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Rose Blanche
A young German girl watches as the streets of her town fill with soldiers and tanks. Then, one day, she follows a truck into the woods and discovers a terrible secret.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1985
35 people are currently reading
1549 people want to read
About the author
Roberto Innocenti
54 books41 followersItalian illustrator Roberto Innocenti (born 1940) is known for his highly detailed, painterly style and his devotion to realistic representation in such classic works as Cinderella, The Adventures of Pinocchio, A Christmas Carol, and Nutcracker. He is also the illustrator of an original Holocaust tale, Rose Blanche, that has been highly publicized throughout Europe and the United States. Innocenti's illustrations are unmistakable, demonstrating a delicacy of palette as well as a refinement of line, both of which are surprising in light of the fact that Innocenti is completely self-trained in art.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 421 reviews
March 20, 2022
This is a really sad story. So many reviewers comment that they aren't sure who this is aimed at, me neither. It's really short so I can't imagine this being aimed at older children/teens but it is very disturbing and has a bleak ending. The illustrations are very good and detailed, this made the images have a great impact, the distressed faces of the children and the sneering faces of the Nazis were hard to look at. If this had been a longer book with some information in the end pages it could have worked better as a read for older children/teens, it could have worked better as a graphic novel perhaps. The title seems to refer to a movement of German people who fought against what was happening, I would have appreciated some information about them at the end.
I liked the idea of seeing the war through the eyes of a young German girl, it was good to see a story focusing on one of the many brave Germans who tried to help. I thought it was disappointing that the story made it look so easy for a young girl to follow a Nazi van and visit each day to take food and pass it to the people there. For this part you had to completely suspend belief that nobody noticed, nobody was watching and she never got caught. This story seemed too much for small readers and not enough information for older ones.
I liked the idea of seeing the war through the eyes of a young German girl, it was good to see a story focusing on one of the many brave Germans who tried to help. I thought it was disappointing that the story made it look so easy for a young girl to follow a Nazi van and visit each day to take food and pass it to the people there. For this part you had to completely suspend belief that nobody noticed, nobody was watching and she never got caught. This story seemed too much for small readers and not enough information for older ones.
September 12, 2010
This is a horror story. Highly disturbing. Who the heck is this aimed at?!
It’s about the horrors of war/the Holocaust as seen through the eyes of a young (non-Jewish) German girl who doesn’t fully understand the situation of the war going on. She does see some suffering though and tries to alleviate it. She’s a wonderfully compassionate person.
Children who read or listen to this story are going to have questions, I think.
The book is beautifully illustrated but I found the story unsatisfying. The end didn’t work for me; I wanted more. I am fine with disturbing stories, especially if aimed at a suitably mature audience, but this sparse tale is awfully dark for the picture book age set. And, while as an adult I understood exactly what happens, I don’t think most children will without an explanation. If you read this to young children, be prepared to have a discussion, and I don’t recommend this for young kids, not at all.
The co-author/illustrator used the significant name Rose Blanche for the young girl; it was also the name of a group of young German citizens who protested the war and were all killed. I’ve read quite a bit about the White Rose members and their courage, but the accounts were all written for an adult audience.
I can’t say I recommend it for young kids. Children who already know something about war, and in particular the Holocaust, will probably get something positive out of this book. Children too young or sensitive to learn about the Holocaust and the killing (including the killing of children) that happens during wartime should probably not have this book as their introduction to such atrocities.
I do appreciate what these authors and illustrator are trying to contribute.
I just looked at the ratings distribution and I see I’m in the minority in giving this book only 3 stars.
It’s about the horrors of war/the Holocaust as seen through the eyes of a young (non-Jewish) German girl who doesn’t fully understand the situation of the war going on. She does see some suffering though and tries to alleviate it. She’s a wonderfully compassionate person.
Children who read or listen to this story are going to have questions, I think.
The book is beautifully illustrated but I found the story unsatisfying. The end didn’t work for me; I wanted more. I am fine with disturbing stories, especially if aimed at a suitably mature audience, but this sparse tale is awfully dark for the picture book age set. And, while as an adult I understood exactly what happens, I don’t think most children will without an explanation. If you read this to young children, be prepared to have a discussion, and I don’t recommend this for young kids, not at all.
The co-author/illustrator used the significant name Rose Blanche for the young girl; it was also the name of a group of young German citizens who protested the war and were all killed. I’ve read quite a bit about the White Rose members and their courage, but the accounts were all written for an adult audience.
I can’t say I recommend it for young kids. Children who already know something about war, and in particular the Holocaust, will probably get something positive out of this book. Children too young or sensitive to learn about the Holocaust and the killing (including the killing of children) that happens during wartime should probably not have this book as their introduction to such atrocities.
I do appreciate what these authors and illustrator are trying to contribute.
I just looked at the ratings distribution and I see I’m in the minority in giving this book only 3 stars.
January 25, 2021
My son (11y - Year 6) asked me to listen to/watch a reading of this story for school (they are studying WWII). The ending comes as quite a shock, actually and moved me to tears.
As others have noted, this is not a story for young children. The subject matter is too dark and the illustrations fill in some of the gaps in the narrative and express what is not expressed in stark drab colors, which might be too tough and inexplicable for younger and also sensitive children. As a companion for studying WWII, though, it is very good.
It isn’t great literature though. The first half of the book is in first person and then switched to third person. Who knows why?
My son and I had a good conversation (and a good hug) about this book, which is valuable and always a good thing.
As others have noted, this is not a story for young children. The subject matter is too dark and the illustrations fill in some of the gaps in the narrative and express what is not expressed in stark drab colors, which might be too tough and inexplicable for younger and also sensitive children. As a companion for studying WWII, though, it is very good.
It isn’t great literature though. The first half of the book is in first person and then switched to third person. Who knows why?
My son and I had a good conversation (and a good hug) about this book, which is valuable and always a good thing.
October 12, 2025
Un racconto, Rose Blanche, che scivola via in pochi minuti, corredato da fotografie da tutto il mondo, ma che lascia un segno indelebile nel cuore di chi lo legge. La spietatezza della guerra e gli occhi increduli e tristi dei bambini, le uniche vittime di qualsiasi guerra passata e presente che sia, sono il fulcro della storia qui raccontata.
