Looking at the Sky
Seven-year-old Izaak never knew his father, who died in World War I, and when his mother dies of tuberculosis in 1922, the boy’s older sisters send him to a Jewish orphanage in Warsaw, Poland. The head of the orphanage, Dr. Janusz Korczak (whom the kids call Pan Doctor, Mr. Doctor in Polish) has some interesting approaches to teaching children and taking care of them. All the children work together to keep the orphanage clean and safe, and both children and adults who misbehave face a trial of their peers, with penalties designed to teach rather than punish. Over the years, Izaak goes from being a frightened child helped by older children to the older child who helps other to adjust, until he turns 14. Then he must leave, but he starts his life outside in good health, with a solid education, and with the confidence to become a productive citizen.
This child-friendly graphic novel for middle-grade readers focuses on the contributions Dr. Korczak made during his lifetime. He is best known for his courageous defense of the Jewish children under his care during the Nazi Holocaust, a decision that led to his murder by Hitler’s regime along with the children and the rest of the staff. However, this tragic event receives less attention than the daily life of the Dom Siderot orphanage that he founded, the generations of children he guided, and the impact his teachings had on young people like Izaak (a composite of several orphans who eventually emigrated from Poland to Canada before World War II) and those who read his books. Sepia-toned illustrations convey the historical setting and the calm, uplifting atmosphere of the orphanage. Backmatter includes an author’s note, glossary, and bibliography.
