What if your family had no soap, milk, sugar or shoes? Such is the case for Katje and her family in Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003). Set in Holland just after World War II, Katje and her little town of Olst are struggling to get by. Katje is thrilled when one spring morning she gets a surprise package from America, “the land of plenty.” The box contains a cake of soap, a pair of wool socks, a chocolate bar, and a letter: “Dear Dutch Friend, I hope these gifts brighten your day. Your American Friend, Rosie Johnson.”
Katje is so excited to have these three treasures. How long it has been since she’s had nice soap, warm feet, and any chocolate or sweets (that will make kids think). Although Katje is tempted to keep the bounty for herself, she quickly decided to share. Katje writes a thank you note to Rosie and soon they are pen pals. Each note of Katje’s leads to another precious package from Rosie.
When winter comes, it is “snow-deep and bitter cold, the worst winter anyone could remember. The townspeople of Olst layered whatever clothing they had. They huddled close to their small fires, ate sparingly from their almost empty cupboards, shivered, and prayed.” How would they survive?
With the help of boxes for Katje. Rosie and the townpeople of Mayfield, Indiana send boxes and boxes of supplies that help not just Katje and her family, but the entire town of Olst. As thanks, the people of Olst, Holland send tulips bulbs to plant throughout Mayfield.
Boxes for Katje gives children a slice of history along with a beautiful story of friendship and sharing. Rosie shares with Katje and Katje in turn shares with her family and friends. The tulips that Olst sends as thanks give and give as they bloom each year.
Boxes for Katje is also based on the true experiences of the author’s mother. The afterword to the story explains that the winter of 1945 was “the worst winter of the century–plunging temperatures below zero, and in some places, piling up thirty feet of snow.” Katje’s family and their plight tugged at the heartstrings of the people of Mayfield, Indiana and “grew into a churchwide effort to support Katje’s family through the hard winter.”
(This post is in honor of my mother Marian, one of the wisest–and kindest–women I have ever known.)
What would you do if you woke up one morning and discovered that you had grown antlers? If the thought has never even crossed your mind, then you should read 
(First let me say, this photo does not do justice to these illustrations because they are rich and gorgeous. )
Have you ever lived far away from relatives? Wanted to go visit but couldn’t? Then 
If you love the art of Georgia O’Keefe, you’ll love the picture book 
Well, what can you say about Mother Goose? My mother adored Mother Goose and read it to us often. But frankly, as a parent I never really got into it. I know the historic and literary relevance of nursery rhymes, but they just didn’t do much for me. My kids never seemed much interested in them either.
