"Year after year, Eli watches the solemn lighting of seven candles at his family's celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. On such a happy occasion, his parents and grandparents always seem sad, and Eli can't understand why.Then one year Eli travels to Eastern Europe to learn more about his family history. There, he learns how the candles represent his family's connection to the Holocaust in Lithuania, and how remembering his ancestors can help heal years of grief and shame.This powerful story, illuminated by Bill Farnsworth's sensitive brush strokes and muted palette, can be used as an introduction to World War II and the Holocaust, and will also remind young readers how they can make a difference in the lives of their families."

One year Eli travels to Eastern Europe to learn more about his family history. There, he learns how the candles represent his family's connection to the Holocaust in Lithuania, and how remembering his ancestors can help heal years of grief and shame.

Every year at Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year - Eli's great-grandmother Gussie would light seven candles at their family dinner, saying a prayer and weeping. After his great-grandparents died, Eli's grandparents and parents continued the tradition. Concerned by the grief which accompanied this observance, Eli asked questions, but was continually told that "some things are too difficult to talk about." Then one winter he accompanied his parents and grandparents on a trip to Lithuania, where his great-grandmother was born. Here they journeyed to Ponar Forest, and to the mass grave where Gussie's father and six brothers were murdered. Finally understanding the source of his family's grief, Eli himself said a prayer, and assured his grandfather that now it would not have to be a secret - now he would always remember...

Based upon the experiences of co-author Mariam Sneider's own family, Eli Remembers is a powerful book about family secrets, and the grief and trauma that is passed down through the generations. It is often the case that such trauma is most deeply felt at the holidays, when families traditionally gather, and the absence of those who are missing is most painful. Vander Zee and Sneider capture that reality here, in their story, and I found myself tearing up at more than one point, while reading. The text is fairly simple, and is told from Eli's perspective, giving it an immediacy and emotional impact that is most powerful. The accompanying illustrations from Bill Farnsworth, done in oil paint, are lovely, and beautifully capture the emotional register of each scene. The close family circle, gathered in both celebration and grief; the joy of Eli welcoming his grandparents to his own home; the bleakness of Ponar Forest in winter - these are all captured in the artwork. The most powerful scene, for me, was the two-page spread in which Eli and his grandfather are speaking, looking down upon the mass grave. The artwork has drawn back from its depiction of Eli and his family, and depicts a vast, dark forest in winter, under a gloomy sky. The text above reads: "Were children killed too?" / "Yes," Grandpa said. / "My age?" / "Yes, your age and younger." / I felt as gray as the sky."

Ideally, a picture-book is a work in which text and artwork seamlessly blend, working together to tell a story. Eli Remembers is a perfectly accomplished example of this, with textual and illustrative elements perfectly in tune, making this one of my rare five-star books. It is a powerful story, about a powerful and horrifying subject, and it is told with great skill by both authors and artist. Highly recommended, to anyone seeking picture-books with which to introduce young children to the subject of the Holocaust. ( )

“Eli Remembers,” is an incredible and emotional story about a young boy who learns what the holocaust was about. The young boy noticed that every year on Rosh Hashanah Eve his family would light seven candles and say a prayer over the wine. His family members would be very upset and emotional. One year his parents decided to take him and his grandparents to see where his great grandmother was from. This is when the young boy learned about all of the Jewish people that were killed. His family took him to the pit that they got burned in to bring flowers and say a prayer. The young boy learned that in that pit his great great grandfather and his great aunts and uncles died in it. He was so sad that he took seven flowers, just like they always had seven candles, and he went and placed them in the middle of the grave. He then told his grandpa that he would never forget what happened there. This story was very sad and the way that the illustrated drew some of these pictures really hit me. The pictures are warm in the beginning but as the boy learned what happened the pictures get a cold feeling to them. The author did an incredible job by making the story gentle for young children. Even though at the end it gets really harsh, but that is the truth and there is no way to easily explain what happened during World War II. The author really shows the history behind the holocaust by showing how the family members were sad during a joyous time. During this time it made all of the family members upset because they knew what happened and the young boy did not. ( )

Eli always wonders why his grandparents become very sad when celebrating Rosh Hashanah. No one will explain because they say it is too difficult to talk about. His family decides to take a trip where their late family member came from in Lithuania. Once there, Eli sees where she grew up and enjoys the culture and people. When they visit Ponar forest, Eli learns that 80,000 Jewish men, women, and children were killed there as well as his great grandmother's father and siblings. He finally realizes why the memory is so difficult and tells him grandfather he will always remember. ( )