I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The pictures were stunning and what really brought the story to life. I think that younger readers will really enjoy the book. As an educator, I am excited to read this story aloud and have meaningful discussions with my students.

This short graphic novel can be read in one sitting, but it will stay with you much longer.

The story follows a young Jewish boy, Maurice, and his family as they escape from Belgium during the Second World War and eventually find a temporary home in a Jamaican internment camp. 

Overall, Maurice's story is simple and direct, but his courage and determination to overcome any obstacles set in his way are inspiring. Bonus: it's quite unexpectedly funny at times. Very moving and well done.

I loved this books the illustrations the story and the authors notes and pictures at the end. It is a great story about being resilient. You could do so much with this book in a classroom setting. A must read.

Through wonderfully drawn illustrations and thought provoking narrative, Maurice and His Diary is based off a true story about a family during the Holocaust. It's an incredibly well narrated story that captures the hardships during WWII in a way that's appropriate to younger audiences. It's a beautifully written book that I think all classrooms should have!

A fascinating piece of history. This family’s story is one that will stay with me. I can’t wait to share this graphic novel with students.

A very good young graphic novel, featuring a lad and his family fleeing Nazi Europe – first from Brussels to Paris, then to Lisbon, then elsewhere in the world – only to end up in a camp as a DP.  Luckily the young lad, our main character, can fulfil some of his dreams, for they are to be educated enough to become a lawyer, and despite being homeless there were enough people around to teach him what he needed to know.  Based on the author's own father's young life, I can't say the artwork appealed with its ugly representation of the human face, but it's an interesting story, and the location of their internment camp still makes for a novel look at the Holocaust, however many books on the subject you've read.  It has the right moral for the target schoolchild audience, too – namely, "get out there and learn stuff!"

Maurice and His Dictionary is the story of a Jewish family that flees Belgium as the Nazis are coming in during World War Two. Written in a graphic novel type of style it traces the family as they struggle to find a safe place to live, and then as they struggle to make something productive of their lives once they are safe. Maurice, the youngest of the children, manages to get his hands on a dictionary and that changes the course of his future. This was a great read, and perfect for the older elementary school grades. If I were teaching I would add this to my classroom library in an instant.

Maurice and His Dictionary is a book based on a true story of a Jewish refugee, who then became a very succesful student by learning English on his dictionary, until it was beat-up. 

It is very heartwarming and shows an important part in the history of World War, a part that some of us forgets. It is also story about suceeding and perserving--which is often what happened when you are forced to survive by yourself and carry your dreams alone.

SO GOOD! My kids loved it, I liked it, and it's one I will be looking to put in our local library history section. I think it is an excellent book.

We get a fair number of books about people displaced by the rise of the Nazis. Refugees or concentration camp victims. Sometimes they can begin to blend together, so its noteworthy when one finds something that distinguishes it. In this case, that focus is education. We see Maurice with a thirst for knowledge, a desire to make more of himself. Circumstance and bureaucracy seem to constantly conspire to hold him pack. It's a prime example of how once a person falls into a hole it can be nearly impossible to get back out.. Maurice has to find creative ways to improve his life. A short book but one well worth reading and rereading.

Interesting story about the author's father, Maurice, and his family's escape during World War II. Maurice's dream was to become a lawyer. Through hard work and determination he found a way to continue his education in a refugee camp in Jamaica. Maurice's father bought him a dictionary and the dictionary helped Maurice with the English language. The dictionary didn't play a big role in the story itself, but the significance of the dictionary becomes clear in the Author's notes where a picture of the dictionary is shown. This is the first time I have read a World War II nonfiction picture book that mentions Jamaica as an escape destination. I really enjoyed this book and I now have an interest in other World War II refugees that fled to Jamaica.

'Maurice and His Dictionary' by Cary Fagan with illustrations by Enzo Lord Mariano is a picture book based on a true story full of survivaly and persistence.

Maurice and his family live in Belgium during World War II.  Maurice wants to become a lawyer, but his family is Jewish and on the run.  When they move to France, then Jamaica, Maurice still keeps trying to find ways to study.

