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The City of Light (MomentBooks) Hardcover – December 10, 2019

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 14 ratings

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A wonderful and inspiring story for ages 10 to 120!
This charming book, based on a short story by legendary actor, singer and social justice activist, Theodore Bikel, tells the story of a young boy (Bikel) and his childhood in the City of Light (Vienna). His was a beautiful childhood, in the wondrous City of Light, surrounded by the love of his family. But soon, the dark clouds of Anti-Semitism grew, and the city was occupied by the army from across the border. Those who were once friendly neighbors and classmates become dangerous enemies, wishing him great harm for no reason other than he is a Jewish. The Boy dreams that his hero, Judah Maccabi, enters the city to save the Jews, but when he awakes, it had only been a dream. The Boy and his family must flee, leaving the home that they loved forever. Many years later, The Boy, now an Old Man, returns to The City and finds that the light has always been inside his own heart.

The City Of Light also includes a three-page Yiddish word glossary, a recipe for Honey Cake from Bikel's Grandmother, and sheet music of a little known Hanukkah song, "Little Candle Fires"; with a link to websites where you can hear Theo singing this song. 

Born in Vienna in 1924 and greatly beloved worldwide, Theodore Bikel was thirteen when the pogroms broke out in Austria, culminating with the Anschluss (the Nazi occupation of Austria) in 1938. Frightened and fearing for their lives, Theo and his parents left their beloved city of Vienna and emigrated to Palestine. The events of that terrible time, alongside his longing for the elegance and promise of The City of Light, remained locked in his memory forever; and these experiences contributed greatly to Bikel's unending commitment to do everything in his power to make this world a better place. " Now, long-time journalist, foreign correspondent and Theo's widow Aimee Ginsburg Bikel has poignantly captured these memories, both the sweet and the bitter, by expanding a short story written by Bikel himself in 2014 into a full book. The book includes notes on Theo's career and on his commitment to peace and social justice. Noah Phillips' illustrations are both naive and moving, echoing the experience of the young boy forced to mature before his time.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"If in the past I have ever called a book beautiful, I realize after reading City of Lights that I may have been too profligate with my praise. This work for children may be the realization of that often overused word; it is a very moving story, an excellent way to introduce youngsters to the Holocaust"- The Jerusalem Post"An especially important episode in (Theo Bikel's) remarkable life story is now retold by his widow, Aimee Ginsburg Bikel, in "Theodore Bikel's The City of Light"....the story has been transformed into an illustrated children's book...full of both pleasures and challenges that will last all year long. Ginsburg Bikel and (illustrator Noah) Phillips have risen to an extraordinarily difficult task by foreshadowing the events of the Holocaust without confronting her young readers with its atrocities. Indeed, "Theodore Bikel's The City of Light" is a book that can be used to open a conversation about events in Jewish history that will be revealed in full only when the child is much older." -- Jonathan Kirsch, The Jewish Journal

A wonderful and inspiring story for readers ages 9 and up, THEODORE BIKEL'S 'THE CITY OF LIGHT' will make a great gift this holiday season. -- Broadway World

"The book is perfectly complemented by Noah Phillips' illustrations that illuminate the story. Try it, you don't have to be Jewish to like it!" - Norm Goldman, Book Pleasures

Aimee Ginsburg Bike writes like an angel, her voice is clear, moving and illuminating. The combination of her voice with the larger than life story of Theo Bikel's childhood makes for a remarkable, deceptively simple story that will definitely become a classic. This book belongs on the shelf of every Jewish (and non Jewish) home and in every school library, museum, and school. I cannot recommend this book more. --- Anna Gibson, NFG

I liked the way that Aimee tied the story together so well was amazing, and afterwards, I wanted to get the book, because I wanted to learn more about Theo Bikel.
-R.D, Portland Jewish Academy, grade 6

From the Back Cover

"Aimee Ginsburg's retelling of her beloved Theo Bikel's tale of what he experienced as a little boy during the rise of hatred that preceded the Holocaust is a beautiful, painfully powerful and great gift- particularly meaningful in this time of world-wide mushrooming of anti-Semitism, hatred and bigotry of every. Told in the sweet poetic language of a child, it is a riveting tale, made all the more meaningful by the mounting denial of this history that we must tell and retell, lest it be repeated."―PETER YARROW, Peter Paul and Mary"

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mandel Vilar Press (December 10, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 64 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1942134614
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1942134619
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 years and up
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 1 - 2
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 0.55 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 14 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
14 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book for its well-written and beautiful content. They find the story enlightening and inspiring, relevant to today's world. The book is described as beautiful and offers a moving way to share a difficult time.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

6 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book for its engaging writing style. They find it well-written, with beautiful words and frames. The book is described as a loving tribute to Theodore Bikel, who had a beautiful voice.

