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The tower of life : how Yaffa Eliach rebuilt her village in stories and pictures Cover Image Book Book

The tower of life : how Yaffa Eliach rebuilt her village in stories and pictures / by Chana Stiefel ; illustrated by Susan Gal.

Stiefel, Chana, 1968- (author.). Gal, Susan, (illustrator.).

Summary:

"The story begins with Yaffa Eliach, a spirited young girl who grows up in a vibrant, happy 800-year-old town in Poland, filled with family life and rich traditions. Yaffa's grandmother, who receives a gift of a camera from America, becomes the village photographer, and takes photos of all the family events: weddings, bar mitzvahs, and family gatherings. And on the Jewish New Year, the villagers send photos to their relatives overseas to wish them a 'Gut Yontif'! But one dark day, the town is invaded. And quickly the once happy home to 5,000 Jewish people is uprooted. Yaffa survives the war and becomes a Professor of History and America's foremost Holocaust expert. And when President Jimmy Carter invites her to create an exhibit for the new National Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, she travels around the world hunting down her grandmother's photos taken of people who fled from her beloved town, Eishyshok, along with their stories and memories. This breathtaking revival of the town's collective spirit, which is a permanent exhibit at The National Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, will inspire all who read it"-- Provided by publisher.

Available copies

  • 1 of 2 copies available at Skagit Evergreen Libraries. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Upper Skagit Library District. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Upper Skagit Library.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 2 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Upper Skagit Library STI 1014407 Picture Books Available -
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Chana Stiefel is the award-winning author of more than 30 humorous and heartfelt books for children. Her nonfiction books include THE TOWER OF LIFE, the true story of Holocaust survivor and historian Yaffa Eliach, who created the Tower of Faces at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum (a Junior Libary Guild Gold Medal Selection, Scholastic); LET LIBERTY RISE: How America’s Schoolchildren Helped Save the Statue of Liberty (a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, Scholastic, 2021); and ANIMAL ZOMBIES & OTHER REAL-LIFE MONSTERS (a Top 10 YALSA Quick Pick, NatGeoKids). Chana’s funny fictional picture books include MENDEL’S HANUKKAH MESS UP (Kalaniot), MY NAME IS WAKAWAKALOCH (HMH), and DADDY DEPOT (Feiwel & Friends). She loves to visit schools and libraries to share her passion for reading and writing with children.

After completing her BFA at Art Center College of Design, Susan Gal began her illustration career as a poster and calendar artist. She is an award-winning illustrator of several picture books, including Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail by Lesléa Newman, winner of both the Sydney Taylor Book Award and the National Jewish Book Award, and The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories And Photographs by Chana Stiefel, recipient of the Sydney Taylor Book Award and Robert F. Sibert Honor. Susan lives with her husband in Berkeley, California where she creates fun and whimsical illustrations while attempting to live a caffeine and nuclear-free life. Visit her at galgirlstudio.com.

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