What was it like to grow up Jewish in Italy during World War II? Sit with a little girl as her grandmother tells the story of her childhood in Rome, of being separated from her father, and of going into hiding in the mountains. Based on the experiences of the author's own family, this deeply moving book set during the Holocaust deals with a difficult subject in a way that is accessible and appropriate for young readers. I Will Come Back for You is an incredible story of bravery and kindness in the face of danger.
I Will Come Back for You
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||
Browse the best books for every age and adventure including popular series, classics, and editors' picks in our Kids Summer Reading Store. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
MARISABINA RUSSO is the author and illustrator of numerous books for children. Her picture books include A Very Big Bunny, a Junior Library Guild Selection; The Bunnies Are Not in Their Beds, which was called "fresh and engaging" by Booklist; and Always Remember Me: How One Family Survived World War II, based on the experiences of her grandmother's family during the Holocaust, which was named an ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book. Visit her at MarisabinaRusso.com.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
When a young child asks her grandmother about the charm bracelet she wears, she learns of her family's experience as Jews in Italy during World War II. Each charm represents a step in the grandmother's journey to freedom during the war. Separately, the grandmother's family left Rome for the mountain villages, reconnecting again at a family farm. Though they lost their Papa on the journey, they lived through the war and sailed to the United States at its end. Children ages 5-8 will connect to this family story, while learning about World War II and Nazi occupied Italy.
By Claire
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
with children up to adults about having to hide during WWII. A picture is worth a thousand words. I can share this with my English students.
Format:Hardcover
A grandmother uses her charm bracelet to tell the story of her life in Italy during World War II.
The first charm is a donkey. The donkey represents the happy times that Jacob, Sabina and their children had in Rome before the war. They would often go to the park and ride on the backs of gentle donkeys.
The second charm is a piano. Jacob would play the piano and sing to his family each night when he got home from work. One day, Jacob learned that he and all Jewish men had to move to a small village up in the mountains. The music ended and the family missed Jacob very much.
The third charm is a bicycle. Jacob learned that the Germans were coming to the village and all the Jewish detainees would be moved to a concentration camp. Jacob ran away and hid in the mountains. A friendly farmer carried Sabina on the handlebars of his bicycle to a safer hiding place higher in the mountains. The children were left behind but hoped to be reunited with their parents as soon as it was safe.
The fourth charm is a pig. The children hid in baskets of live piglets and were carried high into the mountains on the back of a donkey. They were reunited with Sabina and lived with her on a farm until the war ended.
The next two charms are a barn and a spinning wheel. These charms represent the time that Sabina and the children lived on the farm. Sabina worked in the fields and even learned to spin yarn from sheep's wool. They looked like part of the farmer's family so no one suspected that they were Jews.
The Last charm is an ocean liner. Sabina learned that Jacob had joined the partigiani, a group of people who were fighting against the Germans. He was killed by Nazi solders who found his hideout. After the war, Sabina and her children sailed to America where they started a new life.
When I was a child, I loved to read biographies and books about history. I read very little fiction, I always wanted a "true" book. I majored in social studies/history when I went to college. I love to learn about the history of my country and the world.
The subject of the Holocaust is difficult to explain to children. This fictionalized story based on the author's real-life experience deals with the subject in a sensitive and appropriate manner.
I really love the way the charm bracelet was used to represent each part of the story. The author gives more information about her family in the "Afterword" section of the book. Incredibly, about 85% of the Jews in Italy survived the war, more than in almost any other European country.
This is an excellent resource to teach children about war, evil, bravery and kindness in the face of danger. Highly recommended for children in early elementary grades and up. (The book jacket says ages 5 - 9 but I think it could be used with older students.)
The first charm is a donkey. The donkey represents the happy times that Jacob, Sabina and their children had in Rome before the war. They would often go to the park and ride on the backs of gentle donkeys.
The second charm is a piano. Jacob would play the piano and sing to his family each night when he got home from work. One day, Jacob learned that he and all Jewish men had to move to a small village up in the mountains. The music ended and the family missed Jacob very much.
The third charm is a bicycle. Jacob learned that the Germans were coming to the village and all the Jewish detainees would be moved to a concentration camp. Jacob ran away and hid in the mountains. A friendly farmer carried Sabina on the handlebars of his bicycle to a safer hiding place higher in the mountains. The children were left behind but hoped to be reunited with their parents as soon as it was safe.
The fourth charm is a pig. The children hid in baskets of live piglets and were carried high into the mountains on the back of a donkey. They were reunited with Sabina and lived with her on a farm until the war ended.
The next two charms are a barn and a spinning wheel. These charms represent the time that Sabina and the children lived on the farm. Sabina worked in the fields and even learned to spin yarn from sheep's wool. They looked like part of the farmer's family so no one suspected that they were Jews.
The Last charm is an ocean liner. Sabina learned that Jacob had joined the partigiani, a group of people who were fighting against the Germans. He was killed by Nazi solders who found his hideout. After the war, Sabina and her children sailed to America where they started a new life.
When I was a child, I loved to read biographies and books about history. I read very little fiction, I always wanted a "true" book. I majored in social studies/history when I went to college. I love to learn about the history of my country and the world.
The subject of the Holocaust is difficult to explain to children. This fictionalized story based on the author's real-life experience deals with the subject in a sensitive and appropriate manner.
I really love the way the charm bracelet was used to represent each part of the story. The author gives more information about her family in the "Afterword" section of the book. Incredibly, about 85% of the Jews in Italy survived the war, more than in almost any other European country.
This is an excellent resource to teach children about war, evil, bravery and kindness in the face of danger. Highly recommended for children in early elementary grades and up. (The book jacket says ages 5 - 9 but I think it could be used with older students.)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Memories of hidden lives during WW II
"I Will Come Back for You" is inspired by the author-illustrator's mother's life in Italy during WW II. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Z Hayes
1.0 out of 5 stars
Adult Review
I, in no way would have bought an illustrated book that a 3rd oor 4th grader could have read. No where does it say it is a childs book. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Sharib
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Important Book on a Sensitive Subject
We generally associate picture books with happy, cute or clever stories. But there are sensitive subjects that are an essential part of every child's education. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Debbie S. Glade
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
So You'd Like to...
Look for Similar Items by Category
- Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Holocaust
- Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Military & Wars
- Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Religious Fiction > Jewish
- Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Family Life > Multigenerational