Un libro che mi ha lasciato sbalordito già alla prima lettura, ma finito e girata l'ultima pagina, mi son detto che ce ne voleva un'altra di lettura, per far sedimentare meglio il messaggio insito nella frasi e nelle fotografie che proseguivano inesorabili alla fine e...
Per completare un libro c'è bisogno che qualcuno immagini quello che non c'è.
Un libro che mi ha lasciato sbalordito già alla prima lettura, ma finito e girata l'ultima pagina, mi son detto che ce ne voleva un'altra di lettura, per far sedimentare meglio il messaggio insito nella frasi e nelle fotografie che proseguivano inesorabili alla fine e...
Per completare un libro c'è bisogno che qualcuno immagini quello che non c'è.
June 3, 2022
Conto comovente que aborda os horrores da segunda guerra mundial através do olhar de uma menina alemã que ajuda as crianças judias.
November 19, 2012
I have had Rose Blanche sitting on my bookshelves for years, but I have avoided writing about it for the same reason The Boy in the Striped Pajamas hasn't shown up here - they are both problematic texts with good intentions.
***Spoiler Alert**
Rose Blanche is a picture book about a young girl living in a small town in Germany. One day, some trucks with soldiers [Nazis] show up and take over the town. Then, some people are rounded up and put on trucks that drive them away. Rose, curious about these truckloads of people, decides to follow them. She follows the trucks out of town and through fields and forests until she comes upon some buildings surrounded by pointy [barbed] wire and where there are lots of children just standing around. They tell Rose that they are very hungry.
Rose keeps returning, bringing the children whatever food she could sneak away from home for them to eat. One night, the soldiers silently flee the area, followed by the townspeople also running away because other [allied] soldiers are on their way to the town. Not knowing what is happening, Rose takes her food and returns to where the children are, but the place is empty and despite the dense fog, she can see that the children are gone. While she is standing there, there is a single gunshot. Rose is never seen again.
I found two real problems with Rose Blanche. The first was that right in the middle of the first person narration by Rose, the narrating voice switches to the third person. Why? Even given her eventual fate, this just didn't need to happen and it was jarring. I think using a third person narrator would have been better from the start anyway, given the freedom an omniscient narrator has over a first person.
Second problem - Rose's story is just not historical reality. Her actions just couldn't, wouldn't happen. It is just not feasible to think that Rose could get away with following, finding, and bringing food to the children in the concentration camp. Nazi soldiers were simply not that unobservant. And why doesn't her mother notice the missing food at a time when food was so very scarce?
Roberto Innocenti lived through the war in Italy and because he was afraid and given no explanations about what was happening, he decided to do Rose Blanche as an introduction to the Holocaust for children, in the hope that it would lead to a helpful, informative dialogue between children and adults. To foster that dialogue, there are no explanations of what is happening, only Rose's very concrete descriptions of what she sees. And what she see can be found in the very detailed illustrations that accompany the sparse text. In that respect, it is a perfect example of how a child, like Innocenti himself, might view the world around them sometimes lots of things happening but not enough experience to understand it all.
And so it is left to the adult reading with the child to fill in the explanations - who are the soldiers? who are the children? why are they taken away? etc. Which makes this a good classroom/homeschool book for introducing the Holocaust to school-age children. But this also makes Rose Blanche a story that should not willy-nilly be given to a child to read on their own, it is way too graphic for younger picture book readers.
I really wanted to love Rose Blanche, but in the end, I could only like it. This being said, this is not a book to just disregard. There is much to be gotten from it. A tremendous amount of discussion inducing material can be found Innocenti's wonderfully detailed, claustrophobic illustrations when used in conjunction with hard facts about the Holocaust. And given that Rose Blanche is named for the German resistance movement die Weisse Rose, any discussion could naturally include ideas about the resistance and the fate of the young people in it.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was purchased for my personal library.
***Spoiler Alert**
Rose Blanche is a picture book about a young girl living in a small town in Germany. One day, some trucks with soldiers [Nazis] show up and take over the town. Then, some people are rounded up and put on trucks that drive them away. Rose, curious about these truckloads of people, decides to follow them. She follows the trucks out of town and through fields and forests until she comes upon some buildings surrounded by pointy [barbed] wire and where there are lots of children just standing around. They tell Rose that they are very hungry.
Rose keeps returning, bringing the children whatever food she could sneak away from home for them to eat. One night, the soldiers silently flee the area, followed by the townspeople also running away because other [allied] soldiers are on their way to the town. Not knowing what is happening, Rose takes her food and returns to where the children are, but the place is empty and despite the dense fog, she can see that the children are gone. While she is standing there, there is a single gunshot. Rose is never seen again.
I found two real problems with Rose Blanche. The first was that right in the middle of the first person narration by Rose, the narrating voice switches to the third person. Why? Even given her eventual fate, this just didn't need to happen and it was jarring. I think using a third person narrator would have been better from the start anyway, given the freedom an omniscient narrator has over a first person.
Second problem - Rose's story is just not historical reality. Her actions just couldn't, wouldn't happen. It is just not feasible to think that Rose could get away with following, finding, and bringing food to the children in the concentration camp. Nazi soldiers were simply not that unobservant. And why doesn't her mother notice the missing food at a time when food was so very scarce?
Roberto Innocenti lived through the war in Italy and because he was afraid and given no explanations about what was happening, he decided to do Rose Blanche as an introduction to the Holocaust for children, in the hope that it would lead to a helpful, informative dialogue between children and adults. To foster that dialogue, there are no explanations of what is happening, only Rose's very concrete descriptions of what she sees. And what she see can be found in the very detailed illustrations that accompany the sparse text. In that respect, it is a perfect example of how a child, like Innocenti himself, might view the world around them sometimes lots of things happening but not enough experience to understand it all.
And so it is left to the adult reading with the child to fill in the explanations - who are the soldiers? who are the children? why are they taken away? etc. Which makes this a good classroom/homeschool book for introducing the Holocaust to school-age children. But this also makes Rose Blanche a story that should not willy-nilly be given to a child to read on their own, it is way too graphic for younger picture book readers.
