Bella Vista Book Reviews: The Year of Goodbyes & Press Here

The Year of Goodbyes: A True Story of Friendship, Family and Farewells
by Debbie Levy
Mrs. Allison's Rating:  5 out of 5 stars
This week  in the library, we are kicking off the Beehive Book Club for the year. This non-fiction Beehive Nominee in Poetry for 2012-13 caught my interest and is a quick read.  I am very glad I read it. The content is age appropriate for older elementary school students (4th-6th grade and older) and educates them on what it would be like to be a child with family and friends all experiencing the changes from a wonderful, prosperous life in Germany to becoming despised, rejected and harmed...just for being Jewish.  At one point in the book, Jutta's family has a chance to leave Germany and come to America to live with relatives, but will they be able to leave before the Nazis capture them? I was on the edge of my seat as I read this book, wondering who would be saying good bye to whom, not wanting dear Jutta (Yu-tah) or her family and friends to be affected by the Nazis, yet all of them were, to one degree or another.

This book is a compilation of the entries in Jutta's poesiealbum (po-eh-Zee ALbum), a poetry album. From the late 1800s to the 1930s children enjoyed their poesiealbums and would let their friends write and draw in them. The book also includes Jutta's feelings and experiences as a 12 year old Jewish girl living in Germany in 1938 under the Nazi occupation. Debbie Levy, author of the book, is Jutta's daughter. She capably shares her mother's experiences from a time in history that, hopefully will never be forgotten or repeated.

With the Thanksgiving holiday just around the corner, reading this book will bring reason to reflect on our lives as Americans living in the 21st century.  We have much to be thankful for.


Something else to be thankful for are books like Press Here by Herve Tullet. This book has already been targeted by students as the most popular Beehive Nominee for 2012-13.  More copies have been ordered to keep up with demand at the Bella Vista Library.  This book is what I call, "out of the box."  An unexpected, unpredictable surprise of a book that educates through its pages yet it seems more like a toy than a book. Students will have fun following directions, including left and right, counting and seeing what pressing their finger "here" will lead to next. Another 5 out of 5 stars book, in my opinion.                        

Press Here is a book for Kindergarten - Third, though older grades enjoy reading this picture book too.