Some children’s novels are for kids. You don’t mind them but your child loves them. Which is completely great, you can read them to your child, your child enthuses about them and thus a love of reading is formed. But some children’s novels are for kids and adults. Your child loves them but you love them also. You find yourself reading them without child in tow. You don’t even have a kid! This is Hitler’s Canary our children’s (and adults) Book of the Month for January.
Hitler’s Canary – the blurb
It’s April 1940 and German troops are pouring onto the streets of Denmark. 12-year-old Bamse is ordered by his father to keep his head down and stay out of trouble. But Bamse and his daring friend Anton can’t resist playing the occasional practical joke on the invading soldiers. When it becomes clear that the trouble isn’t just going to pass them by, the people of Denmark decide to take action and Bamse and his eccentric family are about to take part in one of history’s most dramatic rescues – smuggling Denmark’s Jewish population, across the water to Sweden, and safety.
I didn’t know that
So hands up if you know what the phrase ‘Hitler’s Canary’ means? I didn’t and was fascinated to find out whilst reading a child’s perspective of Denmark’s involvement in World War Two. Yes this is a war story but like nothing you have read before. The cast are fabulous, the script is inspiring and the backdrop provides the perfect stage for the story. Our lead character Bamse comes from a theater family and the book fabulously opens with the line:
“The day the Germans invaded I was asleep on Henry V’s throne.”
I loved how Toksvig pointed out that the story was only Bamse’s version of events. Some thought the Germans good. Not all Germans were bad, but then again, not all Danes were good. A very fair summary to make.
Drilling holes in two pence pieces
Nobody (including me) had read about Denmark before, either during the War or in other fiction books. So of course the map was brought out and a short history of Scandinavia during the war was delivered. The children picked up on the genuine warmth and humor in the book. They were firmly team #DanishJew and were heartbroken about Thomas. We had fun threading old coins onto ribbons like the Danish people did. Although it was an undertaking to find old coins with holes in and I thought at one point I was going to have to drill two pence pieces.
True story
Many of the characters in Hitler’s Canary are based on Sandi’s own family, including her father Bamse. The book was inspired by the stories he told her as a child. We used this as a writing prompt exploring interesting stories from our own families with some interesting results.
We also took the opportunity to revisit previous RE lessons by remembering as many facts as we could about the Jewish religion. I’m finding books are such a brilliant way in for children when it comes to History, Geography, Politics and Religion. Often things that happened so long ago or so far away from them are difficult for them to grasp or usher up any enthusiasm for. Yet stick a fiction book in front of them about the same topic and you can see the light-bulb. I almost think every topic should come with its recommended reading list.
An opera of canaries
Make sure you read the Programme notes they are simply fascinating. And the Author’s Notes, and the Note about the Author. It’s a brilliant book not just for children but for adults and to top off it’s based on a true story. We awarded it 5 out of 5 canaries. Apparently the collective noun for canaries is the word ‘opera’. Quite fitting for this stage-tastic book.
Book Club questions
- Do you have any interesting stories in your family history? Can you write about one?
- In Hitler’s Canary Bamse points out that not all Germans are bad and not all Danes were good. Which characters in the story prove this?”
- The elephant is the symbol of the highest order of nobility achievable in Denmark” The book is full of little facts about Denmark. Can you find out three facts about Denmark either from the book or from your own research?
- Bamse’s brother Orlando is named after a character in a Shakespeare play (As You Like it). If you could be named after a character in a book which character would it be and why?
- To escape from the Germans the Jewish people had to leave in a hurry and had to leave many things behind. If you could only take three things with you, what would they be and why?
Book of the month competition
If you liked Hitler’s Canary try reading The Skylarks’ War by Hilary McKay about the First World War.
Our February Book of the Month will be Toletis by Rafa Ruiz. We are giving away one copy of the book to one lucky Book Social fan so you can read along with us in February. To enter make sure you follow us on Twitter or Facebook and retweet or share our #ToletisGiveAway post to be in with a chance of winning. Entries must be from UK and if you’re under 18 you will need a parent to enter for you. Competition closes 1 February.
