Anne Frank: Beyond the Diary - A Photographic Remembrance

by Ruud van der Rol, Rian Verhoeven, Tony Langham (Translator)

Anne Frank lived a life filled with the enthusiasms and hopes shared by many young women coming into adulthood.  But the times Anne lived in and wrote of in her diary made her simple life extraordinary.  In over one hundred photographs, many which have never been published, this poignant memoir brings to life the harrowing story of one young Jewish woman's struggle to survive during a period of history which must never be forgotten.  "All libraries will want this: for classroom units studying the Holocaust, for kids reading the diary, for everyone who remembers it."  - Booklist

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Holocaust, Classics, World War II, Historical

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Ruud van der Rol worked at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam for many years. He has written and edited books and educational materials dealing with Anne Frank and her family, her work and her lifetime, as well as the Holocaust, human rights, prejudice, and discrimination. Mr. van der Rol lives in Castricum.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Anne Frank should absolutely be shared with children and Anne Frank: Beyond the Diary - A Photographic Remembrance is an ideal nonfiction book to use in tandem with the reading of Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl because it provides a more holistic account of her life. The book neatly organizes pertinent information about Anne’s life and showcases many primary sources that can add to or clarify points in the well-known Anne Frank story. Furthermore, this is a visually stimulating book and can be useful in differentiating a lesson regarding Anne Frank and the life of Jews in the face of mass prejudice and genocide. I highly recommend this book due to its accuracy, organization and ability to keep the reader interested in the content.

[raia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Otto had now fulfilled Anne's wish to become a writer."

she was only fifteen..💔

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I found this book in the library. I am a huge "fan" of Anne Frank's diary and it is the reason why I decided to journal regularly. I first read it when I was 14 years old. I reread it every time I can. This book is the perfect companion for the diary. When reading it, you get to see photographs of Anne and her family before the war, as well as pictures of her diary. It just makes it so real, she's no longer the Anne Frank, now I feel her closer to me. I'm unable to write more in this review, but most of my thoughts have been expressed in the introduction. I recommend everyone who's read about Anne Frank to read this.

[Moira Macfarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Het boek is een oudje uit mijn kast, 1992. Het was alweer even geleden dat ik het A tot Z las, maar nog steeds meer dan de moeite waard. Een mooi documentatieboek over Anne Frank, haar familie en Het Achterhuis, maar ook over de aanloop naar de oorlogsjaren, stuk geschiedenis. Een boek vol afbeeldingen met veel informatie. Met een duidelijk verhaal over hoe het ooit zover gekomen is.

Helaas kan ik het niet loskoppelen van nu. Angstaanjagend vind ik de huidige ontwikkelingen in de maatschappij en politiek. Waar discriminatie en vreemdelingenhaat te vaak aardig normaal en best logisch worden gevonden en geen enkel probleem is voor een grote groep Nederlanders.

Arnon Grunberg verwoordt dat heel helder 'Het toeschrijven van negatieve eigenschappen aan een bevolkingsgroep is niet het benoemen van problemen, maar het creëren van problemen. Wie dat doet, drijft bevolkingsgroepen uit elkaar en ondermijnt het vreedzame samenleven door absolute vrienden en absolute vijanden te creëren, een hermetisch wij tegenover een hermetisch zij.'
Het geeft te denken dat niet álle alarmbellen afgaan nu. Andere doelgroep(en) eenzelfde sluipend proces.

Om mooi te eindigen een citaat van Otto Frank in dit boek:

'Nergens in haar dagboek spreekt Anne over haat. Ze schrijft dat ze ondanks alles gelooft aan het goede in de mens. En dat ze, wanneer de oorlog voorbij is, voor de wereld en voor de mensen wil werken. Dat heb ik als mijn plicht van haar overgenomen. Ik heb vele duizenden brieven ontvangen. Vooral jongeren willen steeds maar weer weten hoe het ooit tot deze verschrikkelijke gebeurtenissen heeft kunnen komen. Ik antwoord hun zo goed als ik kan. En aan het eind schrijf ik vaak: 'Ik hoop dat Anne's boek in je latere leven zal nawerken, zodat je, voorzover dat in je omgeving mogelijk is, zult werken voor toenadering en vrede'.'

Voor een inkijkje: https://www.instagram.com/p/CKt9M0KAyny/

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It really is a special adjunct to the diary. In my opinion it makes the diary so much more interesting. Fabulous photos and background information about Anne and her family.

