Scan barcode
A review by notsarahconnor
Brundibar by Tony Kushner
4.0
I had never heard of Brundibar before my children’s literature class but I’m so glad I read it! Not only is it a cute story for children but it’s chilling historical significance is what makes the story fascinating.
Brundibar is a very easy read and very short. It’s easy to understand and follow the story and the illustrations are lovely! It’s innocent and everything a children’s story should be, with Aninku and Pepicek the protagonists who defeat the evil Brundibar with the help of all the little children in town with just a touch of darkness to chill your bones.
Onto the historical significance:
Brundibar was originally a children’s opera and it was performed in Terezin a concentration camp created to look like a peaceful town to fool the Red Cross. The Red Cross had heard rumours of the Nazi’s killing Jews and wanted to investigate. The Nazi’s created Terezin, a community of artistic children who performed the play for nearby towns. Brundibar was performed 55 times with an ever changing cast as the children were sent to death. The Red Cross were fooled. Out of the thousands of children sent to Terezin only 100 survived.
For those interested there is a book on the artwork saved from Terezin published in the book I Never Saw Another Butterfly.
Brundibar is a very easy read and very short. It’s easy to understand and follow the story and the illustrations are lovely! It’s innocent and everything a children’s story should be, with Aninku and Pepicek the protagonists who defeat the evil Brundibar with the help of all the little children in town with just a touch of darkness to chill your bones.
Onto the historical significance:
Brundibar was originally a children’s opera and it was performed in Terezin a concentration camp created to look like a peaceful town to fool the Red Cross. The Red Cross had heard rumours of the Nazi’s killing Jews and wanted to investigate. The Nazi’s created Terezin, a community of artistic children who performed the play for nearby towns. Brundibar was performed 55 times with an ever changing cast as the children were sent to death. The Red Cross were fooled. Out of the thousands of children sent to Terezin only 100 survived.
For those interested there is a book on the artwork saved from Terezin published in the book I Never Saw Another Butterfly.