Looking at the Sky

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A poignant graphic novel inspired by the pre–World War II Warsaw orphanage run by children’s rights advocate Dr. Janusz Korczak.

It’s 1923 in Warsaw. Seven-year-old Izaak’s parents have died, and his older sisters can’t care for him. So, Izaak goes to live in a Jewish orphanage run by Janusz Korczak, a prominent doctor and writer. Izaak is unhappy about leaving home, and he misses his sisters. But now he has enough to eat. He goes to school for the first time. And Dr. Korczak’s unconventional ideas about children’s rights slowly open his eyes to his own worth and his life’s future possibilities.

Through Amanda West Lewis’s spare but resonant text and Abigail Rajunov’s limited color palette, this unforgettable graphic novel brings to life an important piece of pre-war Polish Jewish history. It also pays tribute to the inspiring Janusz Korczak, a renowned writer and thinker whose advocacy for children’s rights was influential around the world. Korczak is a benevolent and even playful presence in the story, who reads his books to the children and allows them to settle disputes in a children’s court. The character of Izaak was inspired by several real-life children who lived at the orphanage. Told with heart and honesty - Izaak escapes the Nazis, but the others, unfortunately, do not - and paying close attention to historical details, it’s an excellent lesson in how one person can change the lives of others. This book can spark discussions with children about their rights and how they can help make the world a better place. It also includes an author’s note, glossary and resources.