Amid rumors of liberation, inmates at Germany’s Belsen camp create toys for a celebration in a moving story of hope, based on a true account. Miriam lives in hut 18, bed 22. She has little to eat and nothing to play with, but she can remember what it was like before, when she had her own food, her own bed, and her very own toys. As World War II nears an end, everyone says the soldiers are coming, so Miriam joins the women in planning a celebration. Every night, while the guards sleep, they busy themselves crafting toys out of scraps of their clothing to surprise the younger children. Based on a reference to a small collection of stuffed toys made by women in Belsen for the first party held after the liberation of the camp, this new edition of Let the Celebrations Begin!, originally published in 1996,is an affecting story of human survival.

Amid rumors of liberation, inmates at Germany’s Belsen camp create toys for a celebration in a moving story of hope, based on a true account. Miriam lives in hut 18, bed 22. She has little to eat and nothing to play with, but she can remember what it was like before, when she had her own food, her own bed, and her very own toys. As World War II nears an end, everyone says the soldiers are coming, so Miriam joins the women in planning a celebration. Every night, while the guards sleep, they busy themselves crafting toys out of scraps of their clothing to surprise the younger children. Based on a reference to a small collection of stuffed toys made by women in Belsen for the first party held after the liberation of the camp, this new edition of Let the Celebrations Begin!, originally published in 1996,is an affecting story of human survival.

Dreadful, especially the illustrations. ( )

Although our general knowledge of the setting and the story behind this book is deeply disturbing, the heart of this award winning book is about love, survival, hope and freedom. It is about celebration, about parties and liberation. A small group of women in Belsen concentration camp get together to make small soft toys for their children as they wait for the English and American solidiers to release them from their hell. The illustrations are soft yet colourful watercolours. The faces of the characters are happy in anticipation of what is to come and yet you know these are people of the holocaust, by their frail frames and shorne hair. Review by Fiona

Very good story- but images could be a little confusing or scary to young children. About life in concentration camp for women and children. ( )