[Readasaurus Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. Just fantastic.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written companion piece for Anne Frank’s Diary. This really shows how happy and normal the Frank’s life was prior to the war.

[Binibining `E (of The Ugly Writers) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am fascinated with everything Anne Frank. I want to know everything about her, the lives they live during the hiding and everything the family went through. It was a sad story mostly about the way people before treated the Jews, how almost all of them were killed. As i was reading this and looking at the pictures I remembered the movie The boy in the striped pyjamas that movie, I literally cry and baul like a baby. Makes me think why the Jews?

[Teri Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revisiting Anne Frank’s world through the family’s extensive collection of photographs, contemporary photographs, maps, and illustrations make this a worthwhile read to discover what happened historically before, during, and after Anne’s diary was written. As this book was written by a sociologist and historian on staff at the Anne Frank House museum in Amsterdam, the text is of exceptional quality. The book is the first photobiography created by the museum. The themes of “the victim” and “the fugitive” are addressed in the book. Contemporary examples of intolerance, racism, segregation, discrimination, and anti-Semitism could be discussed in the classroom through the real-life stories of the people hiding in the warehouse. The interests, fears, and worries of teenagers are seen through the writing of Anne, along with her hopes for the future. Included in the text are clarifications of terms such as: Nazi (NAtionalsoZialistische), and Concentration (people concentrated in a small area), and Kristallnacht (Night of the Broken Glass). Hitler’s rise to power is also explained. This book would be a valuable resource for instructors teaching any of the themes mentioned above. Because of the exceptional illustrations, and photographs, along with the appealing text, students would be interested in reading or learning from this book.

[Taylor Torgrimson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a very well informed book told by pictures, "Anne Frank: Beyond the Diary - A Photographic Remembrance" is the perfect book for you. The book begins with telling of the day Anne Frank got her very first diary for her thirteenth birthday. As many know there has been many books written based on Anne Frank's diary, however, this book tells her story through family photos and photos of Germany from this time. The photographic story begins with the day of Anne's birth and ends with photos of her father, Otto, who was the only survivor in the family through the Holocaust. Many of the pictures are of Anne and her sister Margot. However, the most interesting thing is that each caption for each picture gives detailed information about what is going on during the time the photo was taken in addition to telling of the names of the people in the photos. There are also several pages throughout the book that give detailed information about what was going on in Germany with Hitler and the Nazis which was causing these harsh times for the Frank family and other Jews. I would definitely recommend this book to older readers such as fifth or sixth graders or for teachers who are covering the Holocaust in their classes and need good photos to go along with their presentation.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to read all about Anne Frank, her family, the other ANNEX members from a perspective of what happened after the diary was written. Lots of photos and maps and drawings to make it all easier to comprehend.
What I can't comprehend is being the person who betrayed them, (and many others in Europe that betrayed other jews) and has/had the death of 7 people on their conscience.
I so admire all of those who went underground and saved as many jews as possible and great peril to themselves if caught. Such as the Ten Boom family, in the story of The Secret Place.

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read Anne Frank's diary for the first time, and I was interested to know more. There are many, many books about Anne, her family, her housemates, and their experience. This one is among the most highly recommended, so I started with it. It's mostly photographs, along with maps and diagrams. It really fills in some of the details that were harder for me to imagine from only what Anne wrote—the actual layout of the Secret Annex, for example. This is an excellent companion to the diary.

[Hannah Joy Batayula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written and very detailed book about the life of Anne and the experiences of the people in the Secret Annex. I truly loved the photographs! This is a great way to remember Anne on her birthday tomorrow.

[Madelyn Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just toured the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam two weeks ago. This book, full of photographs, was a useful accompaniment to what I saw. The secret annex is empty, per Otto Frank’s wishes, so the photos showing it furnished, help one visualize how crowded it would have been with 8 people living there. Very readable.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Spolier Alert*** Have you ever heard of Anne Frank? Have you ever heard or read about Anne Franks diary? Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who lived during World War II. When she was thirteenth years old, she received a diary were she wrote on it everyday. The genre of my book is realistic fiction. I like how the author included a lot of details. I like how the author didn't really missed any details about Anne Franks life.

The setting in my book is in Germany in 1929. The setting of this book is imortant to the theme because its telling where World War II happened. A major symbol in the story is when the Nazis foubdbthe Franks. Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933. All parties were banned except the Nazis. Anyone who opposed him was beaten or improsioned. Anne, her family and some friends went to hide in the Annex. A friend name Miep help Anne, her family, and her friends hide in the Annex.

