Hitler's Canary by Sandi Toksvig (English) Paperback Book

Description: Hitler's Canary by Sandi Toksvig Talks about April 1940 when the German troops began pouring into Denmark. When it became clear that the trouble isnt just going to pass them by, the people of Denmark decide to take action and Bamse and his eccentric family take part in one of historys most dramatic rescues - smuggling Denmarks Jewish population, across to Sweden. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description An extraordinary story of immense courage and daring rescue, based on real-life events experienced by Sandi Toksvigs family during the Nazi occupation of Denmark in the Second World War.1940. Copenagen, Denmark. The German troops have invaded. The Second World War rages on.Ten-year-old Bamse Skovlund and his best friend Anton have been ordered to stay out of trouble.It soon becomes clear that trouble isnt just going to pass any of them by.Jewish Danes are subject to appalling treatment by the German occupiers, and every day are at risk of being taken away to concentration camps in mainland Europe.The Skovlund family are determined to fight against Nazi occupation. And if this means participating in one of historys most dramatic rescue missions, then its time to take a stand.A tale of courage and love in Nazi-occupied Denmark based on accounts from beloved author and comedian Sandi Toksvigs own family. The book is inspired by the stories he told to her by her father, Bamse. Notes Based on true-life events during the Second World War Hitlers Canary is a funny and gripping account of a childhood spent under occupation and a daring rescue. From the well-known comedian Sandy Toksvig. Ages: 9-11yrs. Back Cover Bamse is used to drama: his mother is a famous actress, and his best friend Anton is one of the most daring boys in Denmark. When the German troops invade, Bamse doesnt know how to act: should he stay out of trouble - or follow his brother into the resistance and take the most demanding role of his life? A tale of daring rescue inspired by the experiences of Sandi Tokvigs father during the Second World War. An extraordinary story... truly life-affirming Michael Morpurgo There are not many classic childrens novels about the Second World War but this is one of them. Toksvigs enchanting and inspiring tale reminds us of how even the smallest people make a difference Amanda Craig, The Times A page-turner written with warmth and wit, not to mention a keen narrative sense Time Out Racily written and full of comic incident as well as suspense Independent Brilliantly told... never loses sight of the childs view of war Guardian Funny and gripping Funday Times Flap I knew I should be afraid but I didnt know yet what of: the Germans? The British? The French? We were theatre people. We didnt get involved in these things. It was nothing to do with us.Bamse is used to drama; his mother is a famous actress, and his best friend Anton is one of the most daring boys in all of Denmark. This can get them both into a lot of trouble. When the invading German troops pour into the country Bamse doesnt know how to act - Should he follow his fathers advice and not stir up trouble - or follow his daring brother, join the resistance and take part in the most demanding role of his life?Inspired by the experiences of Sandi Toksvigs father during the Second World War, Hitlers Canary is a funny and gripping account of a daring rescue. Author Biography Following a first-class degree from Cambridge, Sandi Toksvig went into the theatre, where she both wrote and performed before becoming one of the founder members of the Comedy Store Players. She is well known for her television and radio work, as a presenter, writer and actor. Review There are not many classic childrens novels about the Second World War but this is one of them. Toksvigs enchanting and inspiring tale reminds us of how even the smallest people made a difference -- Amanda Craig * The Times *There are several heart-stopping moments but overall the story is told with a light touch and many moments of humour * The Bookseller *On the evidence of this warm and enlightening tale, Sandi Toksvig is as skilled at writing for children as she is for adults . . . Toksvig manages to lace the action with plenty of humour but without trivialising the momentous events * Waterstones Books Quarterly *A must-read for any pupil studying World War II and any pupil looking for a truly remarkable "real-life" story to inspire and delight * Teaching & Learning *A suspenseful, humane story -- Nicolette Jones * The Sunday Times * Promotional Based on true-life events during the Second World War Hitlers Canary is a funny, and gripping account of a childhood spent under occupation and a daring rescue. Kirkus US Review During WWII, the Danes, whose nation was occupied by the Germans, knew the British called them, "Hitlers Canary." "They say he has us in a cage and we just sit and sing any tune he wants." But Denmark waged active underground opposition to the conquerors and saved most Jewish Danes from being taken into the concentration camps. Toksvig tells the story through the eyes and actions of Bamsie, ten years old when the story begins. He is the son of an actress, whose talent becomes an essential part of the plot. Because of the theatrical influence in his life, Hitlers Canary is arranged as Act, Scene, Time, Date, Place, providing a guide from 1940 to 1943, the year the Jews escaped to Sweden. Characterization is good enough to make each person an individual, sometimes permitting "good" people to have faults. Details of setting and time are fascinating, and the action is suspenseful and riveting. Despite a few missteps (how would people who were rescuing Jews know what is and what is not a Jewish name, for instance?), Toksvig offers a spellbinding look at a part of history that is rarely fictionalized. Backmatter includes the facts of Danish resistance and Jewish rescue as well as further details on the fate of those involved. An authors note explains what is true of her own family history retold in the story. (Historical fiction. 