I like this true story of a family endruing through some pretty hard times.  I especially liked the photos and story at the end of the book.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Owlkids Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Thank you, Netgalley, for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

This is a wonderful nonfiction graphic novel for children! This is not your typical story about Jewish refugees during the Holocaust/WWII. This story shows you a different kind of refugee, one family who lived because they made it to Camp Gibraltar in Jamaica. To be honest, I had never heard of Camp Gibraltar before, but this book peaked my interest, so I will definitely try to learn more about that. And I think that is what this book is all about ... it shows human fate, but also makes you want to know more.

We love reading true stories and this book was so interesting and we really enjoyed learning this part of history!

There are many subjects related to the Holocaust and World War II that are not heavily discussed and this book hits two of them in one go. The internment camps in Jamaica as a stop gap for fleeing Europe is a new area that I was unfamiliar with, especially in children's literature. Additionally, the discussion of Vichy and occupied France is one that does not often occur in children's literature. I've seen it often enough in adult fiction and nonfiction, but the French cooperation with the Nazis is hardly ever covered in children's books.

I think this graphic novel provided enough narrative to read like fiction while still remaining true to its nonfiction core story. I also liked the story nesting inside the story aspect. We see young Maurice through his son's eyes, but we also see his grandfather through his father's eyes. It shows a type of reverence and love that really shines throughout the book.

I love it when a book both surprises and informs me, and Maurice and His Dictionary did just that. Reading this in one quick sitting, I was surprised to learn about the transportation of Jewish refugees to Jamaica, as well as Canada's shameful period of denying entry to Jewish refugees. Overall, I loved this short graphic novel and especially appreciated the gradual shift in colour scheme from fairly dark and monochromatic to light and colourful. This is a powerful story of perseverance and a lovely tribute to a father from his son. Thank you, Cary Fagan, for sharing your family's story.  

Teaching Themes: World War II, Immigration, Internment Camps, Perseverance, Family, Education, Following Your Dreams

This was a great book to read to my children. My boys are 7 and 9 and they were able to appreciate the message in this book. In this graphic novel  Maurice, and his family as they flee their home in Belgium during the Second World War.. My children know that this war was a bad one. This based on a true story shows what actual people went through. This book is well researched and I felt that my boys were able to get a history lesson in it as well. 

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, all thoughts are my own.

Reading about the 1930s and the 1940s has always been something that I enjoy. I have read many stories that took place in Europe during this time period. But this was something I have never read about before. I want to read more about what was going on outside of Europe during the 30s and 40s.
I wanted to pick this up because I like anything that in about this time period or anything about words/dictionaries/libraries.
This will definitely be a good story for children to read. It's educational and it shows them that even in the most difficult of situations, you can make something of yourself if you are willing to go for it.

Maurice and His Dictionary tells the story of Maurice, a Jewish boy escaping persecution from Belgium during the second World War. The illustrations are very well done and made it easy to follow. This book would be a great addition to any classroom library. Understanding history and providing texts to develop deep conversations around sensitive topics. Maurice's love of learning is contagious and I loved that Cary wrote the graphic novel through the lens of his father's escape from Nazi's. Maurice and His Dictionary is a story of resilience and hits home the idea of knowledge is power. I would read it again in a heartbeat!

A moving and heart-wrenching biographical story about teenage Maurice, who, in the early 1940s, must leave his home and everything he knows to find safety with his family before he’s rounded up by the Nazi’s for being Jewish. 

The fear and anxiety about the Nazi’s is present in the story, but it’s Maurice’s studiousness and love of learning and love for his family that kept me reading. I love how he simply wanted to learn and to finish school in order to achieve his goals. His parents and siblings all care so deeply for each other and push him to be the best he can be and to do what he can to achieve his goals even amidst a war and such terrible struggles. 

The artwork is lovely and I love the muted and yet somehow vibrant colors. I like how more grays are used in fake times and more yellows are used in happier times. I love how the characters and the places they go are illustrated — the shading and colors and cute rosy cheeks are wonderful. 

I love that this story is written by a son telling the story of his father. It adds an extra level of heart and soul and warmth to it. A lovely read!