I really wanted to love Rose Blanche, but in the end, I could only like it. This being said, this is not a book to just disregard. There is much to be gotten from it. A tremendous amount of discussion inducing material can be found Innocenti's wonderfully detailed, claustrophobic illustrations when used in conjunction with hard facts about the Holocaust. And given that Rose Blanche is named for the German resistance movement die Weisse Rose, any discussion could naturally include ideas about the resistance and the fate of the young people in it.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was purchased for my personal library.
September 26, 2019
The fourth book in my Banned Books Week list, and it was such an interesting and sad book.
I always have an interest in WWII and so when I spotted this book on a list with books that were often challenged/banned I knew I had to try it out. I wanted to meet Rose Blanche, find out about the secret, and see how she would react to it. And of course see why people were banning/challenging it.
We see how war comes to a tiny town where our MC lives, how tanks rolled in, how soldiers came to her town, how things got worse as time went on, and then she went into the woods to find out where a truck had gone (yes, she wanted to know more). I was really talking at my screen that it was a bad idea. I knew what she may find there.
But her reaction was amazing, yes, she was stunned, she was shocked, but instead of running, she helped. A lot of people would just have run. Even though food is getting scarcer, she tried her best. What a wonderful and magnificent girl. So brave.
The ending, OMG, I definitely hadn't expected that and yes, I had tears in my eyes.
At the beginning I was just interested, but eventually I had goosebumps while reading.
The art was just astounding, so many details. I would love to see what more this artist has done, I want more of his art.
Definitely would recommend this one to everyone. However, maybe not the youngest children, I think this may fit older kids better.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I always have an interest in WWII and so when I spotted this book on a list with books that were often challenged/banned I knew I had to try it out. I wanted to meet Rose Blanche, find out about the secret, and see how she would react to it. And of course see why people were banning/challenging it.
We see how war comes to a tiny town where our MC lives, how tanks rolled in, how soldiers came to her town, how things got worse as time went on, and then she went into the woods to find out where a truck had gone (yes, she wanted to know more). I was really talking at my screen that it was a bad idea. I knew what she may find there.
But her reaction was amazing, yes, she was stunned, she was shocked, but instead of running, she helped. A lot of people would just have run. Even though food is getting scarcer, she tried her best. What a wonderful and magnificent girl. So brave.
The ending, OMG, I definitely hadn't expected that and yes, I had tears in my eyes.
At the beginning I was just interested, but eventually I had goosebumps while reading.
The art was just astounding, so many details. I would love to see what more this artist has done, I want more of his art.
Definitely would recommend this one to everyone. However, maybe not the youngest children, I think this may fit older kids better.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
August 20, 2021
quel bel album! à intégrer absolument dans un réseau littéraire sur la deuxième guerre mondiale 👌🏼
October 31, 2018
Wow. This book is such a raw and emotional read. I think the perspective this book is from (A German Child) is quite rare, from the books I've read. The only one remotely similar I'd say is 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'. I thought the shift from the start of life in Nazi Germany compared to the end, was huge. There is so much to discuss with this book and it's definitely suitable for UKS2 (Y6). I thought it was a very well written text to convey what the life of a German child could've been like in that time period.
November 19, 2019
In only a few pages, this book aims at showing the horror of WWII through the eyes of a non-Jewish young girl. What Rose Blanche witnesses is limited, so the story is disjoint of course, but the mood is very dark and probably better suited for an adult audience. I wouldn’t recommend as a children book, as an adult I knew what was happening and I found some of the illustrations moving, but I’m not sure a child would grasp their meaning.
It would be difficult to have a conversation about the holocaust based on this book alone, too much to explain (about the war, about race, about imprisonment, hunger, justice, etc.) and although there are no graphic scenes, the disappearing of people can be disturbing for a young child.
In the end, although I loved the illustrations (5 stars for these) this book let me unsatisfied (2.5 stars).
Overall rating: 3.5 stars
It would be difficult to have a conversation about the holocaust based on this book alone, too much to explain (about the war, about race, about imprisonment, hunger, justice, etc.) and although there are no graphic scenes, the disappearing of people can be disturbing for a young child.
In the end, although I loved the illustrations (5 stars for these) this book let me unsatisfied (2.5 stars).
Overall rating: 3.5 stars
January 5, 2018
Rosa Bianca è una bimba che vive in una cittadina tedesca durante la II Guerra Mondiale e capisce che ciò che la circonda è il male. Reagisce a modo suo, lasciandoci una grande lezione di civiltà e tanta tristezza per le conseguenze che ogni guerra riversa sui bambini, che non ne hanno nessuna colpa.
I disegni sono belli, precisi e dettagliati, cupi nei momenti bui e solari nella scena finale.
Curiosità: il titolo è un omaggio a https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_...
I disegni sono belli, precisi e dettagliati, cupi nei momenti bui e solari nella scena finale.
Curiosità: il titolo è un omaggio a https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_...
June 4, 2018
Con las ilustraciones extremadamente realistas de Rosa Blanca Innocenti nos lleva a la Segunda Guerra Mundial en la que transitaremos a través de la mirada inocente y curiosa de la protagonista, Rosa Blanca, desde la primera página del álbum.
Rosa Blanca es una niña alemana no judía que vive en una pequeña ciudad de Alemania. Un día llegan los primeros camiones y muchos hombres se suben a ellos. Después aparecen en la ciudad camiones con soldados que nunca habían estado allí y, posteriormente, tanques. Aparentemente nada ha cambiado y a Rosa Blanca le continúa gustando pasear por la orilla del río y ver las ramas y los juguetes rotos que, a veces, este arrastra.
Sin embargo, día Rosa Blanca ve como un niño intenta escapar de un camión pero es interceptado por el alcalde Schroeder y devuelto a los soldados quienes se lo llevan. Rosa Blanca decide seguir a los camiones atravesando campos llega al bosque donde descubre un campo de concentración. A la otra parte de la alambrada hay varios niños hambrientos con los que Rosa Blanca comparte su bocadillo.
Rosa Blanca continuará volviendo al campo de concentración para llevar algo de comida a los niños prisioneros. Un día los soldados, el alcalde Schroeder y la gente de la ciudad tienen prisa por irse de la ciudad. Huyen. A pesar de la densa niebla, va a aprovisionar a los niños prisioneros, pero el campo de concentración está vacío. Los niños se fueron. Se oyen unos soldados entre la niebla y suena un disparo.
