A Scarf for Keiko (Kar-Ben/Lerner) |
"A STORY OF FRIENDSHIP AND LOYALTY..."
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It's 1942 and the United States is at war. In his Los Angeles elementary school, Sam has to knit for the soldiers. He's a terrible knitter and wants to give up. Keiko is a good knitter, but no one will talk to her. They think she's the enemy. When someone throws an egg at her bicycle, Sam just watches. In this fictional story based on true events, two children find a way to forge a friendship in a war-torn world consumed by racism and prejudice.
I read many accounts of children growing up in Los Angeles during World War Ii. I discovered that Jewish and Japanese American families in Boyle Heights forged friendships, and when President Roosevelt sent the Japanese American families to internment camps, many Jewish friends took care of their property, visited, and sent care packages to them. Since I'm not Japanese American or Jewish, I consulted with many people to be sure the story and characters ring true.
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Reviews
"A Scarf for Keiko...made me cry, in a good way." - Tablet Magazine, Best Jewish Children's Books of 2019
"A rich source for discussion, both about outward political oppression and the inward struggle to behave honorably amid it." - Publisher's Weekly
"A gentle and accessible story of tolerance during a war overflowing with racial and ethnic intolerance." - Kirkus Reviews
"The simple illustrations echo the book’s straightforward themes: loyalty, caring and non-discrimination... This book is a perfect jumping-off point for discussion at home or in school and is highly recommended for ages 5 to 10. - Jewish Book Council
"A thought-provoking read." - The Jewish Chronicle
"A rich source for discussion, both about outward political oppression and the inward struggle to behave honorably amid it." - Publisher's Weekly
"A gentle and accessible story of tolerance during a war overflowing with racial and ethnic intolerance." - Kirkus Reviews
"The simple illustrations echo the book’s straightforward themes: loyalty, caring and non-discrimination... This book is a perfect jumping-off point for discussion at home or in school and is highly recommended for ages 5 to 10. - Jewish Book Council
"A thought-provoking read." - The Jewish Chronicle