One Day

It is a huge challenge for authors, educators and families to sensitively communicate the events of the Holocaust to children. The experiences of those who suffered deserve to be shared, but there is a natural desire to protect children from the worst of the bleak reality.  

With One Day, Michael Rosen and Benjamin Phillips have told a story which strikes an appropriate balance between hope and despair: telling the true story of a Holocaust survivor unflinchingly, while interweaving a message of hope, resilience and the power of human connection throughout. 

Rosen’s text is minimal but hard-hitting, the simple language all the more powerful for what is left unsaid. The narrator speaks plainly about the tragic events of his life but there are no detailed descriptions of death or violence. Instead, the phrasing “people didn’t come back” is used, allowing readers to decide for themselves the direction of further discussions. 

Benjamin Phillips’ muted, sombre illustrations pair well with this writing style to create an aptly cold quality to the book. The many faces of the Jewish prisoners contribute to the feeling of a loss of identity – appearing as they do in a ghost-like colour palette with a blurred, semi-transparency. 

Michael Rosen has a personal connection with this story, his great aunt and uncle having been detained at the same camp as the main character. His end notes help explain the wider context of this book and how it might be shared with children for Holocaust Memorial Day.