La primavera llega, pero no para todos.
Innocenti elabora magistralmente una correspondencia simbólica entre la duración de la guerra y las estaciones del año: la guerra empieza justo antes del duro invierno y termina en primavera cuando todo renace.
En la primera página llama la atención la ingenuidad con la que aparecen sin censura los símbolos que identifican la Segunda Guerra Mundial: las armas, los soldados, las cruces gamadas que cuelgan de los balcones e incluso los niños la portan en banderitas… Texto e ilustración se complementan representando lo que podría parecer un día festivo. Ahora bien, ¿será casualidad que de la ventana de la “Bäckerei Heinrich” penda una de las dos banderas gamadas más grandes de la ilustración?
Así, en las primeras escenas acompañamos a Rosa Blanca en su día a día. Innocenti nos descubre, al mismo tiempo que Rosa Blanca, los detalles que poco a poco van rompiendo la cotidianeidad de la pequeña ciudad. En estas escenas observamos como gradualmente los soldados superan en número a los ciudadanos en las calles de la ciudad. De modo que es significativo que cuando el niño es apresado, solo aparece, primero una señora de espaldas saliendo de escena. De igual manera, en la ilustración -a doble página- en que Rosa Blanca decide seguir al camión –ella baja la escalera como en un descenso al horror- solamente encontramos un señor mayor en una esquina, ajeno a lo que sucede, abriendo la puerta de su casa.
En esta secuencia los encuadres, la disposición de los elementos y la elección de los colores son fundamentales en la narración de la historia. Contrastando con los colores pardos que caracterizan los uniformes de los soldados, Rosa Blanca viste con colores alegres (falda rosa, chaqueta azul) y lleva un vistoso lazo rojo. El rojo es un color significativo: caracteriza al alcalde Schroeder con su brazalete rojo con la cruz gamada y a Rosa Blanca con su lazo en el pelo. Ambos dejan de portar sendos distintivos al mismo tiempo: cuando aparece que la guerra toca su fin.
En las siguientes escenas vemos a Rosa Blanca sola. Destaca la primera en la que la protagonista cruza la barrera de seguridad blanca y roja --de nuevo el rojo, el peligro- que simboliza el paso hacia lo desconocido.
En la siguiente ilustración Innocenti nos cede el punto de vista de la protagonista y descubrimos a doble página en un plano frontal panorámico un campo de concentración. Texto -«El sol se ocultaba entre las colinas. Hacía viento. Rosa Blanca sintió frío»- e imagen devienen, una vez más, un todo que revelan metafóricamente la pérdida de la inocencia de la protagonista.
La historia se vuelve cada vez más trágica. Entonces asistimos a un cambio de voz en el narrador que, por una parte, hace más llevadera la narración y, por otra, posibilita el esperanzador, aun trágico, final.
La muerte de Rosa Blanca está narrada visualmente por oposición en dos escenas paralelas. En ambas vemos a alambrada del campo de concentración rota. En la primera destacan el abrigo y la flor azules que lleva Rosa Blanca entre los tonos marrones pálidos de la escena. La escena final, en cambio, destaca por la explosión de color: «Había llegado la primavera». No obstante, ya no vemos a Rosa Blanca.
Rosa Blanca es un álbum muy interesante para trabajar en el aula. El relato puede parecer para algunos alumnos una lectura infantil. Sin embargo con una buena lectura guiada, los alumnos podrán ir descubriendo el álbum como si se tratase de una muñeca rusa. De esta suerte, se puede trabajar la intertextualidad en la medida en que la obra es homónima al movimiento de resistencia de un grupo de estudiantes de la Universidad de Múnich. Asimismo el álbum es una excelente manera de tratar temas duros como la guerra o la muerte que en principio no son temas propios de la literatura infantil y juvenil.
En conclusión, Rosa Blanca es una obra con la que debería trabajarse tanto la gramática textual como la visual ya que ambas se complementan contagiándonos de la visión de la protagonista, de modo que puede servir para hacer reflexionar a nuestros alumnos sobre consecuencias que se derivan de la guerra, tema central de la obra.
Rosa Blanca es una niña alemana no judía que vive en una pequeña ciudad de Alemania. Un día llegan los primeros camiones y muchos hombres se suben a ellos. Después aparecen en la ciudad camiones con soldados que nunca habían estado allí y, posteriormente, tanques. Aparentemente nada ha cambiado y a Rosa Blanca le continúa gustando pasear por la orilla del río y ver las ramas y los juguetes rotos que, a veces, este arrastra.
Sin embargo, día Rosa Blanca ve como un niño intenta escapar de un camión pero es interceptado por el alcalde Schroeder y devuelto a los soldados quienes se lo llevan. Rosa Blanca decide seguir a los camiones atravesando campos llega al bosque donde descubre un campo de concentración. A la otra parte de la alambrada hay varios niños hambrientos con los que Rosa Blanca comparte su bocadillo.
Rosa Blanca continuará volviendo al campo de concentración para llevar algo de comida a los niños prisioneros. Un día los soldados, el alcalde Schroeder y la gente de la ciudad tienen prisa por irse de la ciudad. Huyen. A pesar de la densa niebla, va a aprovisionar a los niños prisioneros, pero el campo de concentración está vacío. Los niños se fueron. Se oyen unos soldados entre la niebla y suena un disparo.
La primavera llega, pero no para todos.
Innocenti elabora magistralmente una correspondencia simbólica entre la duración de la guerra y las estaciones del año: la guerra empieza justo antes del duro invierno y termina en primavera cuando todo renace.
En la primera página llama la atención la ingenuidad con la que aparecen sin censura los símbolos que identifican la Segunda Guerra Mundial: las armas, los soldados, las cruces gamadas que cuelgan de los balcones e incluso los niños la portan en banderitas… Texto e ilustración se complementan representando lo que podría parecer un día festivo. Ahora bien, ¿será casualidad que de la ventana de la “Bäckerei Heinrich” penda una de las dos banderas gamadas más grandes de la ilustración?
