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3rd out of 43 books
—
10 voters
Boxes for Katje
Simple seeds of friendship grow into something extraordinary
After World War II there is little left in Katje's town of Olst in Holland. Her family, like most Dutch families, must patch their old worn clothing and go without everyday things like soap and milk. Then one spring morning when the tulips bloom "thick and bright," Postman Kleinhoonte pedals his bicycle down Katje...more
After World War II there is little left in Katje's town of Olst in Holland. Her family, like most Dutch families, must patch their old worn clothing and go without everyday things like soap and milk. Then one spring morning when the tulips bloom "thick and bright," Postman Kleinhoonte pedals his bicycle down Katje...more
Hardcover, 36 pages
Published
September 12th 2003
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
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Notable Book for the English Language Arts (BELA) 2004
Notable Social Studies Trade Book (NSSTB) 2004
Based on true events, Boxes for Katje tells the story of a tiny Dutch town after World War II. Many American charities such as the Children’s Aid Society packed boxes filled with necessities for Europeans after the devastation of World War II. In the author’s note, Fleming explains that her mother sent a box of necessities to a family in Europe and learned the oldest daughter was named Katje.
Thi...more
Notable Social Studies Trade Book (NSSTB) 2004
Based on true events, Boxes for Katje tells the story of a tiny Dutch town after World War II. Many American charities such as the Children’s Aid Society packed boxes filled with necessities for Europeans after the devastation of World War II. In the author’s note, Fleming explains that her mother sent a box of necessities to a family in Europe and learned the oldest daughter was named Katje.
Thi...more
"After a young Dutch girl writes to her new American friend in thanks for the care package sent after World War II, she begins to recieve increasingly larger boxes."
This is an enjoyable story with a heart warming lesson about kindness. The author is able to show Katja's character through her actions. Children can learn the goodness that comes from sharing with others by reading Katja's story. Children can also learn about charity and the satisfaction that comes from being a giving person who hel...more
This is an enjoyable story with a heart warming lesson about kindness. The author is able to show Katja's character through her actions. Children can learn the goodness that comes from sharing with others by reading Katja's story. Children can also learn about charity and the satisfaction that comes from being a giving person who hel...more
Katje is a young girl living in Olst, Holland shortly after World War II. Little is left of her town and her family, like so many others, must go without everyday essentials such as milk and soap. One morning, Postman Kleinhoonte arrives at Katje's door with a mysterious box from America. The box has been sent by Rosie, a girl from Indiana. The package is part of a program called The Children's Aid Society which helps collect and send hard-to-find items to the kids in Holland. As the story progr...more
A beautiful story demonstrating the selflessness of an American family and a young lady from Holland. Katje is living in Holland during the World War II era. Like all Dutch families at this time, she is very needy with threadbare clothing and no sugar, milk, and other basic supplies. Rosie from America sends a few items (socks, soap, and chocolate) to Katje. Katje selflessly shares her chocolate with others. Katje in turn writes a letter to tell how much they appreciate the kindness since sugar...more
What a wonderful story! I'm giving this book five stars, even though I was not a huge fan of the style of illustrations (though I appreciated all the details and the warmth portrayed in them) because the story is so important and made even more powerful and touching because it is based on a true story involving the author's mother.
After WWII, when much of Europe was devastated and her people struggling with threadbare clothing and not enough food, organizations in America such as the Children's...more
After WWII, when much of Europe was devastated and her people struggling with threadbare clothing and not enough food, organizations in America such as the Children's...more
This book got an extra star because I used to live in the Netherlands and it rang really true for me. By the time I lived there, the war had been over for more than 20 years, and there was plenty of chocolate, wool, and soap, but people still remembered the privations of the War years and those right afterwards, when this story takes place. The people I knew were careful of whatever they had and made do with modest collections of supplies.
This book is based on the experiences of Fleming's mother...more
This book is based on the experiences of Fleming's mother...more
Set in a tiny Dutch town of Holland right after World War II, Boxes for Katje is the perfect example of a historical fiction tale. Due to the ending of the war, all of the people living in the town of Olst had very little to survive on. Most of the necessities they needed were scarce.
