True story picture book

This children's picture book is adapted from the short story 'The Crystal Beads' that was published in 2020 on the website Jewish Fiction and can still be read there.
It's loosely based on a true story during WW II.

Poland, 1939.
A little girl doesn't want to give up her most precious possession: a Star of David necklace, given to her by her late father.
However, her mother knows what consequences this could have and she 'plays a game' with her daughter during which she trades it for a rosary.
When the Nazis invade the country the mother will make a terrible sacrifice.

After the author published the story online, she felt it was important to bring this story to a younger audience.
So she rewrote it as a children's book which is now published by Purple Butterfly Press.

To a certain point, it's good to make children aware that life isn't all rainbows and butterflies.
Though the question is: at what age do you present information like the one in here and especially in which manner do you do this?
Personally I think this book has a (too) dark overall atmosphere and therefore this heartbreaking story seems more suited for older children. Because not all younger children might be mature enough to give it a place.

Which leads us to the accompanying drawings.
Are older children still attracted by a picture book or do they find it too childish?
But then again, there's no age on liking picture books.
The illustrations in this book didn't particularly resonate with me, but there's no accounting for taste.
However, the use of the colour palette is really well done: cheerful hues for better times and darker tones to express sadness or anger.

All in all this was an interesting take on a less known part of history, but I'm not sure it'll appeal to the target group.
In my humble opinion it's recommended to read this supervised by an adult who can frame the information and answer questions.
At the end of the book there are 'study guide questions' both for children and adults. These form an asset for school teachers or parents who wish to look further into this subject.

Author Patricia Black-Gould was born and raised in New Jersey. She has a diverse background that includes a career as a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology where she has published in the field of mental health and cultural Deafness. In the arts, she has worked as a theater director, producer, and playwright. She is a member of the National League of American Pen Women.

The illustrations were made by Katya Royz, whose Ukrainian Jewish grandfather is a Holocaust survivor who fled to Siberia.
Since 2017 Ekaterina Royz has lived in Israel where she illustrates and collaborates on educational projects on a wide variety of subjects, including the Holocaust.


*Thanks to NetGalley and Purple Butterfly Press for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.