A violin is confiscated from a Jewish family by a Nazi soldier. The book follows the violin.

The illustrations of the family at the beginning are really sweet. I loved that it followed the violin and showed what happened when the violin was left in the pile of things while no one was attending to it.

This would be a great book to share with students in 3rd-5th grade as they start to learn about the Holocaust. It shows some of Jewish culture rather and hope, rather than only focusing on the horrors of that time.

I loved this story. It's so heartbreaking to think about the family and their possessions and what happened to them. The idea that a violin could carry on such hope through it's music is beautiful.

The violin hung, as art, on the living room wall. Nightly, the young family listened to papa's beautiful violin music, sometimes dancing if the tune was lively, sometimes sitting and reflecting when it was slow and sorrowful. The son aspired to learn and master the instrument, that is, until the Nazis knocked on doors confiscating musical instruments, furniture, candlesticks and other possessions.

"The violin waited in silence. It's body filled with dust, and its ribs opened at the seams." Refurbished by a luthier, the violin "feels familiar, like a melody remembered from long ago."

Violin of Hope is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book presenting the tale of one such violin seized by the Nazis during the Holocaust. On an elementary children's level, hope might be restored with doses of loving care. Once cracks, dents and strings were replaced and the wood was polished, the violin "carries the touch and playing style of the previous owner...walking in their footsteps [making] their voice heard."

The back cover of author Ella Schwartz's heartfelt book discusses The Violins of Hope, a travelling orchestra formed using refurbished Holocaust instruments. Concerts are performed worldwide and educational projects are promoted. The orchestra uses instruments owned by Jews before or during WWII. Many of these violins were donated by or bought from ancestors including a violin played in the Auschwitz Men's Orchestra.

A highly recommended children's historical fiction picture book.

Thank you Lerner Publishing Group | Kar-Ben Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a cute story. I love the thought of the family somehow finding the violin again. Gives it a hopeful tone.

I received a free copy of, Violin of Hope, by Ella Schwartz, illus by Juliana Oakley, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a beautiful story about a violin, and its journey, The illustrations are beautiful. I enjoyed this book.