We meet a little girl named Katje very early on in the story. AS the postman comes by on his bike, he shouts out, "I have a box for Katje- a box from America!" As soon as Katje opens the box she finds the unthinkab...more
We meet a little girl named Katje very early on in the story. AS the postman comes by on his bike, he shouts out, "I have a box for Katje- a box from America!" As soon as Katje opens the box she finds the unthinkab...more
Candace Fleming’s Boxes for Katje is an inspiriting story that is great for readers aged 5-10. The illustrations seen on every page are packed with color, pattern and historical detail done in mediums such as colored pencils, oil pastels, and acrylic. Based on true events that happened in May of 1945 Katje, a girl from Holland receives a letter and a small box sent from America. After World War II Katje’s family and town is left with very little. When this box arrives with soap, socks, and choco...more
Boxes for Katje is an incredibly heartwarming book. While the book is based on a true story, the author has taken artistic liberty and made the characters children instead of adults as in the real life story. It was actually Katje's father who wrote back asking for supplies, not Katje herself. Although the book may not be entirely factual, the story does maintain its uplifting message of generosity.
The artwork is colorful and the reader is transported to Holland through Dressen-McQueens illustr...more
The artwork is colorful and the reader is transported to Holland through Dressen-McQueens illustr...more
Recommended for ages 5-10
From Booklist
K-Gr. 3. In May 1945, a Dutch girl named Katje is thrilled to receive a letter and a package of socks, soap, and chocolate from Rosie, a girl she doesn't know who lives in Mayfield, Indiana. The kids start to exchange letters, and when Rosie's family members learn of Holland's severe post-war deprivations, they enlist Mayfield residents to send food and clothes to Katje, who generously shares the gifts with others in her community. The sense of suffering isn...more
From Booklist
K-Gr. 3. In May 1945, a Dutch girl named Katje is thrilled to receive a letter and a package of socks, soap, and chocolate from Rosie, a girl she doesn't know who lives in Mayfield, Indiana. The kids start to exchange letters, and when Rosie's family members learn of Holland's severe post-war deprivations, they enlist Mayfield residents to send food and clothes to Katje, who generously shares the gifts with others in her community. The sense of suffering isn...more
Summary-
Boxes for Katje is a picture book for K-3rd grade readers. It features the main character, Katje, a girl that lives in the tiny Dutch town of Olst in 1945. Times are hard after the war, and the people in her town do not have a lot of clothes or food. One day Katje receives a package from America. The mailman explains that The Children’s Aid Society is helping Americans send packages full of important items to people overseas in need. She is happy to get the package and she generously sha...more
Boxes for Katje is a picture book for K-3rd grade readers. It features the main character, Katje, a girl that lives in the tiny Dutch town of Olst in 1945. Times are hard after the war, and the people in her town do not have a lot of clothes or food. One day Katje receives a package from America. The mailman explains that The Children’s Aid Society is helping Americans send packages full of important items to people overseas in need. She is happy to get the package and she generously sha...more
This picture book, told an inspiring story of friendship and giving. It took place in 1945 in the small town of Olst Holland. The war had just ended and many Europeans struggled to provide basic needs for their families. Meanwhile, in Mayfield Indiana a young girl was preparing a box of necessities for another child in Europe through "The Children's Aid Society." Katje was the lucky and grateful recipient. Through the spring, fall and winter Katje received boxes from Rosie of Mayfield Indiana. S...more
California Young Reader Medal: Picture Books for Older Readers - 2006
This book was simply wonderful! I read it and then watched the DVD of the story. The movie is basically a narration of the story while the camera pans over the illustrations. I liked that I could focus on the looking at the illustrations while hearing the story. When I read the book I missed some of the details of the pictures.
This story is set after World War II when the countries of Europe were still devastated by the war. Pe...more
This book was simply wonderful! I read it and then watched the DVD of the story. The movie is basically a narration of the story while the camera pans over the illustrations. I liked that I could focus on the looking at the illustrations while hearing the story. When I read the book I missed some of the details of the pictures.
