The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark [Hardcover]

Carmen Agra Deedy (Author), Henri Sorensen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

For centuries, the Star of David was a symbol of Jewish pride. But during World War II, Nazis used the star to segregate and terrorize the Jewish people. Except in Denmark. When Nazi soldiers occupied his country, King Christian X of Denmark committed himself to keeping all Danes safe from harm. The bravery of the Danes and their king during that dangerous time has inspired many legends. The most enduring is the legend of the yellow star, which symbolizes the loyalty and fearless spirit of the king and his people. The result is a powerful and dignified story of heroic justice, a story for all people and all times.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although it is billed as "legend," Deedy's (The Library Dragon) WWII story raises disturbing questions regarding the importance of historical accuracy. Here Denmark's courageous King Christian responds to the Nazi edict that all Jews must wear a yellow star by wearing a yellow star himself, and his act inspires his subjects to do likewise. Deedy's writing is vivid and lyricalAbut in an afterword she acknowledges that her story is "unauthenticated" and that no Danish Jews were "forced" to wear the yellow star. As Ellen Levine points out in her recent Darkness Over Denmark (Children's Forecasts, June 26), the order about the star was never issued in Denmark. Where Levine cited the false story of the king's yellow star to explore the facts about Danish resistance to the Nazis, this book, in perpetuating a myth, clouds history; it also deflects from the country's most famous act of resistance in rescuing the overwhelming majority of its Jews (the afterword reports that Danes smuggled over 7,000 Jews to Sweden in fishing boats). Ultimately, despite the graceful prose, the insight offered into a dark era and Danish artist Sorensen's magnificent oil paintings, the book's fundamental flaw is difficult to overlook. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-Blending fact with legend, Deedy tells of Denmark's King Christian X's simple act of rebellion and courage, which served to unite his people against the Nazis. It is the king's custom to ride through the streets of Copenhagen unguarded, counting on the love of his people to protect him. When the Nazis circulate the order that all Jews must wear yellow stars on their clothing, the king devises a way to protect them. He makes his morning rounds as is his custom, but wears a yellow Star of David on his finest suit. The final illustrations depict shopkeepers, policemen, and others, all following their monarch's lead. "And, once again, in the country of Denmark, there were only Danes." Deedy's language is simple and rhythmic, relating what she calls in the notes "a story that should be told." Smrensen's period paintings serve almost as formal portraits of individual Danes living their lives in the face of the looming Nazi occupation. This is an interesting and thought-provoking piece of work, but readers are sure to be disappointed to find out that it is legend, and not verified history.
Martha Link, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Pub Ltd; 1st edition (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561452084
• ISBN-13: 978-1561452088
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Proudly Show the Courage of Your Convictions!, December 31, 2000

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark (Hardcover)

Children's books normally focus on events far removed from real life. While that is fine and appropriate for stimulating imagination, children should also be given a chance to connect to situations closer to reality to stimulate character.

This book does a marvelous job of commenting on the Holocaust from the perspective of some things that a non-Jewish person could have done. As such, it makes a wonderful bridge to understanding how we all must be our brothers' keepers.

The story here is built around the widely reported, but undocumented, history of King Christian X of Denmark during World War II. Here are the basics of the story as described in the book.

The Nazis occupied the country in 1940. The King showed his courage in many ways on behalf of all Danes. He rode down the streets each morning without a guard or any weapons. When the Nazis put their flag on the palace, he ordered it taken down and it came down. The Nazi commander said that he would put another one up. The King said that he would order it taken down, as well. When the Nazi commander then threatened to kill the next person to do this, the King said that the commander should be prepared to kill him because he, the King, would be performing this task.

Then, the order came down that all Jews must wear a yellow star (reflective of the Star of David) on their clothing at all times. The King rode out the next morning wearing a yellow star, and many citizens followed his example.

The story concludes with posing the question about what would happen if everyone stood up against injustice. Very nice!

In the Author's note, Ms. Deedy shares the historically documented facts:

(1) The King did ride unescorted daily in the streets.

(2) There were stories throughout Europe in 1943 that the King had shown support for Danish Jews and had threatened to wear a yellow star.

(3) No Danish Jews were forced to wear the yellow star.

(4) Denmark was the only Nazi-occupied country where the overwhelming majority of Jews survived.

(5) 7,000 Jews were smuggled successfully from Denmark to neighboring Sweden.

(6) Over 500 Jews were deported to Theresienstadt. All but 51 survived, in part because of continuing intervention by the Danish government.

This historical note is helpful for opening the door for a child to learn more about the Holocaust and the important role that non-Jews could play at that time . . . when they stood up to be counted by taking helpful actions. Some people did this openly with defiance while others helped clandestinely.

At a time when some want to argue that the Holocaust never happened, it is important to open bridges back into the lessons of these awful events -- to help prevent their recurrence and to honor the victims and heroes of those days.

The book is also greatly enhanced by the illustrations which remind one of Norman Rockwell's work, except with a Danish feeling. The colors are chosen to emphasize the moral conflict between the Nazis and the Danes, and give an emotional tension to the story that makes it stronger.

To me, whether King Christian X actually wore the star or not is less important than if people draw courage from that story. I know that I have often remembered the story when the time came to make a moral statement publicly. It helped me have the courage to speak and to act. If you are like me, it will help you, too.

Please do share this book with the children you love. You can give them a wonderful gift of understanding how important their voice can be . . . in making a better world for us all. When we all act responsibily towards each other, the world is a better and safer place for each of us.

Openly show your love of and support for all humanity!

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING! A BOOK THAT WILL RESONATE IN YOUR MEMORY, November 30, 2000

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark (Hardcover)

This beautifully illustrated book and equally beautiful story will touch everyone who is fortunate to read or hear of it.

The Star of David, the symbol of the Jewish faith took a prominent place in history during the Second World War. King Christian X, an especially beloved monarch had made a commitment to all Danes: he would protect them in every way possible.

During the early part of the war, Nazi soldiers replaced the Danish flag with a Nazi flag. King Christian had the flag replaced with the Danish flag. Nazi officials interrogated the king, who declared that if any Nazi carried out the threat to shoot whoever removed the Nazi flag, then that assassin would be guilty of killing the king because he, King Christian X would remove that Nazi flag himself! Seeing how imprudent challenging this king would be, the Nazi officer declared that all Jewish people in Denmark had to identify themselves by wearing a Star of David emblazoned on their clothing.

King Christian X, after long and hard thought, came up with a solution. He decreed that ALL Danes would wear the Star of David and the Nazis wouldn't be any the wiser as to who was Jewish. He called for unity and solidarity among his Danish subjects.

This is such a moving, heartwarming story of how love and solidarity faced up to evil and cruelty. The author does a magnificent job of drawing the line between fact and legend and concludes by saying how we really need this story. That is so true. We really do need this story.

I really love this book.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark, August 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book for younger students. The story focuses on positive lessons of the Holocaust by highlighting attributes such as loyalty and treating people fairly. The author's notes tell what is legend and what is factual about the story of King Christian X of Denmark and his wearing the yellow star.