Así, en las primeras escenas acompañamos a Rosa Blanca en su día a día. Innocenti nos descubre, al mismo tiempo que Rosa Blanca, los detalles que poco a poco van rompiendo la cotidianeidad de la pequeña ciudad. En estas escenas observamos como gradualmente los soldados superan en número a los ciudadanos en las calles de la ciudad. De modo que es significativo que cuando el niño es apresado, solo aparece, primero una señora de espaldas saliendo de escena. De igual manera, en la ilustración -a doble página- en que Rosa Blanca decide seguir al camión –ella baja la escalera como en un descenso al horror- solamente encontramos un señor mayor en una esquina, ajeno a lo que sucede, abriendo la puerta de su casa.
En esta secuencia los encuadres, la disposición de los elementos y la elección de los colores son fundamentales en la narración de la historia. Contrastando con los colores pardos que caracterizan los uniformes de los soldados, Rosa Blanca viste con colores alegres (falda rosa, chaqueta azul) y lleva un vistoso lazo rojo. El rojo es un color significativo: caracteriza al alcalde Schroeder con su brazalete rojo con la cruz gamada y a Rosa Blanca con su lazo en el pelo. Ambos dejan de portar sendos distintivos al mismo tiempo: cuando aparece que la guerra toca su fin.
En las siguientes escenas vemos a Rosa Blanca sola. Destaca la primera en la que la protagonista cruza la barrera de seguridad blanca y roja --de nuevo el rojo, el peligro- que simboliza el paso hacia lo desconocido.
En la siguiente ilustración Innocenti nos cede el punto de vista de la protagonista y descubrimos a doble página en un plano frontal panorámico un campo de concentración. Texto -«El sol se ocultaba entre las colinas. Hacía viento. Rosa Blanca sintió frío»- e imagen devienen, una vez más, un todo que revelan metafóricamente la pérdida de la inocencia de la protagonista.
La historia se vuelve cada vez más trágica. Entonces asistimos a un cambio de voz en el narrador que, por una parte, hace más llevadera la narración y, por otra, posibilita el esperanzador, aun trágico, final.
La muerte de Rosa Blanca está narrada visualmente por oposición en dos escenas paralelas. En ambas vemos a alambrada del campo de concentración rota. En la primera destacan el abrigo y la flor azules que lleva Rosa Blanca entre los tonos marrones pálidos de la escena. La escena final, en cambio, destaca por la explosión de color: «Había llegado la primavera». No obstante, ya no vemos a Rosa Blanca.
Rosa Blanca es un álbum muy interesante para trabajar en el aula. El relato puede parecer para algunos alumnos una lectura infantil. Sin embargo con una buena lectura guiada, los alumnos podrán ir descubriendo el álbum como si se tratase de una muñeca rusa. De esta suerte, se puede trabajar la intertextualidad en la medida en que la obra es homónima al movimiento de resistencia de un grupo de estudiantes de la Universidad de Múnich. Asimismo el álbum es una excelente manera de tratar temas duros como la guerra o la muerte que en principio no son temas propios de la literatura infantil y juvenil.
En conclusión, Rosa Blanca es una obra con la que debería trabajarse tanto la gramática textual como la visual ya que ambas se complementan contagiándonos de la visión de la protagonista, de modo que puede servir para hacer reflexionar a nuestros alumnos sobre consecuencias que se derivan de la guerra, tema central de la obra.
August 5, 2016
A charming little book, I bought because I like Ian McEwan’s writing. But I had to realize, that there is not so much text in it, because first of all it’s a picture book.
As charming the illustrations are, the issue isn’t pleasant at all: It’s the story of a little girl, Rose Blanche, who lives during the WWII in Germany. She watches the enthusiasm for war in her town and after a while she discovers a concentration camp. She begins to smugggle food to the children living there. The illustrations are very detailed, the texts (for examples on the facades of the houses) are in German and clothes and architecture are so well observed that I tend to say the setting is Bavaria.
The lines of Ian McEwan are very unobtrusive, never drawing too much attention from the pictures.
The only thing I don’t understand is the girl’s name: Rose Blanche doesn’t sound German at all. I found a note in the book that the story is based on a story of Christophe Gallaz. Gallaz seems to be a swiss writer, but it doesn’t explain the name. But there is also a German edition with the title „Rosa Weiss“.
I also looked up for the illustrator, Roberto Innocenti: He seems to be succesful in Italy and Rosa Blanche, regarded as on of the first children books, which deals wiht the Holocaust, caused some controversies.
I don’t agree with the critics: It’s important to tell children about the things happened in this time. And this book does it in a clear but sensitive way. Innocenti illustrated another children book about this time, Erikas Geschichte, which I also want to read.
As charming the illustrations are, the issue isn’t pleasant at all: It’s the story of a little girl, Rose Blanche, who lives during the WWII in Germany. She watches the enthusiasm for war in her town and after a while she discovers a concentration camp. She begins to smugggle food to the children living there. The illustrations are very detailed, the texts (for examples on the facades of the houses) are in German and clothes and architecture are so well observed that I tend to say the setting is Bavaria.
The lines of Ian McEwan are very unobtrusive, never drawing too much attention from the pictures.
The only thing I don’t understand is the girl’s name: Rose Blanche doesn’t sound German at all. I found a note in the book that the story is based on a story of Christophe Gallaz. Gallaz seems to be a swiss writer, but it doesn’t explain the name. But there is also a German edition with the title „Rosa Weiss“.
I also looked up for the illustrator, Roberto Innocenti: He seems to be succesful in Italy and Rosa Blanche, regarded as on of the first children books, which deals wiht the Holocaust, caused some controversies.
I don’t agree with the critics: It’s important to tell children about the things happened in this time. And this book does it in a clear but sensitive way. Innocenti illustrated another children book about this time, Erikas Geschichte, which I also want to read.
January 15, 2013
Rose Blanche is a disturbing picture book that deals with the horrors of the holocaust, however it is not from the viewpoint we are familiar with. This book is clever in many ways as it taps into the understanding (or lack of) of a young girl, Rose Blanche. As the streets of her hometown fill up with soldiers and tanks Rose knows something serious is to occur. After following one of the tanks into the forest Rose uncovers a Nazi concentration camp and forms a bond with the prisoners from across a razor sharp divide. This book shows the compassion and kindness of Rose as she tries to alleviate the hunger pains felt by many, but she is only a child.