This story is set after World War II when the countries of Europe were still devastated by the war. Pe...more
Summary: This story is inspired by a true story of the author’s mother after World War II and it is in Holland. Katje is a girl whose family is not going without many necessities. Once it is spring, Katje gets a delivery from America. Thing in the box included: soap, wool socks, and chocolate. The package came from a girl named Rosie in Indiana in an effort to help the people in need in Europe. After sending a thank you note, Katje then gets another box in return. This one is filled with sugar!...more
One day, a Dutch girl named Katje, recieves a letter and a package filled with socks, soap and chocolate. The package is from a girl named Rosie who she doesn't know from Mayfield, Indiana. Katje and Rosie become pen pals and exchange letters back and forth. Rosie learns that Holland is having severe post-war depression. She decides to do something about it. Rosie has people from home send food and clothes to Katje. Katje then shares the gifts with other people. This moving story tells the tale...more
The story tells of a young girl, Katje, who lives in Holland after World War II. Upon the end of the war she receives a box from a girl in America, who donates chocolate among other things to help those in need after the war. Responding back with much thanks, Katje and her family are extremely appreciative of the gifts. Throughout the book, the girl from America continues to send more and more gifts. Her hometown sends many boxes by the end of the book, wanting to help the families in Holland. K...more
Author: Candace Fleming; Pictures: Stacey Dressen-McQueen; Grade: 1-3; (Print)
This is about a little girl named Katje from Holland, after the war when normal items and food was very limited and scarce. Katje is sent a package from an unknown pen pal from Indiana. She sends Katje socks, soap, and chocolate. The people of this Holland town are experiencing their own little depression, and the pen pal Rosie, along with other begin to send them many boxes filled with essentials and treats. The relat...more
This is about a little girl named Katje from Holland, after the war when normal items and food was very limited and scarce. Katje is sent a package from an unknown pen pal from Indiana. She sends Katje socks, soap, and chocolate. The people of this Holland town are experiencing their own little depression, and the pen pal Rosie, along with other begin to send them many boxes filled with essentials and treats. The relat...more
This is a wonderful story about a long distance friendship. Katje is a young girl who lives in Olst, a small town in Holland. There is very little available to Katje and her family because of World War II. They have to mend their own clothing, and survive on very little food and other resources. One day Katje receives a package from America. As she looks inside she finds soap, socks, and chocolate. These were all items that Katje hadn’t seen in a long time! Katje also found a letter written by a...more
Theme: One can make a difference, kindness, compassion, friendship
I beautiful story of how a random act of kindness can affect a whole community. Loved this story and the way it is written with the letters being part of the story. As I read this story it made me wonder what I could do, what difference I could make, for someone I know or don't know by doing something like this. The story is based on the real actions of the author's mother and the thank-you notes from Katje's father, however, the...more
I beautiful story of how a random act of kindness can affect a whole community. Loved this story and the way it is written with the letters being part of the story. As I read this story it made me wonder what I could do, what difference I could make, for someone I know or don't know by doing something like this. The story is based on the real actions of the author's mother and the thank-you notes from Katje's father, however, the...more
Jul 29, 2011
Sandybear76
added it
i traveled near Olst when I was in Netherlands. I missed this town. I loved the story. I plan to read later this week to 3rd graders and show a few Netherlands pictures. I'll let know what they thought of it. i loved it. I may read it to another grade. Our school is doing service learning and I think this book would fit into service learning pretty well. As our school is getting to that time of year when we collected canned goods and hang mittens on the mitten tree, I hope the students will reme...more
Mommy's review from 6/10/11 -
So, we have the most idiotic, in your face stupid children's books win awards all the time and this gets nothing? Explain please.
Is it because this actually has meaning? Because there is a story here? I don't get it.
Julia wasn't as into this as I thought she would be but she did listen and she did enjoy it and she was even more interested once I read her the little 'true story' the author included in the back.
This put a lump in my throat more than once. Mostly when...more
So, we have the most idiotic, in your face stupid children's books win awards all the time and this gets nothing? Explain please.
Is it because this actually has meaning? Because there is a story here? I don't get it.
Julia wasn't as into this as I thought she would be but she did listen and she did enjoy it and she was even more interested once I read her the little 'true story' the author included in the back.
This put a lump in my throat more than once. Mostly when...more
This is kind of long, but would be nice to share for a Thanksgiving or appreciation storytime.
Its the based-on-a-true story of an American girl, Rosie, who started sending care packages to Katje, a girl in post-war Holland. Really touching story that is well-written and rather easy to read, despite its length. And I really like the hand-painted illustrations, althought they're detail makes them not ideal for younger children. I like the story a lot and find it really touching and only hope that...more
Its the based-on-a-true story of an American girl, Rosie, who started sending care packages to Katje, a girl in post-war Holland. Really touching story that is well-written and rather easy to read, despite its length. And I really like the hand-painted illustrations, althought they're detail makes them not ideal for younger children. I like the story a lot and find it really touching and only hope that...more
This is a wonderful book based on a heart warming true story. One small act of kindness grows and literally blossoms blessing the lives of two girls and the towns they live in.
The book is set in Post-WWII in both Holland and the U.S, although most of the action is in Katje's home in Holland. The author and illustrator do a good job explaining the hardships facing those in Europe following the war.
There are two valuable lesson in the story for children and adults alike:
1. Help those around you.
2...more
The book is set in Post-WWII in both Holland and the U.S, although most of the action is in Katje's home in Holland. The author and illustrator do a good job explaining the hardships facing those in Europe following the war.
There are two valuable lesson in the story for children and adults alike:
1. Help those around you.
2...more
Dec 24, 2009
W.H. Beck
added it
Shelves:
2009,
christmas,
friendship,
historical,
inspirational,
middle-grade,
picture-book,
read-aloud,
social-studies
Katje, living in war-devasted Holland in 1945, gets package from Rosie, who lives in America. As their long-distance friendship grows, their communities come together.
