(3) K-3 Ordinary People Change the World series. Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos. "With eight of us crammed together, our world was very small. But if you look for what's good, you'll find it." In a friendly first-person text (drawn from the diary as much as possible), a cartoon Anne Frank tells readers about her childhood in Nazi Germany, her Jewish family's escape to Amsterdam, and their time spent in hiding during the Holocaust. Eliopoulos's comic-style illustrations help deliver the grim facts of the time and place; Anne's inimitable spirit comes through in both the text and art. Archival photos, a timeline, bibliography, and reading list enhance the presentation.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Graphic Library: Graphic Lives series. Illustrated by Fabián Mezquita. These graphic novels detail the lives of the titular historical figures, with emphasis on events that garnered each the most notoriety. The comic-book format makes the volumes feel more like stories than typical biographies, which may appeal to reluctant history readers. The art in both books is generic and busy but decently expressive. Contextual notes, discussion questions, and writing prompts are included. Reading list, timeline. Glos. Review covers these Graphic Library: Graphic Lives titles: Anne Frank and Leonardo da Vinci.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Peter McCarty. The tree outside Anne Frank's annex window observes her life there, taking on a central symbolic role as it relates the iconic story. With its focus on symbolism and lyricism and its strangely peaceful tone, this might serve as a gentle introduction to Holocaust history, but its vagueness is problematic. Sepia-toned ink illustrations suggest the sadness and distance of old photographs.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) K-3 Zoom In on Great Women series. The lives of six diverse, inspirational women--three of whom (Goodall, Yousafzai, and Winfrey) are still living--are summarized in this series, which aligns to Common Core Standards. Though only broadly chronicling their challenges and/or accomplishments, these offerings may spur interest in further study. The archival photographs included are noteworthy, and lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Great Women titles: Anne Frank, Jane Goodall, Malala Yousafzai, Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey, and Rosa Parks.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(2) K-3 Step into Reading series. Illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles. Nature, as represented by a chestnut tree outside the Secret Annex, serves as a continuing image for this easy reader. The tree's presence throughout Anne's life in hiding not only gives her a sense of peace but also provides readers a respite from her ordeal. Illustrations are somber except those depicting Anne's pre-war life or Annex visits from helpers bringing food and books. Reading list. Website.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2014

(4) K-3 History Makers series. REVIEW MISSING

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. These leveled beginning-reader biographies are lively and filled with colorful photographs and illustrations. Energetically designed with many sidebars and graphics, each well-organized volume gives a sense of the time in which the person lived in addition to his or her life and accomplishments. Longer and at the highest reading level, Anne Frank contains an index. Timeline. Glos. Review covers these National Geographic Super Readers titles: Amelia Earhart, George Washington, Thomas Edison, and Anne Frank.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(1) YA This audacious novel is Peter van Pels's first-person, present-tense chronicle of life in the Annex with the Frank family. Interspersed are his thoughts in the Mauthausen concentration camp, where he reflects on the fate of his parents and Anne's family. The novel provides a new look at Anne Frank--speculative, of course, but in no way contradicting her own famous diary.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2010

(2) 4-6 Translated by Arnold J. Pomerans. The beginning of this extraordinary little book functions essentially as a family photo album. In the 1942–1944 ("In hiding") section, the authors use diary excerpts, augmented with helpful explanations, while the photographs go inside the Secret Annex. The book's conclusion describes Anne's tragic death and the publication of her diary. Goosebump-inducingly immediate, it's a treasure for everyone inspired by Anne's story. Glos.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2010

