Why Joshua’s Name Is Joshua

Joshua’s Mom, who is well known to readers from previous books, explains where Joshua’’s name came from and tells the story of her family that disappeared in the Holocaust. Joshua and his family live in a world where everyone is considered equal. Without scaring him or making him anxious, Joshua’s Mom tells him about a very different time when there were good people and bad people in the world and not everyone was considered equal. Looking through the family photo album, Joshua learns about the history of his family and starts to appreciate the calm, secure surrounding in which he lives. And he discovers that he is named after his mother`s grandfather, who was nice and had curly hair – just like him. In a calm tone, Frankel conveys her personal view of one of the most terrible times in history, and offers her young readers an understated version of its events, adapted to their age and understanding.

Alona Frankel’s illustrations are especially beautiful and sensitive in this book.