Published in 2008, “17 Martin Street” is a novel by Marilyn Taylor, the same author that wrote the very successful book “Faraway Home”, with which many teachers will be familiar. Having thoroughly enjoyed “Faraway Home” and used the novel with a sixth class some years ago, I was eager to read this book which I only came across recently. Taylor revisits the same theme as “Faraway Home” for this novel, as it centres around the lives of Jews in Ireland during the period of the Second World War.

The setting this time shifts from Belfast, as in “Faraway Home”, to Dublin. Twelve year old Hetty and her Jewish family move into number 17 Martin Street in inner city Dublin during the winter of 1940. Ben lives with his family in number 19 Martin Street. Jews and Christians live side by side and the novel shows how they co-existed in an atmosphere of hatred, suspicion but also in a spirit of co-operation for the common good. read more…

“Anne Frank” is a picture book written by Josephine Poole and illustrated by Angela Barrett. Rather than being a picture book version of the original diary, this book tells a third hand account of the life of Anne Frank. The language used in the re-telling of the story is relatively easy to understand and would be suitable to be read to younger children or for pupils in middle class standards to read for themselves. The book outlines the main points in the life of Anne Frank without going into too much detail, which makes it ideal to introduce the story to young children. The book is thirty pages long and the text is interspersed with beautifully created illustrations which are very evocative of the the period of WWII. This book would be a great resource for the teacher when teaching about WWII through the story of Anne Frank.

The back cover of the book carries an endorsement by the popular children’s author Jacqueline Wilson: “Exquisitely and imaginatively illustrated, this is a sensitive retelling of the moving story of Anne Frank”. The book is published by Red Fox, an imprint of Random House. (see www.kidsatrandomhouse.co.uk) ISBN 978-0-099-40976-2 The book cost €6.65 in my local bookstore.

See also other Anne Frank resources on the Seomra Ranga website:

• PowerPoint Presentation telling the Anne Frank story: HERE>>>>>
• Flashcards to help with studying the story: HERE>>>>>