This isn't really a Christmas book, but I love to read it aloud this time of year because of the themes of giving and helping others.
5th Grade Lesson Notes
Find Indiana and Holland on the globe.
Read the setting on the inside cover. What was going on in the world in 1945?
Show pictures of Europe after the war:
http://media-2.web.britan...more
This isn't really a Christmas book, but I love to read it aloud this time of year because of the themes of giving and helping others.
5th Grade Lesson Notes
Find Indiana and Holland on the globe.
Read the setting on the inside cover. What was going on in the world in 1945?
Show pictures of Europe after the war:
http://media-2.web.britan...more
This is such a sweet and heartwarming tale about relief efforts following WWII. Based on a true story, this tale follows a small town in the Netherlands and the people who lived there. They were so devastated by the war and had very little to eat, and clothes worn thin and ragged. Due to the efforts of American charities, packages of badly needed items were delivered all over war-torn Europe and this tale focuses on the pen-pal friendship that develops between two little girls, Katje and Rosie....more
2003 Notable Book for a Global Society Award (IRA)
Format: Audio
Although appropriate for grades 2-6, perhaps even older, the audio recording is clearly geared for younger readers. The narrator is overly expressive and the pace is appropriate for younger readers to follow along. It includes a beep at the end of each page to indicate a page turn. Music plays in the background, adding to the more juvenile feel. The story, however, is moving in that is based on the true story of the author’s family’s...more
Format: Audio
Although appropriate for grades 2-6, perhaps even older, the audio recording is clearly geared for younger readers. The narrator is overly expressive and the pace is appropriate for younger readers to follow along. It includes a beep at the end of each page to indicate a page turn. Music plays in the background, adding to the more juvenile feel. The story, however, is moving in that is based on the true story of the author’s family’s...more
This story is representative of many stories that could be told from Europeans that received necessary items from the U.S. after World War II. My hometown of Worthington, MN adopted a whole city to support during this time so I connected very well with this story. Since this is a good part of history that showed care and generosity between countries I think it is great to share this with children. In this book the format of letter writing can also be observed by children. The inspiration of this...more
One day after the war Katje recieves a box from America, and as Katje explains to the sender the hardships of her country to boxes keep getting bigger and more and more arrive.
I loved the whole message of this book. It teaches that no matter how far away someone lives you can help even if it's something as small as a bar of soap or even chocolate. It also shows the importance of sharing, although Katje has nothing herself she always shares what she gets in the boxes. It also teaches the importan...more
I loved the whole message of this book. It teaches that no matter how far away someone lives you can help even if it's something as small as a bar of soap or even chocolate. It also shows the importance of sharing, although Katje has nothing herself she always shares what she gets in the boxes. It also teaches the importan...more
Boxes for Katje
Written by Candace Fleming
Reviewed by Jasmine Lee
Imagine in a country of Holland after World War ll there is a poor town called Olst. One day in Olst, a wonderful surprise was waiting for Katje. An American girl named Rosie sends her a box with socks, a cake of soap and a bar of CHOCOLATE. Katje shares these gifts with her mother and a mailman, but do you think this is the end of this exciting story? Of course not!!! After sharing with her mother and mailman she starts sharing all...more
Written by Candace Fleming
Reviewed by Jasmine Lee
Imagine in a country of Holland after World War ll there is a poor town called Olst. One day in Olst, a wonderful surprise was waiting for Katje. An American girl named Rosie sends her a box with socks, a cake of soap and a bar of CHOCOLATE. Katje shares these gifts with her mother and a mailman, but do you think this is the end of this exciting story? Of course not!!! After sharing with her mother and mailman she starts sharing all...more
I LOVE this picture book. Katje is a little girl living in Holland just after World War II. Her village is poor, and her family has little food or warm clothing. One day, Katje receives a package from a far away place called Indiana--and inside are candy bars, canned food, and WARM SOCKS! When she writes a thank you note, she receives even more wonderful things from America--and saves her village. You'll love to see how the people of Holland thanked their friends in Indiana for their kindness. G...more
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I have always been a storyteller. Even before I could write my name, I could tell a good tale. And I told them all the time. As a preschooler, I told my neighbors all about my three-legged cat named Spot. In kindergarten, I told my classmates about the ghost that lived in my attic. And in first grade I told my teacher, Miss Harbart, all about my family's trip to Paris, France.
I told such a good st...more
More about Candace Fleming...
I told such a good st...more
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Mar 09, 2009 07:21pm