Unfortunately, on one visit Rose meets her demise as she is violently shot in the forest. Leaving no one to come to the aid of the prisoners and a distraught mother. As time passes the field where blood was shed soon returns to a glorious meadow of flowers, similar to that of Flanders Fields.
This is a harrowing yet moving story, which is suitable for older children. However, I heed caution as the images depicted and the discussions that can arise from this book are of a very sensitive nature and children may not understand all of its elements.
Ideally this book would need to be unpacked and explored with reference to it's historical context. It has strong cross curricular links with writing and History, as well as PSHE and philosophy for children. From my experience when teaching this book to year six it deeply affected some of the children. A handful were upset by the atrocities, whilst others were simply intrigued as to why such an act could even occur. Either way the class learned something that allowed them to think and empathise.
Unfortunately, on one visit Rose meets her demise as she is violently shot in the forest. Leaving no one to come to the aid of the prisoners and a distraught mother. As time passes the field where blood was shed soon returns to a glorious meadow of flowers, similar to that of Flanders Fields.
This is a harrowing yet moving story, which is suitable for older children. However, I heed caution as the images depicted and the discussions that can arise from this book are of a very sensitive nature and children may not understand all of its elements.
Ideally this book would need to be unpacked and explored with reference to it's historical context. It has strong cross curricular links with writing and History, as well as PSHE and philosophy for children. From my experience when teaching this book to year six it deeply affected some of the children. A handful were upset by the atrocities, whilst others were simply intrigued as to why such an act could even occur. Either way the class learned something that allowed them to think and empathise.
January 19, 2019
From August 2011—This is a short and heartbreaking story about a little girl living in a small German town in the midst of World War II. The schoolgirl witnesses a boy being apprehended and forcibly put in a truck by Fascist soldiers one day. She decides to follow the vehicle and discovers it has led her to a concentration camp, where there are starving children behind the barbed wire. From then on, Rose Blanche secretly squirrels away food to bring to the Jewish inmates, even as she wastes away day by day. The images do most of the storytelling, with Roberto Innoncenti's gorgeous and astoundingly detailed watercolour illustrations, which seem to fairly leap off the page, even as they depict the grim reality of that place and time.
Innocenti, who hails from Italy, was the recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration in 2008, an award which is presented every other year to both a living author and to an illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature. Of course, it's hard to say I enjoyed this book exactly, but it manages to portray some harsh realities, yet with restraint and compassion, and would probably be an entirely appropriate introduction to children of young age to an important part of our collective history.
Innocenti, who hails from Italy, was the recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration in 2008, an award which is presented every other year to both a living author and to an illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature. Of course, it's hard to say I enjoyed this book exactly, but it manages to portray some harsh realities, yet with restraint and compassion, and would probably be an entirely appropriate introduction to children of young age to an important part of our collective history.
September 9, 2012
A young German girl discovers the horrors of WWII.
A gripping, haunting, and compassionate story. Young Rose Blanche lives in a small German village and one day witnesses the fear of a young boy being held by Nazi soldiers. Wanting to know why he was so afraid and what was going to happen to him, she follows tanks deep into the forest. There, she discovers a hidden concentration camp filled with starving women and children. This book depicts her compassion and efforts to help alleviate their hunger as it shows the horrors of this time period.
The illustrations are remarkable and will keep you lingering on each page. The ending is left for the reader to decide as a shot is fired and Rose's mother is kept waiting for her to return home.
I'm not sure at what age I would introduce this book. I actually read this last year to a group of 6th graders. As you can imagine, most laughed and asked if I was reading a children's picture book. But, by the end, they were captivated.
I think it is a great introduction to the atrocities of the Holocaust and War and also a wonderful depiction viewed from one child's perspective. The illustrations easily show the desolation while symbolizing Rose as their hope.
Highly recommend.
A gripping, haunting, and compassionate story. Young Rose Blanche lives in a small German village and one day witnesses the fear of a young boy being held by Nazi soldiers. Wanting to know why he was so afraid and what was going to happen to him, she follows tanks deep into the forest. There, she discovers a hidden concentration camp filled with starving women and children. This book depicts her compassion and efforts to help alleviate their hunger as it shows the horrors of this time period.
The illustrations are remarkable and will keep you lingering on each page. The ending is left for the reader to decide as a shot is fired and Rose's mother is kept waiting for her to return home.
I'm not sure at what age I would introduce this book. I actually read this last year to a group of 6th graders. As you can imagine, most laughed and asked if I was reading a children's picture book. But, by the end, they were captivated.
I think it is a great introduction to the atrocities of the Holocaust and War and also a wonderful depiction viewed from one child's perspective. The illustrations easily show the desolation while symbolizing Rose as their hope.
Highly recommend.
October 24, 2016
This intense and moving picture book about the Holocaust will silence readers with its realism. The illustrations employ darkening hues of red, brown, green, and gray to depict the horror and gloom of the war. But in the middle of the escalating madness, the title character of Rose Blanche remains vivid and distinct as a symbol of hope with her pink dress and the red ribbon in her hair. But her colors also begin to fade as she looks on at the demolished concentration camp. The book jacket quotes Innocenti saying that he wanted “to illustrate how a child experiences war without really understanding it.” He succeeds immeasurably, and the text is equally compelling with its unembellished descriptions that document what happened during the Holocaust. In all its sadness, the ending image of rebirth with spring provides hope, as not even death and barbed wire can keep the crocuses and flowers from burgeoning. Just as the spirit of Rose cannot be suppressed, neither can nature.
March 31, 2014
Blanche, R. Rose Blanche. The Creative Company (1985).
Rose Blanche is about a young girl living in Germany at the time of World War II and the Nazi regime. One day she follows a truck after they arrest a young boy and finds a concentration camp. Rose begins to bring food that she slips to the prisoners, until one day the Allies come. On the day they come Rose is walking to the camp, only to find it destroyed, and she is then killed by a stray bullet.
