The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark

This is a wonderful book for teaching not only children but adults about the extraordinary events which took place in Denmark during WWII. So few people are aware of the compassion and the tolerance the Danish people showed to the Jewish community. This should be a must read for every class that studies the Holocaust. The children need to be taught that there were people who stood up the the grave injustices which were being committed.

Children's books normally focus on events far removed from real life. While that is fine and appropriate for stimulating imagination, children should also be given a chance to connect to situations closer to reality to stimulate character. This book does a marvelous job of commenting on the Holocaust from the perspective of some things that a non-Jewish person could have done. As such, it makes a wonderful bridge to understanding how we all must be our brothers' keepers.The story here is built around the widely reported, but undocumented, history of King Christian X of Denmark during World War II. Here are the basics of the story as described in the book. The Nazis occupied the country in 1940. The King showed his courage in many ways on behalf of all Danes. He rode down the streets each morning without a guard or any weapons. When the Nazis put their flag on the palace, he ordered it taken down and it came down. The Nazi commander said that he would put another one up. The King said that he would order it taken down, as well. When the Nazi commander then threatened to kill the next person to do this, the King said that the commander should be prepared to kill him because he, the King, would be performing this task. Then, the order came down that all Jews must wear a yellow star (reflective of the Star of David) on their clothing at all times. The King rode out the next morning wearing a yellow star, and many citizens followed his example. The story concludes with posing the question about what would happen if everyone stood up against injustice. Very nice!In the Author's note, Ms. Deedy shares the historically documented facts:(1) The King did ride unescorted daily in the streets.(2) There were stories throughout Europe in 1943 that the King had shown support for Danish Jews and had threatened to wear a yellow star.(3) No Danish Jews were forced to wear the yellow star.(4) Denmark was the only Nazi-occupied country where the overwhelming majority of Jews survived.(5) 7,000 Jews were smuggled successfully from Denmark to neighboring Sweden.(6) Over 500 Jews were deported to Theresienstadt. All but 51 survived, in part because of continuing intervention by the Danish government. This historical note is helpful for opening the door for a child to learn more about the Holocaust and the important role that non-Jews could play at that time . . . when they stood up to be counted by taking helpful actions. Some people did this openly with defiance while others helped clandestinely. At a time when some want to argue that the Holocaust never happened, it is important to open bridges back into the lessons of these awful events -- to help prevent their recurrence and to honor the victims and heroes of those days. The book is also greatly enhanced by the illustrations which remind one of Norman Rockwell's work, except with a Danish feeling. The colors are chosen to emphasize the moral conflict between the Nazis and the Danes, and giv

Though the Yellow Star may appear nothing more than a picture book, it isn't. The Yellow Star is the touching story of the loved King Christian of Denmark. Before the war (World War II), Denmark was made up of all Danes, no race was stereotyped against. But, with the coming of the war and Hitler's anti-semitism, this changes. All jews are required to wear a yellow star on their clothing, to symbolize that they are different from others. Instead of Danes and Danes, Denmark was made up of Danes and Jews. King Christian, more powerful in character than in world influence will not stand for the treachery of his Danes, and requires the Yellow Star to be worn by all Danish citizens. Then, once again, "Denmark was made up of all Danes." Touching to the last word, this book deserves five stars and I highly reccommend it.

This beautifully illustrated book and equally beautiful story will touch everyone who is fortunate to read or hear of it.The Star of David, the symbol of the Jewish faith took a prominent place in history during the Second World War. King Christian X, an especially beloved monarch had made a commitment to all Danes: he would protect them in every way possible.During the early part of the war, Nazi soldiers replaced the Danish flag with a Nazi flag. King Christian had the flag replaced with the Danish flag. Nazi officials interrogated the king, who declared that if any Nazi carried out the threat to shoot whoever removed the Nazi flag, then that assassin would be guilty of killing the king because he, King Christian X would remove that Nazi flag himself! Seeing how imprudent challenging this king would be, the Nazi officer declared that all Jewish people in Denmark had to identify themselves by wearing a Star of David emblazoned on their clothing.King Christian X, after long and hard thought, came up with a solution. He decreed that ALL Danes would wear the Star of David and the Nazis wouldn't be any the wiser as to who was Jewish. He called for unity and solidarity among his Danish subjects. This is such a moving, heartwarming story of how love and solidarity faced up to evil and cruelty. The author does a magnificent job of drawing the line between fact and legend and concludes by saying how we really need this story. That is so true. We really do need this story. I really love this book.

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book for younger students. The story focuses on positive lessons of the Holocaust by highlighting attributes such as loyalty and treating people fairly. The author's notes tell what is legend and what is factual about the story of King Christian X of Denmark and his wearing the yellow star.