The Crystal Beads, Lalka's Journey

Thank you, Purple Butterfly Press, for the advance reading copy.

This book is so precious to me!
Based on a true story of a holocaust survivor, the book does justice with the presentation and the subtle amazing illustrations.

It's the story of a little girl whose mother had to take the best measures to save her little daughter. And it's heartbreaking.

You just have to read this book. It will tell you how mothers have to do everything in order to keep their children safe and sound even though they have to sacrifice themselves.

I am still crying ...

What a heartbreaking and beautiful story of one mother's love! There are as many different Holocaust stories as there were victims and survivors, but this is a less-often told tale of one mother hiding her daughter in an abbey - teaching her about Catholicism as a way to save her life. It, of course, comes to be the very thing that saves her, but the question remains unanswered to the child -- if they both respond to a higher power, which of them is the evil one? This is a powerful read, and one that will spark discussions.

I can easily see this being a book many teachers will read to their students in the decades to come. However, this book should not be shelved only as a children's book as adults can also benefit and learn something by reading it.
Katya Royz’s soft and gorgeous illustrations are one thing, but the imagery in the author’s words is amazing in itself. Pat Black-Gould is able to describe the tone, setting, and emotion of a scene in only a few short sentences. I also appreciated how the story outside of Lalka’s perspective was only implied and it was up to the reader to piece it together. It truly captured the innocence of childhood.
Without spoiling too much, the ending of the book is abrupt (or maybe only because I wanted the story to continue!), but the abruptness allows for instant reflection. The study guide questions at the back of the book also provide an important opportunity to reflect.
Overall, it was a great read and I look forward to having it in my own classroom one day.

A poignant story of a little Jewish girl during the Holocaust that brought tears to my eyes. In order to keep her safe from persecution by the Nazis, the little girl's mother exchanges her Star of David necklace for a rosary, and instructs her in Catholic practices so that she may be able to pass herself off as a Christian to save her life. Her mother enrolls the little girl in a convent school, entrusting her to the care of a kind nun who teaches her further about Catholic traditions. Days go by and suddenly, the mother no longer visits her daughter anymore. One day, Nazi officers arrive at the convent and harass the little girl, calling her a Jew and threatening her life. Will she be able to save herself from persecution? And how will she reconcile her Jewish background with her new Catholic lifestyle? Beautifully illustrated and narrated, this realistic, heart-wrenching tale is a must-read for those wishing to understand the cruel fate of Jewish children during the Holocaust.

This is a tenderly told story of the Holocaust that will be new for many children. In the midst of World War II, Lalka's mother gifts her a rosary, taking it in exchange for the Star of David necklace given to her by her father. Lalka is reluctant to give up her treasured necklace, she's worn it every day since it was given to her. Her mother tells her the new gift comes with a game, and the reader quickly finds out that the game is learning the Catholic Catechism. As the Nazi invasion looms closer, Lalka's mother is forced to make a heartbreaking sacrifice to give her daughter the best chance at survival.

The Crystal Beads, Lalka's Journey will be an instant classic used to educate, spark conversation, and preserve the collective memory of the Holocaust for generations to come.