Having fled from war in their troubled homeland, a boy and his family are living in poverty in a strange country. Food is scarce, so when the boy's father brings home a map instead of bread for supper, at first the boy is furious. But when the map is hung on the wall, it floods their cheerless room with color. As the boy studies its every detail, he is transported to exotic places without ever leaving the room, and he eventually comes to realize that the map feeds him in a way that bread never could.

The award-winning artist's most personal work to date is based on his childhood memories of World War II and features stunning illustrations that celebrate the power of imagination. An author's note includes a brief description of his family's experience, two of his early drawings, and the only surviving photograph of himself from that time.

This is a truly moving and inspiring story. The author was a Polish refugee, displaced by World War II. The story focuses on the author's experience using a huge map and his imagination to escape from his difficult circumstances. The book, a Caldecott Medal Honor winner, is gorgeously illustrated and emphasizes the importance of finding beauty and joy in the most adverse situations.

It is an excellent lesson in geography and history. Your child will definitely love to explore the exciting world that Shulevitz imagines as he looks at the map. They will be moved by the story of Shulevitz being separated from his homeland and will empathize with his struggles with war and hunger. The images of all of the different places really come to life with the stunning detail and emotion that is poured into each drawing.

My nephew Michael is fascinated by maps. He had a ton of questions about the war and about Shulevitz's life, and he was so curious about the story. I love history, and it was so exciting to see Michael displaying a fascination about the world.

--Eve