In 1912, a well-known doctor and writer named Janusz Korczak designed an extraordinary orphanage for Jewish children in Warsaw, Poland. Believing that children were capable of governing themselves, he encouraged the orphans to elect a parliament, run a court, and put out their own weekly newspaper. Even when Korczak was forced to move the orphanage into the Warsaw Ghetto after Hitler's rise to power, and couldn't afford to buy food and medicine for his charges, he never lost sight of his ideals. Fully committed to giving his children as much love as possible during a terrifying time, Korczak refused to abandon them. In his most beautiful and heartfelt book to date, with evocative acrylic illustrations and spare, poignant prose, Tomek Bogacki tells the story of a courageous man who, during one of the grimmest moments in world history, dedicated his life's work― and ultimately his life itself―to children.

This remarkable book chronicles the life of Janusz Korczak, a writer, medical doctor, and caregiver for orphaned children in Warsaw, Poland. In 1939, when the Nazis occupied Poland, they forced Korczak to move into the ghetto with his orphaned children. In 1942, he was sent along with the children he had rescued to the Treblinka extermination camp.

This was spectacular! I loved everything about this book. For a picture book it manages to pack in a lot. A lot of general historical background is given, in the story proper and in the historical note in the final two pages of the book. The story of Korczak’s boyhood and how he came to be the man he was and details about all his years of life. Details about his orphanage and other work with and on behalf of children. And the pictures are glorious. Absolutely beautiful and fitting perfectly with the text account. Wonderful facial expressiveness on the paintings of Korczak! Be prepared to feel emotional. With this true story it’s warranted, and the book doesn’t disappoint. Though extremely sad, Kroczak and the impact he had and still has, kept it from being depressing for me. I found it inspiring. Also apropos.

Janusz Korczak is someone I greatly admire, and I appreciated that the author-illustrator feels that way too, from his boyhood in Poland, and so this tribute to the man seems particularly special.

Thank you so much to Goodreads friend Abigail who recently urged me to read this. Many books I shelve as to-read never get read, and I’m so grateful that this one didn’t languish forever on my to-read shelf.

I have to get to Betty Jean Lifton’s book about Korczak! It’s mentioned here in the sources, and I appreciate the reminder.

If you don’t know about this remarkable man and you’re open to reading a children’s picture book, I highly recommend this one. I also recommend this book to readers of all ages who do know about this man. This could work as a good introduction to the Holocaust for school aged children. This book was published in 2009; I hate to contemplate how it might never have been. I wish it was more widely known and read; unfortunately, there are relatively few ratings/reviews here at Goodreads and even fewer at LibraryThing. ( )

Janusz Korczak was an advocate for children, and it all started when he was a child himself. He always wanted to help children who had less than him, he even told his grandma that he would give all of his money away just to help children. As Janusz got older, he became a doctor because he knew that was one way he could help children. Though being a doctor was great, he ended up giving this profession up to open an orphanage. Janusz taught the children everything, and they become one big family. When World War II started, Janusz and his children were forced out of their orphanage, and into the ghetto. Though their space was cramped, and food was scarce, Janusz still found a way to take care of his children the best that he could. Unfortunate, Janusz and the children were taken to an extermination camp, and eventually were all killed. Though Janusz could not protect his children from the holocaust, he did give them love and never stopped fighting for them.

I cried even more tears for this book. I had no idea who Janusz Korczak was, and I can't believe I am just learning about his story. His bravery, and dedication, is truly inspiring. The fact that he had this dream of helping children, and was able to accomplish it, is remarkable. So many of us have dreams, but not all of us achieve them in our lifetime. Though the end was tragic, Janusz and the children's spirits live forever. I believe so many young readers can benefit from this book because it will allow them to feel, and to relate to those children in the orphanages in one way or the other. I also really loved the illustrations and want to learn more about Janusz. ( )

Janusz Korczak has always wanted to stick up for and protect children. When he gets older and becomes a doctor, he decides to give this up to really take care of children and open a Jewish orphanage. In this orphanage, the children govern and rule it as well as take care of their own responsibilities, while being cared for and looked after by Janusz. Once World War II began, the children and Janusz were forced to live in a ghetto. Janusz tried to keep the same structure as in the orphanage, but the children were always hungry and got thinner and thinner. Eventually, Janusz and the children were sent to an extermination camp where they were all killed. Janusz's story of dedication to the children is inspiring, while its ending is tragic. He spent his whole life trying to stick up for the rights of children and show them that they deserve love, education, and someone to trust. Even though the children in the orphanage died with him, while they were alive they had Janusz as a support and even in the ghetto they found comfort in his presence and his care. ( )