While this may look like a picture book is not for young children at all. I would say reading level would be sixth grade and up, maybe fifth grade depending on the class. The pictures are very detailed, while the text is fairly simple. I really liked how different this picture book was, and it might not be something I would have in my classroom, but it is a book I would like to have on my shelf at home.
Rose Blanche is about a young girl living in Germany at the time of World War II and the Nazi regime. One day she follows a truck after they arrest a young boy and finds a concentration camp. Rose begins to bring food that she slips to the prisoners, until one day the Allies come. On the day they come Rose is walking to the camp, only to find it destroyed, and she is then killed by a stray bullet.
While this may look like a picture book is not for young children at all. I would say reading level would be sixth grade and up, maybe fifth grade depending on the class. The pictures are very detailed, while the text is fairly simple. I really liked how different this picture book was, and it might not be something I would have in my classroom, but it is a book I would like to have on my shelf at home.
Read
November 12, 2018I have just read this picture book and I think that it is a great book for upper key stage two to read as a class text. The images really helped to make the story realistic and I think it had more of an impact on the reader actually being able to see the realities of the war. This might not have been as clear if the text was written as a novel and had limited pictures available. The text would be a good resource to use when studying world war 2 as I think that the images would be a good discussion point that the teacher could build onto.
March 15, 2021
J’ai bien aimé l’histoire de cette jeune fille allemande qui décide de suivre un camion de l’armée pour y découvrir les camps de réfugiés. Elle est touchée par la maigreur et la détresse dans le regard des gens qui y sont enfermés. Devant cette injustice, elle tente de les nourrir et de les aider en oubliant, parfois même, sa propre vie. Un album à découvrir pour son histoire et ses illustrations magnifiques.
November 19, 2012
Although I thought this was a lovely and poignant story, I wonder whether children of picture-book age would find it as interesting. If you don't have a basic knowledge of the Holocaust you might well get confused, as so much in this narrative is implied rather than said directly, including the protagonist's death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2015
Why on earth does this start in the first person and switch halfway through to third person? Obviously first person wouldn't have worked all the way to the end, but it certainly could have started in third person.
November 8, 2012
A disturbing Holocaust story with chillingly beautiful illustrations. Despite its picture-book format, this is decidedly not a book for little kids.
Read
September 6, 2018Read to see if this was suitable for my 8 year-old daughter. On reflection, we'll wait a few years.
March 6, 2020
In literature, authors tend to make the narrator go through big risks. The story Rose Blanche is a story that took place in World War 2, when the Germans took millions of Jews to concentration camps and killed them there. Later in World War 2, many people went against the Germans and their decisions and started a war. Lots of people died during World War 2. It was a time of pain and despair. So, this is why I think the story Rose Blanche by Roberto Innocenti is really about putting your life in risk to help and save others. Rose Blanche shows this because she followed the trucks to the concentration camps, brought more food to school and didn’t eat it, and she snuck food through the wires of the concentration camp.
My first reason why the story Rose Blanche is really about putting your life in risk to help and save others is that Rose followed the trucks to the concentration camps. Everyday she would sneak out of school early and follow the trucks to the concentration camp. She would take her time, which means that she could be easily spotted. If she gets caught, she will be in big trouble. This shows that the story Rose Blanche is about putting your life in risk to help and save others.
My second reason why the story Rose Blanche is about putting your life in risk to help and save others is that Rose brought more food to school and never ate it. This shows that Rose is taking away what she gets and gives it to the Jews. Another example of why the story Rose Blanche is about putting your life in risk to help and save others is that, the story said “Weeks passed by in the pale winter. Rose Blanche’s appetite surprised her mother.” This meant that Rose brought even more food to school and never ate it. She saved it for the hungry miserable Jews. This shows that the story Rose Blanche is about putting your life in risk to help and save others.
My third and final reason why the story Rose Blanche is about putting your life in risk to help and save others is that Rose snuck her own food through the barbed wires for the Jews. The story said that, “Since I had a piece of bread, I carefully handed it through the pointed wires.” This means that Rose Blanche sunuck food through the fence of the concentration camp, and didn’t get caught, yet. Near the end of the book, when Rose Blanche went back to feed the Jews and realised that the Jews weren't there, she was shot and killed. Rose Blanche put her life in risk in order to help others survive. This shows that the story Rose Blanche is about putting your life in risk to help and save others.
As you can see, the story Rose Blanche is really about putting your life in risk to help and save others. This is true because Rose followed the trucks to the concentration camps, brought more food to school and didn’t eat it, and she snuck food through the wires of the concentration camp. Therefore, the story Rose Blanche by Roberto Innocenti is really about putting your life in risk to help and save others.
- Evelyn (grade 5)
My first reason why the story Rose Blanche is really about putting your life in risk to help and save others is that Rose followed the trucks to the concentration camps. Everyday she would sneak out of school early and follow the trucks to the concentration camp. She would take her time, which means that she could be easily spotted. If she gets caught, she will be in big trouble. This shows that the story Rose Blanche is about putting your life in risk to help and save others.
My second reason why the story Rose Blanche is about putting your life in risk to help and save others is that Rose brought more food to school and never ate it. This shows that Rose is taking away what she gets and gives it to the Jews. Another example of why the story Rose Blanche is about putting your life in risk to help and save others is that, the story said “Weeks passed by in the pale winter. Rose Blanche’s appetite surprised her mother.” This meant that Rose brought even more food to school and never ate it. She saved it for the hungry miserable Jews. This shows that the story Rose Blanche is about putting your life in risk to help and save others.
My third and final reason why the story Rose Blanche is about putting your life in risk to help and save others is that Rose snuck her own food through the barbed wires for the Jews. The story said that, “Since I had a piece of bread, I carefully handed it through the pointed wires.” This means that Rose Blanche sunuck food through the fence of the concentration camp, and didn’t get caught, yet. Near the end of the book, when Rose Blanche went back to feed the Jews and realised that the Jews weren't there, she was shot and killed. Rose Blanche put her life in risk in order to help others survive. This shows that the story Rose Blanche is about putting your life in risk to help and save others.
