Review: Benno and the Night of Broken Glass

Benno and the Night of Broken Glass

Author: Meg Wiviott

Illustrator: Josée Bisaillon

Published in 2010 by Kar-Ben Publishing

Benno and the Night of Broken Glass provides a story that serves as a gentle introduction to having an important conversation about the Holocaust. Benno is a neighborhood cat who roams a neighborhood of German and Jewish families. The Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, signifies the beginning of the Holocaust. In the period leading up to this night, Benno notices the changes that occur between the German and Jewish families in his neighborhood. The story is told from the perspective of the cat who witnesses the neighborhood change from a peaceful place to one of destruction. This book is a great way to introduce a difficult subject.

Additional Resources:

Author interview:

http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-voice-meg-wiviott-on-benno-and.html

The Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass) History and Background from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum:

https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007697