Anne, her family, and her friends hid in the Annex for two years. After two years of hiding, somebody told on the Franks and the Nazis found them. After the Nazis found them, they put them in concentration camp. I was angry about when Hitler had to sent Jewish people to concentration camp just because they were not like him. If I would were the author I would have been proud because she wrote a lot of details of Anne.

Anne died in Bergen -Belsen concentration camp. Anne's mom died from starvation. Her sister died to typhus. Three days after her sisters death, Anne died from typ
hus as her sister. Anne's friends had died. The only survivor was Annes Franks father. Miep saved Anne's diary and gaved it to Anne's father.

I give this 5 as a rating because it gives a lot of details. I will recommend this book to people who like to read about World War II.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled across this in the school library while I was already re-reading Anne Frank's Diary. It is an EXCELLENT companion to the diary, bringing Anne alive in a way that the diary itself cannot: showing photos of Anne's life before the war and of the Secret Annexe in which she lived for those two years. The text is simple but very informative, both about Anne's life, the war, and the concentration camps. Really, I thought this was a most excellent book. As Anna Quindlen wisely said in the introduction, "As the legend grew ... Anne Frank had in some essential way ceased to be an ordinary person. These pictures make her whole again: one little Jewish girl, one life growing, thriving, struggling to break the surface of its soil like a seedling just at the time that the soil was poisoned. The failed flowering means more with the seeds. Seeing the baby Anne, the smiling Anne, the free Anne, makes her life all that much more ordinary. And that much more heroic and heartbreaking."

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Frank: Beyond The the Diary
Ruud Van Der Rol
pgs.132

When I read about Anne Frank and her story I think, Wow what a life. Im always so thinkful that i didnt have to deal with all of the pain that was in that time period. It makes me think that life really isnt fair and it never will be. There are people who suffer everyday and there are people who live with no pain. Anne had to be mistreated for just what she believed in. She had to go into hiding with many other people. She had a family and she had friends and that all changed beacuse she was jewish. I loved this book because it had so many pictures and real information and it had things that Anne herself wrote in her diary and the pictures that she put in. Reading about the history in Germany and the horrible things that happened to all of the Jews and the concentration camps that they were forced to go to. All because of a horrible person, Adolf Hitler probably the most hated person in the world in my mind.

[Nicole Jeong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Anne Frank's life not about her diary but it also has some parts of her diary. The style of book is totally different from other book. This book include a lot of picture which support the explanation. It was really interesting. I could imagine minutely. In this book you can see some pictures about Anne and her family. It also shows some historical maps, letters and important places(prison, class).
In this book you can also see what happened to Jews who were discriminated by German. I felt bad and I could feel their sadness. Jews did not do anything bad but they were discriminated. The only reason that they were discriminated is 'they are Jews'. This is wrong and crazy. It should not happened. I cannot believe that German. killed over millions Jews. Jews were treated inhumanly and unfairly.
I could learn more about Anne and Jews from this book.

[Ketti · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a young girl about 8 years old my mother I were shopping in a store. There I saw a women with some numbers tattooed on her arm. That was 50 years ago and you rarely saw someone with a tattoo, but never a woman. I felt in my heart that there was something not right about this. A few days later I finally talked to my mother about it, and she tried to explain it to me. Sometimes I would lay in bed at night and think about that woman. I’ve read many many books about the holocaust, my heart still hurts for all those precious lives that were taken. This book is just what is says A Photographic Remembrance, very well done.

[Gerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heard a lot about it which made me read it. The terrors of the world war was well explained. It is a good book for someone who loves reading about history and stuffs. But i am not a history-man. I like fantasy, thrillers, and classics.

[Lu Tursunaliyeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have rated this book 5 out 5. First of all, Anna didn't write this book as book, but as diary and friend. Cause that time she hadn't really friend to talk. She wrote diary really great, you can't imagine how before you read. I recommend .

[Mackenzie Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Anne Frank Beyond the Diary: A Photographic Remembrance
Author: Ruud van der Rol
Illustrator: Rian Verhoeven
Genre: Photographic Essay
Theme(s): Pictorial Works, Biography, Holocaust, Jews, Juvenile Literature, Amersterdam, Anne Frank
Opening Line/Sentence: In the forty-six years since it was first published and the fifty since it was written, the diary of Anne Frank has taken on a kind of mystical quality for the adolescents who first encounter it and the adults left with its spiritual aftertaste.