As you can see, the story Rose Blanche is really about putting your life in risk to help and save others. This is true because Rose followed the trucks to the concentration camps, brought more food to school and didn’t eat it, and she snuck food through the wires of the concentration camp. Therefore, the story Rose Blanche by Roberto Innocenti is really about putting your life in risk to help and save others.
- Evelyn (grade 5)
October 19, 2011
Rose Blanche is a fictional story about a young German girl trying to understand WWII. She see's large tanks coming through her city and eventually follows them to a concentration camp on the outskirts of town. Here she befriends the prisoners and starts bringing them food in an effort to help their suffering. She is visiting the deserted camp when the American forces take over her city and German soldiers mistake her for the enemy and accidentally shoot her.
Although the plot is rather dark, children will benefit from seeing Nazi Germany from another viewpoint instead of the typical American angle. I wouldn't use this book for really young children as the main character does die but slightly older children, say third through sixth graders, could use this book to compare and contrast with another Holocaust book. This book could also help to demonstrate first person verses third person narration as it switches halfway through the book.
The art in the book seems to both help and confuse the reader at different times. Every picture except the last is in shades of green, brown and red with Rose standing out in a pink dress. The last two pictures help the reader to understand her death, the first has her standing in the gloom and destruction of the camp laying down a flower, the second shows spring coming and the camp beginning to sprout flowers and spring grass. In this last illustration the reader sees Rose's flower from the previous picture wilted over the barbed wire fence.
Although the plot is rather dark, children will benefit from seeing Nazi Germany from another viewpoint instead of the typical American angle. I wouldn't use this book for really young children as the main character does die but slightly older children, say third through sixth graders, could use this book to compare and contrast with another Holocaust book. This book could also help to demonstrate first person verses third person narration as it switches halfway through the book.
The art in the book seems to both help and confuse the reader at different times. Every picture except the last is in shades of green, brown and red with Rose standing out in a pink dress. The last two pictures help the reader to understand her death, the first has her standing in the gloom and destruction of the camp laying down a flower, the second shows spring coming and the camp beginning to sprout flowers and spring grass. In this last illustration the reader sees Rose's flower from the previous picture wilted over the barbed wire fence.
December 13, 2018
This emotion evoking, thought provoking Picturebook is one of the most eye-opening ones I have read in a long time. It is about a young girl and how she struggles to deal with the realities of war because she doesn't truly understand what it is or why it is happening.
Innocenti's portrayal of the war is heartbreaking because he shows the true effect of all the fighting and the reader gets to see how this is life changing mostly for those who were left at home to deal with all the changes - which is often ignored by those who are campaigning to go ahead with the wars.
This harsh reality is explored so well within the text in a sensitive way; which is important because many children will not be aware of what actually went on as they may have been sheltered from all of it.
This text could be useful to teach a thematic curriculum and could be the theme for that. It has obvious links to history, geography and English, but can also link to drama, art and music.
The text is similar to texts like
- The boy in the striped pyjamas
- Private Peaceful
It would be a great text to use in the classroom but the children would need to be made aware of sensitive issues in relation to the war. They would also need to be emotionally briefed before reading and exploring the book.
Overall, a really great book.
Innocenti's portrayal of the war is heartbreaking because he shows the true effect of all the fighting and the reader gets to see how this is life changing mostly for those who were left at home to deal with all the changes - which is often ignored by those who are campaigning to go ahead with the wars.
This harsh reality is explored so well within the text in a sensitive way; which is important because many children will not be aware of what actually went on as they may have been sheltered from all of it.
This text could be useful to teach a thematic curriculum and could be the theme for that. It has obvious links to history, geography and English, but can also link to drama, art and music.
The text is similar to texts like
- The boy in the striped pyjamas
- Private Peaceful
It would be a great text to use in the classroom but the children would need to be made aware of sensitive issues in relation to the war. They would also need to be emotionally briefed before reading and exploring the book.
Overall, a really great book.
March 25, 2012
“Rose Blanche” follows a German girl with the same name. Rose doesn’t understand what is going on but comes across children in a camp who she decides to feed. Although tanks and soldiers fill the streets Rose feels that things are still rather normal. This story is interesting since Rose sees what others might think is strange or horrible but has a rather indifferent reaction. Also mid-story the narrator changes from Rose to a third person narrator. The illustrations enhance the story showing odd and intense images that Rose seemingly ignores. Although we know Rose feels sympathy for the depressed children in the camp, her words do not show her sympathy but, rather, her indifference. The sentences are constructed in such a way it adds to the dreary mood of the story. A sentence such as “I was cold.” has a great impact in this story especially in combination with the dark images in this story. The sky in the story always seems cloudy and rainy making the atmosphere in the book gloomy. This story over all is very sad but still a good book for introducing children to the horrors of the Holocaust.
March 11, 2012
This was a good historical fiction book. It was about a little German girl who sat at her window and watched the soldiers as they filled her streets. She was curious as to why this was happening, so one day she followed them into the woods and discovered something devastating (concentration camps). The illustrations were amazing, especially the little girls clothing. Throughout this book she was wearing this clothing that stayed quite distinct though out the book. What was interesting was her colors started to fade as she was learning more about the concentration camps, this symbolizes something significant. I find this book a little sophisticated to be represented as a children's book, because of the time this book took place and the illustrations. I feel that adults will appreciate this book a lot more than children can. But overall, I think this book can be a tool for teaching children about the Holocaust.
October 14, 2019
Rose Blanche is such a powerful and emotional picture picture book. It is about a young girl, Rose Blanche, who has to come to terms with a war starting but not quite understanding why. It is very interesting to see a war book told through the perspective of a German child.
This book portrays the real heartbreak of war and the effect of soldiers going off to war with food being rationed. The outstanding illustrations in this book really highlighted the hours of the war, especially for Jewish people.
This would be a great text to use in an UKS2 classroom but I believe that children will need to be aware that it explores sensitive issues in relation to the war. This text can also be used alongside The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Private Peaceful.
This book portrays the real heartbreak of war and the effect of soldiers going off to war with food being rationed. The outstanding illustrations in this book really highlighted the hours of the war, especially for Jewish people.
This would be a great text to use in an UKS2 classroom but I believe that children will need to be aware that it explores sensitive issues in relation to the war. This text can also be used alongside The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Private Peaceful.
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