House on the canal : the story of the house that hid Anne Frank Author: Harding, Thomas | ||
Price: $24.48 |
Summary:
In the middle of Amsterdam is a house on a canal with a green door. Over four hundred years, it has quietly witnessed love, desperation, and historic change. The house's last occupant, a young girl with a sweet smile, would famously document her time there. In her diary, Anne Frank wrote of "the old house on the canal," and today people come from far and wide to visit what stands as a universal symbol of hope and resilience.
Illustrator: | Teckentrup, Britta |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (12/01/24)
School Library Journal (05/02/25)
Booklist (00/01/25)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/11/24)
The Hornbook (00/05/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 10/07/2024 Today, the tall narrow house on an Amsterdam canal is known worldwide as both a museum honoring the life of Anne Frank (1929-1945) and the Frank family’s hiding place. But as previous collaborators Harding and Teckentrup (The House by the Lake) convey, the house is also part of a "remarkable history" that spans four centuries and myriad reasons for seeking shelter. Beginning with the "little piece of marshland" on which the residence would stand, and tracing periods of sitting vacant and housing businesses, the recounting limns four sets of the home’s residents as small inset dates track the years. Making their lives as nearby church bells ring "four times every hour" are a 17th-century haven-seeking mother with 12 children; a well-connected 18th-century merchant; an early 20th-century ironmonger’s family; and, in poignant, haunting pages that form the book’s final section, the eight people who took refuge in its "hiding place" during WWII. The work’s large horizontal format showcases mixed-media images that combine the feel of engravings and old photos with layers of translucent color and texture, creating a sense of incidents being summoned, connected, and pondered via collective memory. Back matter includes further historical detail. Ages 7-10. (Jan.) - Copyright 2024
School Library Journal - 05/02/2025 Gr 1–5—This visually imaginative picture book traces the 400-year history of the Amsterdam house that famously sheltered Anne Frank. The book presents the building itself as a silent witness to centuries of change, from its 17th-century construction to its transformation through plagues, businesses, and eventually its role during the Holocaust. The soft illustrations are layered with a dewy texture that suggests years of time. The intricate architectural details offer young readers a visual time line of the house's evolution and importance. The narrative handles difficult topics, including war and persecution, with compassion and clarity. What makes this book unique is its perspective of centering the story on the house and not just Frank, providing a greater context of those who lived—and hid—within its walls. Both beautifully crafted and deeply moving, the emphasis on the enduring history of a place and the roles in life experiences makes it a valuable resource for discussions on history, resilience, and memories. VERDICT A strong addition to school and public library collections, this book fosters historical empathy, supports classroom discussion, and serves as a meaningful introduction to Holocaust education.—Susan McClellan - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