Brief Book Summary:
This photographic essay followed the life of Anne Frank during some hard times. This book provided very detailed information about Anne when she was a child and when her life was normal and when she could play outside in freedom. The book then talked about the progression Anne and her family had to do as they were eventually going into hiding. This book gave many different pictures of the Anne and her family, pictures of their hiding they called the “Secret Annex”, to even pictures of the coupons used to buy food during a shortage. This book also gave side notes of various different ideas and situations that are not refered to in Anne Frank’s diary.

Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Roger Sutton (The Bulletin of the Center for Children s Books, November 1993 (Vol. 47, No. 3))
As Anna Quindlen points out in her introduction to this album of photographs, the single most arresting picture is the one that comes right at the front: "looking at the pictures of the actual diary, with its plaid cover and impotent little lock, a shiver took hold of me as though the thing was a relic, as indeed it is." The photo of the pink-plaid diary sits alone and starkly uncaptioned, needing no explication beyond itself; other photos, of the Frank family, the Secret Annexe, the others who hid there and the still others who kept them hidden, are generously labeled and accompany a text that briefly explains why the Franks went into hiding and summarizes, with plenty of quotes, the content of the diary itself. There is also plenty of information on what happened to the family after their arrest. Probably the most chilling photograph is one of a portion of the Nazis' typed list of the Jews to be transported from Westerbork to Auschwitz; the Franks are numbers 306 through 309. The appeal of Anne's diary is in its documentary/reliquary qualities: this is a real diary that we were never meant to read (although van der Rol and Verhoeven do tell us that Anne was preparing the diary for eventual publication). So in some ways, this book is documentation of the document itself, a footnote not only reminding us that Anne was real-and it's made clear that some people need reminding-but also letting us see Anne as she never could have seen herself. R*--Highly recommended as a book of special distinction. (c) Copyright 1993, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 1993, Viking, 113p; illus. with photographs, $17.00. Grades 6-10.

Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 1993)
The first picture in this photobiography is of a little plaid book that is so unassuming as to be ordinary, the kind of book any girl might possess to record her private thoughts. The realization that this is THE diary hits with sudden force, like a physical blow. The power of this book is in that moment and many others like it as readers are reminded over and over again that Anne Frank's life was as ordinary as it was extraordinary. In photographs that show her from babyhood through her early teens, prior to going into hiding, it is the captured moments of daily living that bring home the terrible enormity of what later happened - the toddler playing with friends in the yard, the girl of 10 just out of the water and wrapped in a bathrobe at the beach. In one sense, this is anybody's - and everybody's - family album. Early on in Anne's life, there were ominous developments in the world beyond that yard and beach, and throughout the text describing her family life, sidebars present information on Hitler's rise to power and the systematic internment and killing of the Jewish people. Anne's family protected her from knowing much of what was happening, even as they took steps to save themselves, but excerpts from her diary prior to and throughout the time they were in hiding reveal her growing understanding, at the same they reflect her hope that the best in people will ultimately prevail. Readers will be fascinated and moved by this powerful book from the Anne Frank House in The Netherlands which provides insight into the life and times of a girl whose words continue to touch the world. CCBC categories: Biography/autobiography. 1993, Viking, 111 pages, $17.00. Ages 11 and older.

Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both professional reviewers summarize the book in deep detail. This book had a lot of different facts offered for the reader to read and understand. I like how the first professional review talked about how some of the pictures gave them “chills” and understood the context of how emotional this time was. I also like how the second professional reviewer mentioned in their recommendation that this book really puts it into context that Anne Frank was just an ordinary girl with a simple life until she had to go into hiding. I agree that the excerpts provided from Anne’s diary are very powerful to the reader.

Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This photographic essay offered the reader a lot of information. This book included excerpts from Anne Frank’s original diary about how she was feeling. This book also included various pictures of the actual rooms and buildings that Anne Frank and her family stayed in. The information in this book near the end became very emotional when talking about the different concentration camps, but the author was able to present this information in a very sensible manner for the readers. The author included different side facts for the reader to view to get more of a understanding that they might have known from just reading this text or the diary. The interesting part of this book was that it included images from the coupons that were distributed to residents, a map of the different concentration camps, a outline of the Frank’s hide out place, and various other visuals. With the use of the visuals it makes it very easy for the readers to understand and comprehend the material that is being presented in the written text.

