War is a difficult subject to introduce to children, and I’m often unsure of whether it should be introduced at all. Yet, most children are exposed to so much media and are aware of so much that is happening around them that I think stories of hope are important.
Yes, history is full of war. But in the darkest of times, love and kindness do triumph.
A Cello on the Wall is part of the One Day Elsewhere series I read nearly a year ago. The series explores important events in history through the eyes of a child, and A Cello on the Wall is about the fall of the Berlin Wall. Young Charlie – named after Checkpoint Charlie – cannot imagine a time when the wall did not exist. But he is part of the momentous fall of the wall, the day when east and west Berlin come together again.
At my book club, as we read Charlie’s story, here’s what we will explore.
Maps
When we read The Absolutely True Adventures of Daydreamer Dev, we explored the world through the story as well as through Google Earth. I was amazed at how well it worked – showing children the earth and helping them find different places on the map. To understand where Berlin is, and to place it in its larger geographical context, we’ll explore the world through Google Earth.
History
A Cello on the Wall is a book that we’ll begin reading from the back. One of the joys of the One Day Elsewhere series is the simplicity with which facts are presented at the back of the book. I often struggle to decide how much context to give children when it comes to books about war. With The Butterfly Lion, we explored quite a bit because the children were older too. With A Cello on the Wall, we’ll start with a little history and then come to the story itself.
Music
A Cello on the Wall is a work of fiction – the story of a boy who discovers the joy of music. I love exploring music and literature together, and I’ve done it so many times – most recently with Malhar in the Middle. A book like this is perfect for us to explore links with the world outside literature. What music do the children enjoy? If they’re willing, I’d love for them to share a song or play a tune for us!
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