Flowers for Sarajevo, written by John McCutcheon and illustrated by Kristy Caldwell. Peachtree, Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2017. $19.95 ages 9 and up

"The following day,
at exactly ten o'clock,
the cellist plays again.
The day after that is
the same.
And the next.
For twenty-two days
he plays.
One day for each person ... "

I read Stephen Galloway's The Cellist of Sarajevo (Vintage, 2009) a number of years ago with admiration for his poignant writing and the story he told. Little did I know, or guess, that one day a children's picture book would tell the story of that dreadful day and the days that followed. Thanks to John McCutcheon and Kristy Caldwell, we have a version to be shared with a younger audience.

Drasko and his father make a living selling flowers at a street market in Sarajevo. When his father
goes to war, it is left to the young boy to carry on the work in his father's place. He is pushed to a far corner of the market. Drasko does not complain; from his new stall, he can hear the orchestra practice every day. It's lovely! He's luckier than he even imagines.

"A mortar has hit the bakery where people were
lined up for bread. I can hear the shouting, the cries.
The door beside me flies open. Orchestra
musicians burst from the rehearsal hall and race
toward the bakery."

It is 1992 in Sarajevo, and 22 people are killed that day. The cellist helps to brighten spirits following such a devastating loss.

"He sits and places his bow to the strings.
The people who have gathered look on
in silence. He plays the most beautiful and
heartbreaking music anyone could ever
imagine. All of us - Serb and Croat, Muslim
and Christian - stand side by side, listening
to a language we all understand."

Life goes on. Drasko continues to bring beauty to his beloved market and the people there.

Kristy Caldwell does a superb job of illustrating this very special story. Using ink, charcoal, graphite pencil and Adobe Photoshop, she ensures awareness of the story's action by using bold color to show it, and muted colors for the backgrounds. Her setting is authentic and adds context for readers.

The author provides, in back matter, a look at how war has changed in the Balkans since 1913, an author's note describing the day of the attack and the musician who provided the memorial music in honor of those who lost their lives. The lyrics and music for a song Mr. McCutcheon wrote about Sarajevo, the author's own narration of the book, and the cellist's recording of the music he played are included on a CD insert.

There is so much violence in the news every today. How do we talk with our children about such events happening around the world? One thing we can do is to share books with them; books that inspire them to respond in ways that are admirable and uplifting. Books can be a catalyst for understanding and discussion of relevant topics. In his book, John McCutcheon combines an historical event, music, and compassion to pen a memorable and poignant narrative.