ghetto walls, Korczak refused and went along with his orphans to their doom. Korczak is an inspiration to child advocates everywhere - in life and in death, he continues to be a beacon of hope and inspiration to those who like Korczak, believe in the rights of a child to a decent quality of life.

The writing in this book is simple enough that young children should be able to follow it somewhat though I would recommend this for children ages 8 and up if only because the subject matter is rather heavy-going for a young child to comprehend. When I read this to my kindergartener, she was able to understand some parts, but the part about the ghettos and the transportation of the children was beyond her comprehension, and I found it hard to simplify it for her, choosing instead to focus on Korczak's love and care for his orphans.

For those who are interested in Korczak's life and work, here are some additional titles for further reading:
Ghetto Diary
A Voice for the Child: The Inspirational Words of Janusz Korczak
King Matt the First
When I Am Little Again and The Child's Right to Respect