"...The book is engaging, engrossing, and speaks of such difficult things with an underlying tone of love...." Read more

"...Theo Bikel's words are beautiful and Aimee Bikel frames the story with extraodrinary sensitivity and poetry. The artwork is fantastic as well...." Read more

"...Theodore Bikel had a beautiful voice. Operatic, and such a talented man, so I was curious about the book. It was beautiful...." Read more

"...of history in a way that is not overwhelming for children, and amazingly, manages to fill the story with love, and hope, and light...." Read more

5 customers mention "Enlightened content"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's content enlightening and inspiring for children and adults. They say it's relevant to today's world and a perfect way to teach about the sad years in Europe during WWII. The book thoughtfully explains a devastating chapter of history in a way that is not overwhelming for children.

"...The book is engaging, engrossing, and speaks of such difficult things with an underlying tone of love...." Read more

"...What a perfect way to teach about the sad years in Europe during WWII and how we can bring light back to the world...." Read more

"...of a young Jewish boy at the beginnings of WWII it is captivatingly relevant to todays world no matter your religious or national identity...." Read more

"...Lovely and enlightening. Children need to know history." Read more

4 customers mention "Beauty"4 positive0 negative

Customers like the book's appearance.

"...The artwork is fantastic as well. I am buying this book for all of my grandchildren and recommend it to everyone--young and old." Read more

"This beautiful book offers a beautiful way to share a not so beautiful time with children of all ages...." Read more

"...It was beautiful. I love that a recipe was included and common Yiddish words. Lovely and enlightening. Children need to know history." Read more

"...young readers is no small feat, and this book does so with beauty and grace. Told from a child's vantage point, it's delicate yet powerful...." Read more

3 customers mention "Love story"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the love story. They find it filled with hope and light, making it a beautiful way to share an unsettling time.

"...engrossing, and speaks of such difficult things with an underlying tone of love...." Read more

"This beautiful book offers a beautiful way to share a not so beautiful time with children of all ages...." Read more

"...that is not overwhelming for children, and amazingly, manages to fill the story with love, and hope, and light. Extremely well-written!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2020
    I bought this book after hearing Aimee Bikel speak at our Tolerance center, and she was marvelous. I am a long time fan of Theodore Bikel, so in part, I am just so moved to read about his childhood, part of his life we have not known much about previously. To know he escaped from such difficult traumatic events and yet entertained us for so many years with such love and joy is truly humbling. BUT< I must stress that even if this book were not about Mr. Bikel: Aimee Bikel writes like an angel. The book is engaging, engrossing, and speaks of such difficult things with an underlying tone of love. I recommend you buy this book for yourself and as a gift for others, young and old alike. Just beautiful.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2020
    This book, meant for children, is inspiring for adults as well. What a perfect way to teach about the sad years in Europe during WWII and how we can bring light back to the world. Theo Bikel's words are beautiful and Aimee Bikel frames the story with extraodrinary sensitivity and poetry. The artwork is fantastic as well. I am buying this book for all of my grandchildren and recommend it to everyone--young and old.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2020
    This beautiful book offers a beautiful way to share a not so beautiful time with children of all ages. While the story centers around the experience of a young Jewish boy at the beginnings of WWII it is captivatingly relevant to todays world no matter your religious or national identity. A must read for every child and adult.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2021
    Even though it was a children’s book I read it. Theodore Bikel had a beautiful voice. Operatic, and such a talented man, so I was curious about the book. It was beautiful. I love that a recipe was included and common Yiddish words. Lovely and enlightening. Children need to know history.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2020
    What a lovely book! It thoughtfully explains a devastating chapter of history in a way that is not overwhelming for children, and amazingly, manages to fill the story with love, and hope, and light. Extremely well-written!
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2019
    What a magnificent little book. Everything is in it, loss and resilience, joy and sorrow, devastation and forgiveness and most of all the realization that we have everything inside of us to remember the light when it seems to have vanished. I ordered 10 of these to share with my whole family.Perfect gift for any age.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2019
    To create a children's story about the early days of the holocaust without overwhelming young readers is no small feat, and this book does so with beauty and grace. Told from a child's vantage point, it's delicate yet powerful. Theo Bikel was a colossal talent and dedicated activist, and he and his wife Aimee have forged a loving tribute to his story and that of his people. As the book says, may his memory forever be a blessing.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2020
    Through artful illustration and language, this book captures the fear and pain of a child forced to leave his beloved home and community. Though it took place in WWII Vienna, the story is timely here and now, appropriate for both child refugees from around the world and those who work with those children. Bikel’s autobiography is in many regards a success story for refugee programs—his family relocated and he led a prosperous, successful, and long life. For children who have fled their homes, his story offers hope. For teachers, social workers, healthcare professionals, and others who work with refugee children, his story provides a child-eye view as well as the long-view of an old man. It reminds us that the experience leaves scars.