It Rained Warm Bread: Moishe Moskowitz's Story of Hope

(Paperback)

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Description

Moishe was thirteen when the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939 and he was sent to Auschwitz. His home was ravaged, his family torn apart by illness and abduction. Years of brutality drew on as Moishe moved from one labor camp to the next. Finally, towards the end of the war and at the peak of Moishe's deepest despair, a simple act of kindness by a group of courageous Czech women redeemed his faith that goodness could survive the trials of war: That was the day it rained warm bread. Deftly articulated and beautifully illustrated, this is a strong addition to the ever-important genre of Holocaust testimonies.

Reviews

A Parents Choice Magazine Gold Award Winner
A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
An NCTE Notable Verse Novel
An ALSC Notable Children's Book
An ALA Notable Book for Young Readers
A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year

"Moishe's daughter provides the story, as told to her by her father, and entrusts Smith to pen poems that strike at the heart of each moment, each fear, each horror and make it personal for readers even as time erases witnesses. A deeply moving, beautifully written portrayal of an evil that cannot be allowed to be forgotten." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"First person spare, eloquent verse . . . Occasional watercolor wash sketches complement the poems, adding a memorable visual dimension. An author's note by Moskowitz-Sweet tells more about her late father Moishe, on whose memories this novel is based." --Horn Book

"Smith's spare verse propels readers swiftly through the story . . . Readers intimidated by denser prose may appreciate the understatement in this poetic account. Small black and white vignettes add visual impact . . . a moving prose note from Moskowitz-Sweet concludes the book." --The Bulletin

"Smith's short, evocative poems highlight significant incidents from Moishe's perspective as he survives against nearly impossible odds. Lyon's sepia-toned art depicts the story's many emotions, especially the fear and loneliness that are Moishe's constant companions." --Booklist

Author Bio

Hope Anita Smith received a Coretta Scott King Honor for Keeping the Night Watch and the John Steptoe New Talent Award for The Way a Door Closes, among many other honors and starred reviews. She is also the author of Mother Poems and the creator of My Daddy Rules the World and Keeping the Night Watch, respectively. Her first picture book, My Daddy Rules the World, won the Arnold Adoff Poetry Award. A professional storyteller, Hope teaches poetry-writing workshops to all grade levels. hopeanitasmith.com Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet is the co-founder of Digital TAT2, a non-profit that works directly with students to encourage a kinder digital culture. Gloria is the daughter of Holocaust survivor Moishe Moskowitz.