"Not long after, a tall man in a fine suit rented
the house on the canal for his business. Downstairs,
they mixed and packed herbs and spices. The air
was filled with the scent of faraway lands.
Some days, the tall man was visited by a young
girl with a sweet smile. She had a sparkle in her
eye and a pen and notebook in her pocket.
She was his daughter."
This book is a life story ... of a house. An archival picture following the title page lets readers know that the house sits in the middle of Amsterdam, next to a canal. It is nearly four hundred years old today, and has evolved from one to many different things over the course of its life. It is an 'extraordinary' building, we are told.
It began as marshland, supporting cows, herons, field mice and even a flock of seagulls. After many years, it was chosen for building a sturdy canal, and humans worked the land on either side. Soon, a stonemason felt it to be the perfect place to build his family home ... strong and sturdy as could be. Other houses quickly surrounded it, then a church. It was lived in by a large family before it began to deteriorate. Purchased by a wealthy merchant, it was soon returned to its former glory and provided a warm and inviting place for entertaining.
After thirty years, the owners moved and once again, the house suffered from neglect. It began a new life as a barn for horses, spiders, mice and bats. Following that, other families lived in the house on the canal; one planted a chestnut tree in the garden. After a devastating fire, a new family made its presence known with songs and laughter. The threat of war and the arrival of trucks and tanks sent people running in fear. The house returned to emptiness.
When the man on the cover rented the house, he could not have known how it would impact the life of his family and friends. With the arrival of the Nazis, Amsterdam became unsafe for all Jewish people. His family and four others hid in top floors of the annex, in hopes they would evade the police ... endless days of terror helped by friends who brought food and other necessities. The young girl's diary reflected all that happened while they were in hiding.
The family was eventually found by the soldiers and taken away. Two women took the diary they found there, and kept it safe. The arrival of new soldiers brought cries of welcome and a chance for the father to return to the house ... "tired and alone". The diary was returned to him.
' ... he read with a
crack in his heart and tears in his eyes.
And shared with his family.
Then his friends.
And then with the world."
The house again fell into disrepair. Finally, led by the father, the community worked to bring it back to a place that today stands for people to learn about the young girl, her diary, and the hope it held while it protected those she loved.
Choosing not to name the young girl with the sweet smile until it unfolds following the text, Thomas Harding uses eloquent words to amplify the emotional impact of the house and its story. Britta Teckentrup uses mixed media to bring full impact to the house and its changes over the course of many years, all the while ensuring that readers are fully aware of the evolution of the house, where is sits on the canal, and its place in history. Back matter more fully describes the canal, the builder, the woman and twelve children who made it a happy home, the wealthy merchant, various businesses, the ironmonger, Anne Frank, and The Anne Frank House that stands today.
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