10-14) (Kirkus Reviews) Review Text There are not many classic childrens novels about the Second World War but this is one of them. Toksvigs enchanting and inspiring tale reminds us of how even the smallest people made a difference Review Quote There are not many classic childrens novels about the Second World War but this is one of them. Toksvigs enchanting and inspiring tale reminds us of how even the smallest people made a difference Promotional "Headline" An extraordinary story of immense courage and daring rescue, based on real-life events experienced by Sandi Toksvigs family during the Nazi occupation of Denmark in the Second World War. Excerpt from Book Overture and Beginners Time: April 1940 Place: Copenhagen, Denmark The day the Germans invaded I was asleep on Henry Vs throne. It was 1940. I was ten and I was asleep on the throne in the middle of the stage at the Royal Copenhagen Theatre. I suppose it made it all seem even more dramatic. The real King Henry, of course, had been dead for a long time but I had seen my Uncle Max play him so often that I dreamed about Henry and his great battles. I imagined I was making wonderful speeches calling the soldiers to cry God for Harry, England and Saint George! I knew the words: . . . when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger. I had heard the speech a million times from the wings of the theatre. It was stirring stuff, even for a small Danish boy. That night, 9 April, there had been a big party on the stage. All the actors had done little scenes and everyone had wept when my mother did her piece from Hamlet where the queen says that poor, mad Ophelia has drowned herself in the river. Even Torvald the comic cried and said Mama could move an onion to weep. Mama had bowed low and still for a moment and there was this tremendous hush. She knew she had everyone in the palm of her hand because she looked at me and winked. Then she stood up and gave the tinkling laugh that got such good reviews in her production of A Dolls House . It was as if all the sad bits had been a great joke and everyone felt better immediately. Remembering to laugh when things were bad was what Mama did best. Father had painted a little congratulations card for everyone, with the red-and-white flags of Denmark spelling out their names. Thomas, who was wardrobe master, had provided fancy dress and there were kings and clowns, cowboys and Indians, courtiers and peasants, ballet dancers and stilt walkers and even two men from the electrics crew dressed as a cow. Thomas had found me a top hat and waistcoat and said I could be the little ringmaster. I dont know what I must have looked like in the huge hat and my usual baggy grey shorts which came to my knee, but I thought it was great getting dressed up. The old season was over and everyone needed to relax a little. Soon there would be new plays, with hours of rehearsal and lots of tension and excitement, but for now it was time to have fun. I loved the theatre and everything about it: the dusty smell, the old wooden boards where anything could happen, the excitement, the nerves, the showing off and the fun. From my mother I learned to love it when the place was full and the audience was hushed. My mother was an actress through and through. My father was in the theatre too but he was a designer and painter. From him I learned how wonderful it could be when the stage was empty, waiting for the next great set to be put up: that moment when the theatre could become anything from a sailing ship to a Bedouin desert. My father would stand on the stage and show me the drawings of the world he wanted to build. Look, Bamse, he would say. Just imagine where we will take everyone next time. He and I would stand there and create magic with his paints and brushes and imagination. We lived in a make-believe world and it was hard for me to imagine doing anything else with my life. My mother was not just any actress. She was one of the most famous women in Denmark. She was what the Danish critics called a leading light. Elegant and beautiful, she was brilliant at Chekhov, at comedy and, of course, at Shakespeare. Mama and Papa had met on stage and I had been hanging around the theatre since Mama had first carried me on in a music revue as the brand-new baby of a girl who had got into trouble. Then there was Uncle Max (who was not my real uncle but my godfather). Uncle Max was a wonderful actor and he and Mama had played every famous couple there was in the theatre. I sometimes think the audience thought they were married in real life, they were so good together. They could make you cry and laugh at the same moment. Maybe thats why we were so good at it once the war came. On the night of the big party no one had been talking about politics. There was a war going on in Europe but so far Denmark had been left alone. I dont remember being afraid, even though in those days I was sometimes fearful of other things and slept with a light on. After everyone had done their party pieces we all sang old Danish songs. The Danes love singing and Uncle Max had written some new words specially for that night, making jokes and poking fun at everyone. My big brother Orlando, who was sixteen, and my fourteen-year-old sister Masha had gone home but I hid out of the way so as not to catch Mamas eye and make her realize how late it was. I had watched the grown-ups laughing and drinking beer. Then Thomas had put me on the throne and made me deliver one of Henrys speeches and everyone had clapped. I had fallen asleep on the throne with the sound still ringing in my ears. When I awoke in the morning I wasnt sure where I was. The electricians had gone home. Perhaps they had walked through the streets of Copenhagen still dressed as a cow. A drunk cow heading home. Even at a party the backstage people never last as long as the actors. The men had turned out the lights except for the one safety lamp that always burns night and day in every theatre in the world. Now the whole stage was lit with a single bulb on a stand in the corner. The music had stopped but I wasnt alone. There were various sleeping bodies about the place, and Kaufmann, who played the piano for the sketches, seemed to have collapsed across the keyboard. None of the slumbering shapes looked like Mother or Father but I wasnt afraid. This was my home. From the Hardcover edition. Details ISBN0440866626 Author Sandi Toksvig Pages 304 Year 2006 ISBN-10 0440866626 ISBN-13 9780440866626 Format Paperback Publication Date 2006-07-06 DEWEY 823.914 Media Book Edition New edition Language English Imprint Yearling Place of Publication London DOI 10.1604/9780440866626 UK Release Date 2006-07-06 Publisher Penguin Random House Childrens UK Country of Publication United States AU Release Date 2006-07-06 NZ Release Date 2006-07-06 US Release Date 2006-07-06 Narrator Llewella Gideon Illustrator Paul Kidby Translator Richard Dixon Affiliation Professor of Criminology, University of Manchester Position Professor of Criminology Qualifications QC Audience Age 9-11 Alternative 9781787620858 Audience Childrens (6-12) We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:3026812;

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