Little People, Big Dreams: Anne Frank; Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, illustrated by Sveta Dorosheva

The story of Anne Frank is synonymous with World War II studies at school and I was overjoyed to see her story made accessible to younger readers.

Born Jewish and surrounded by a loving family, Anne Frank was a happy little girl growing up in the city of Frankfurt in Germany. When a nasty man named Hitler, who hated Jews, became leader of Germany, Anne and her family were forced to hide away in Amsterdam, fearful of their safety. From a secret annex hidden behind a bookcase, Anne documented her life in a diary. A diary that would be read by millions around the world…

The story of Anne Frank is obviously very harrowing and would be incredibly distressing for young children if all the information was included in such a book. What this book does is introduce the holocaust and the terrible events that Jewish people suffered in an age appropriate way. Whilst much information is omitted, readers will understand the reasons for Anne and her family having to move, where they lived in Holland and what ultimately happened.

I really like the illustrations in this particular book - everything is in back and white except Anne’s diary. The illustrations convey love, fear, sadness and the colourful diary depicted in red and cream stands out like a symbol of hope and positivity. With a story told in short and simple sentences, this is a lovely introduction to the very short life of a young Jewish girl living through the events of World War II and her famous dairy. At the back of the the book there is a short overview of her life which includes key facts and dates and a historical timeline featuring photographs.

Recommended for 5+.