Hilde and Eli: Children of the Holocaust

by David A. Adler, Karen Ritz (Illustrator)

The story of two children who were victims.

Genres: Holocaust, Picture Books, Nonfiction, World War II, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

David Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.

Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.

Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.

As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.

(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Saleh MoonWalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Onvan : Hilde and Eli, Children of the Holocaust: Children of the Holocaust - Nevisande : David A. Adler - ISBN : 823410919 - ISBN13 : 9780823410910 - Dar 36 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 1994

[(NS) Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilde Rosenzweig was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in 1923. As a young child, she loved to ride her tricycle and play with dolls. Eli Laz was born in Zarich, Czechoslovakia in 1932. He studied hard in school and loved animals. Both were children during the early years of Nazi rule in Germany. They were among the one-and-a-half million Jewish children who were victims of the Holocaust. This is their story. <>

This is a dark book that connects the lives of two young children who both die in concentration camps during WWII. The pictures are startling and draw attention to the pain people endured during that time. This book really shows that Hilde and Eli were just two people out of millions who suffered. Putting names to the victims helps children to identify, but putting a story to each one helps even more. We see them both of people with families that matter and lives that are just like those of people around us. They are real people who really suffered which is probably the most touching part of this book.

[Stefanie Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straightforward account of two children growing up in Europe during Hitler's rise to power and the onset of WWII. The book describes what each child (they did know each other) was like and what they did as they were growing up. Adler describes how Hitler's decrees and actions effected them and their families. It's moving and does an excellent job discussing this horrible time in history in plain language that children can understand. The illustrations also add to the understanding and the image of the people in the cattle car is especially haunting. There is an author's note at the end that adds some extra information.

I hadn't heard of this picture book, but it should be in school and public libraries as a good account about the Holocaust for children.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I appreciate the stories of these two kids and the lovely illustrations, this is the wrong format. It's a picture book, but the events leading up to Hilde and Eli's deaths are told so matter of factly that it cannot be a good "children's book." I wouldn't share it with anyone under the age of 12 for that reason. Additionally, aside from their persecution and deaths, they have no relationship and very few similarities. The back and forth between true stories is confusing, with little transition, which makes it hard to keep up. I like some of Adler's other Holocaust-related books, but this is not one of them.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ideal example of the a nonfiction picture book, even one from many years ago, can become a personal and curricular key to deeper understanding of complex historical events and their consequences.
Not a book to introduce a study of the Holocaust with younger kids, but perfect for MG and up.

[Willow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just sad, the whole way through. :-(

[G]

it was alright

[Lady Slipper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Holocaust was a horrible thing, but we can learn from things in the past; good, bad, or indifferent. These short stories are sad but very good. I would recommend this for ages 13 and up.

[Amanda Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book for middle elementary grade kids and above. I would also strongly suggest that it be read with an adult(parent!). This book tells the naked truth about what happened to two Jewish children at the hands of the Nazi's. I read it to my six year old and I had to explain a healthy portion of the vocabulary to him. At times I wondered if the book was a bit mature for him, but as a child who has heard about the Nazi's and their atrocities at home before I think he was ready to handle the seriousness of Hilde's and Eli's stories.

[Amie Sergio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sad story. This book talks about lives of two young children, Hilde and Eli, who lived during Adolf Hitler’s Nazi rule and who were victims of the Holocaust. Sad to hear the stories and hardships Hilde and Eli faced while living during this time period. Text and illustrations are very realistic and gives readers a better idea of what the children looked liked and how their life was during the time of Hitler’s reign.

[Tya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teary. Eyed.

[Elizabeth]

personal book moved to Bleeker Collection