Consideration of Instructional Application:
This book would be a book to use in a social studies class for students. This book could be read during class and then discuss the ideas of the Holocaust and the difficult times during this time period. The activity that would be paired with this book would be for the students to create their own diary or journal filled with pictures of themselves and their family and friends. Along with their journals they would include different current events that are happening around them and discuss how what is happening around them in wither their town, city, state or country affects them. This activity is to help the students better understand how Anne Frank was feeling.

[Richard Lowy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl is a deeply moving account that speaks to the shared humanity beneath unimaginable fear and persecution. Reading her words, I was struck by the raw honesty with which she describes the mundane frustrations of life in hiding, her yearning for freedom, and her piercing reflections on human nature. Her belief that “people are really good at heart,” despite the terror surrounding her, left me both inspired and heartbroken. Her observations remind me of the stories my father and Kalman shared—of fear, hope, and the resilience required to endure a world that seemed intent on erasing them.

What resonates most for me is Anne’s ability to find meaning, even beauty, amidst her suffering. Her dream of becoming a writer and making her voice heard feels especially poignant, knowing her life was cut short. As someone committed to preserving my family’s truths, I am reminded of the power of storytelling—of how voices like Anne’s ensure we never forget. Her diary is more than a historical document; it’s a testament to courage, a call to empathy, and a reminder of the enduring need to confront injustice with truth and humanity.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartbreaking piece of history, this book did a terrific job of bringing Anne to life once again and making her even more than just the diary author. I enjoyed reading about her life, hopes, and dreams once again and also seeing all of the terrific photographs. She will always hold a place in my heart.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sentence: “Otto had now fulfilled Anne’s dream to become a writer,” still breaks me. Absolutely devastating. She was only sixteen years old. And the fact that Peter died only 3 days before liberation. Both so incredibly tragic 💔

[Skielynn Nava · Rating 4 out of 5]

i felt like it was a good book to read about because it was telling me about her life n how she put up with it

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful "enhancement" of Anne's own diary, stories from other family members, from people who knew the family, and lots of pictures that help bring her story more to life!

[Eline · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

[Melissa Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Anne Frank, Beyond the Diary: A Photographic Remembrance
Author: Ruud van der Rol & Rian Verhoeven
Genre: Photographic Essay
Theme(s): pictorial words, biography, Holocaust, Jewish people, Anne Frank
Opening line/sentence:
“In the forty-six years since it was first published and the fifty since it was written, the diary of Anne Frank has taken on a kind of mystical quality for the adolescents who first encounter it and the adults left with its spiritual aftertaste.”

Brief Book Summary:
This photographic essay is a remembrance of Anne Frank and an accompaniment and extension of her diary. There are photos displayed on every page beginning from when she was born and then documenting her journey as a Jew during the Holocaust. This book is a collection of pictures, captions, and informational text to describe Anne Frank’s story.

Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature)
50 years have passed since Anne Frank wrote the diary that touched the lives of generations of readers. Now there is a rich collection of photographs of her life taken by her father. This remembrance is filled with candid snapshots and an accompanying text that bring to life an intelligent, vivacious and joyous child. Illustrations and maps accompany historical essays and interviews that heighten the tragedy of Anne's life but continue her legacy of hope.

Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Dr. Beverly Kobrin (Children's Literature)
One of the most compelling books to emerge from the horrors of World War II is Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl (Doubleday, 1967). Those touched by its poignant story will want to read Anne Frank: Beyond the Diary, a Photographic Remembrance, by Ruud van der Rol and Rian Verhoeven, staff members of the Anne Frank House, in Amsterdam. In her introduction, New York Times columnist Anna Quindlen comments on the diary's impact and why these photographs of the family and "...the baby Anne, the smiling Anne, the free Anne, makes her life all that much more ordinary. And much more heroic and heartbreaking." Getting to know the Franks before they went into hiding makes you care even more about them. They are no longer faceless victims.

Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviewers admire this remembrance of Anne Frank for its emotion and valuable impact on the reader. The first reviewer mentions how the photographs were taken by Anne Frank’s father and there are maps, historical essays, and interviews to describe her experience, which all support the authenticity of the story. The second reviewer mentions how emotional the evidence and photographs become when the reader gets to know the Frank family. The reader is able to create a relationship and understanding of the family, and when they face struggles the reader is hurt as well because an emotional attachment was created. I think it is worth mentioning how much more informational this remembrance is of Anne compared to her diary, and there is more emotion because the reader is able to bring the story to life with photographs and memorabilia.

Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book is a holistic account of Anne Frank’s entire life before and during the Holocaust, and readers are able to bring Anne back to life by seeing photos of her experiences. The text is simple but very informative, both about Anne's life, the war, and the concentration camps. The book neatly organizes the information about Anne’s life based on the location the events are about (Frankfurt, Amsterdam, etc.), and showcases many primary sources that affirm its authenticity. Some of the pictures are shocking and hard to look at, but they allow the readers to feel emotion while reading this story. The captions for the pictures also allow readers to understand what was happening in the pictures to better understand the text. The photographs are black-and-white, but the maps and diagrams of her living situation are done in color. This color difference can help students see the difference between an authentic photograph and a recreation of a diagram to explain information.

Consideration of Instructional Application:
This book would be useful to use for a social studies and writing lesson in a 3rd or 4th grade classroom. The social studies part of the lesson would be introducing the Holocaust and WWII, and then choosing certain pictures from the book to talk about as a class. It would be important to interpret the pictures as a class and relate them back to the topic of the Holocaust and struggles the Jewish people faced. After reading a few pages (because the book is very long and we wouldn’t have time to read every page as a class), I would have students create their own journal that contains pictures and text similar to the book. Students can draw a picture or bring in a photograph and write about how it relates to their life. Because this book is very informational but lengthy, I would keep it in my classroom library for all students to access if they want to learn more about Anne Frank.

[Sarah Zablotney]

Title: Anne Frank Beyond The Diary: A Photographic Remembrance
Author: Ruud van der Rol and Rian Verhoeven
Genre: Photographic essay
Theme(s): Life, Family, Death, Good versus Bad
Opening line/sentence: “Anne Frank woke at six o’clock in the morning on Friday, June 12.”
Brief Book Summary: This photographic essay is a remembrance of Anne Frank. There are photos displayed on every page starting from her life and going throughout her journey with her family. This book also provide description of the pictures and provides detail of the struggles she faced.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
van der Rol, Ruud Anne Frank Beyond the Diary:: A Photographic Remembrance
Associates of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam have set the diary in larger context, fleshing out the family history and briefly explaining Hitler's rise to power and events of World War II. Added details include black-and-white photographs, maps, a chronology, and notes on the different versions of Anne's diary. Ind.
(The Horn Book Guide Online)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 1993)
The first picture in this photobiography is of a little plaid book that is so unassuming as to be ordinary, the kind of book any girl might possess to record her private thoughts. The realization that this is THE diary hits with sudden force, like a physical blow. The power of this book is in that moment and many others like it as readers are reminded over and over again that Anne Frank's life was as ordinary as it was extraordinary. In photographs that show her from babyhood through her early teens, prior to going into hiding, it is the captured moments of daily living that bring home the terrible enormity of what later happened - the toddler playing with friends in the yard, the girl of 10 just out of the water and wrapped in a bathrobe at the beach. In one sense, this is anybody's - and everybody's - family album. Early on in Anne's life, there were ominous developments in the world beyond that yard and beach, and throughout the text describing her family life, sidebars present information on Hitler's rise to power and the systematic internment and killing of the Jewish people. Anne's family protected her from knowing much of what was happening, even as they took steps to save themselves, but excerpts from her diary prior to and throughout the time they were in hiding reveal her growing understanding, at the same they reflect her hope that the best in people will ultimately prevail. Readers will be fascinated and moved by this powerful book from the Anne Frank House in The Netherlands which provides insight into the life and times of a girl whose words continue to touch the world.
(CLCD)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both of the books provide a description of the biography. The second review is more detailed for the reader, written by the CCBC. They also discuss the fascination of the book for the reader, while reading I was intrigued with the added information this review had. It made me continue to think about the actions in the book after I was done reading it.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The pictures are intriguing to the reader, they are descriptive and tell a story. Some of the pictures are shocking and hard to look at, but they allow the readers to feel emotion while reading this story. The captions by the pictures also allowed the readers to understand what was happening in the pictures to better understand the text.
Consideration of Instructional Application: In Anne Frank’s diary she talks about packing her suitcase. After we read this book and discussed its significance, I would have my students write what they would take with them in their suitcase and why. This allows the students to work on their writing skill while also thinking about how Anne Frank felt when packing her suitcase.