(3) 4-6 Sterling Biographies series. Rich with facts, these biographies go beyond basic information and personal mythologies to reveal the lasting achievements and human foibles of six incredible women. Each thoughtfully designed volume draws readers in, vividly bringing to life the various places and times, from Joan of Arc's fifteenth-century France to Amelia Earhart's twentieth-century America, through informational sidebars, photographs, and document reproductions. Timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Sterling Biographies titles: Helen Keller, Cleopatra, Marie Curie, Amelia Earhart, Anne Frank, and Joan of Arc.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. Holocaust survivor Wiesenthal dedicated his life to bringing Nazis to justice. Using extensive research, Rubin recounts Wiesenthal's story as well as his mission to prove to Holocaust deniers that Anne Frank existed. Farnsworth's darkly haunting illustrations (one shows a soldier holding a gun to a man's head, another depicts Frank, frightened, raising her hands in surrender) bring the text chillingly to life. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(3) 4-6 National Geographic World History Biographies series. These books outline the lives of famous figures, from their early years to their deaths; their lasting impacts are also discussed. An emphasis on placing the biographies into the context of world history at the time is done well. Each double-page spread includes a running timeline. Maps, archival photographs, sidebars, and quotes add interest. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these National Geographic World History Biographies titles: Julius Caesar, Mao Zedong, Anne Frank, and Mozart.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) YA The familiar story of the life and death of Anne Frank provides a focal point for a broader look at the fate of more than a million European Jewish children during the regime of Adolf Hitler. Many photographs and quotes humanize the historical account. Map, sources, and statistics are included. Bib.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(2) YA Divided into four parts, Denenberg's thoroughly researched account provides background on Nazism and its influence on the Frank family; allows Anne's older sister, Margot, to speak through her own fictitious diary; offers first-person accounts of survivors; and outlines Otto Frank's last days of the war and his search for his family. A bibliographical essay, source notes, and an extensive bibliography are appended. Ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2005

(4) 4-6 Retold by Carol Ann Lee. Emphasizing personal experiences, van Maarsen recalls events from her childhood, when she and Anne Frank were friends. Though Anne is distanced from readers through the "as told to" format and the main character (van Maarsen) has no compelling characterization, readers meet an Anne removed from the familiar context of her immediate family, an exuberant girl sharing confidences with her friends. Reading list, timeline.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2005

(4) K-3 People to Know series. These easy-to-read biographies are useful and relatively informative, though they tend to gloss over controversial issues (the Holocaust, sexual abuse). The books are all liberally illustrated with photographs, and sidebars provide additional information about relevant topics such as how wing shape affects lift. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these People to Know titles: Anne Frank, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and The Wright Brothers.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 DK Biography series. Well-rounded biographies of four twentieth-century notables are hampered by an occasional glibness of tone (e.g., a discussion of overcrowded hospitals in Kennedy includes the phrase "you do the math"). Nearly every page contains a photo or a reproduction, increasing the books' accessibility, although the pages are a bit crowded due to the small trim size. Each book features an illustrated timeline. Websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these DK Biography titles: Helen Keller, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Anne Frank.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA Twentieth-Century History Makers series. These books profile six influential figures of the last century and their accomplishments. Little attention is paid to their personal lives, but the authors adequately detail the history of the times and their subjects' particular influences on it. Captioned black-and-white and color photos illustrate the books. There are six other spring 2003 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Twentieth-Century History Makers titles: Winston Churchill; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Sigmund Freud; Anne Frank; Albert Einstein; and Fidel Castro.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) K-3 Breakthrough Biographies series. Clear, concise, and easy to read, these biographies include not only details about the subject's life but historical background as well. The open layout adds ease of use. Photos, illustrations, and a list of other famous women of the time add more information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Breakthrough Biographies titles: The Story of Anne Frank, The Story of Harriet Tubman, and The Story of Helen Keller.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(2) 4-6 In 1939, ten-year-old Juanita Wagner of Iowa began a short-lived--two exchanges of letters--pen pal relationship with Anne Frank in the Netherlands. Illustrated with photos, Rubin's account of the war on two home fronts, recounting the Frank family's hiding and eventual imprisonment and the Wagners' school days and wartime employment, provides a broadening context for Anne's famous diary. Bibliography/reading list. Ind.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2003