It's the first of December and I'm taking a side step from nonfiction reviews to feature a picture book INSPIRED BY actual events and people, but lightly and lovingly fictionalized. That approach adds to the timelessness of its message. In fact, I recall news coverage of the actual events, and was surprised to realize that they occurred so far in the past-- 1993, nearly thirty years ago. It feels much more recent to me, perhaps because of current social patterns, including the rise of anti-semitism. But this happened pre-9/11, pre-social media, pre-viral-trolling, and long before an infinite number of screens and links and countless channels invited silo-thinking and hate mongering. Even so, the event and subsequent reactions really happened, and were widely reported in national news.
I'll back up to explain what "THIS EVENT" actually is.
RED AND GREEN AND BLUE AND WHITE is written by Lee Wind and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. The cover introduces some essential aspects of the story. Viewed through a shattered window, the glorious and colorful Christmas lights are subdued, but the clear, real portion of the image encircles the families of two friends, neighbors, who gather in shock, but also in support. Careful observers will note that a menorah is lovingly held by a child. In Wind's retelling of actual events, Isaac is the son in the only Jewish family on his block, or much of anywhere in his little city. They live across the street from Teresa's family, and the two children are best friends. Isaac writes poetry, Teresa creates stunning art, and together they help their families decorate windows for the winter holidays.
RED AND GREEN and Christmas trees appear in nearly every window, surrounded by strings of lights and flurries of snow. Isaac and his family trim their window with a decorative menorah and lights of BLUE AND WHITE.
Until... the dark of night offers cover for a vicious act of hate-- a rock shatters Isaac's window, terrifying him and his family. A window can be repaired, and quickly is. But peace and security are far more difficult to restore. Should they NOT relight their decorations? NOT return their menorah display to the window? Isaac is aware that such a choice would be hiding from their Jewish identity.
The next night, the menorah is lit. Teresa, watching from her window across the street, sees and smiles. What she does next lights up Isaac's spirit, too, and his song rings out in the night:
"BLUE AND WHITE, MENORAH LIGHT, FROM TWO HOMES TONIGHT!"
Word spreads to their school, library, block, and spirals in ever-widening waves throughout their small city. In window after window, menorahs are added to the lighted displays, until the entire community glows with RED AND GREEN AND BLUE AND WHITE. Watch the trailer HERE.
A short note from the author indicates that Isaac and Teresa were the actual childhood friends, and that only a few minor details were changed for the sake of storytelling. Wind points out that the satisfying conclusion is fully authentic, and was the result of individuals who chose not to be BYSTANDERS. Instead, one by one, near and far, they chose to act, publicly, indicating their community support. They chose to be UPSTANDERS, knowing that silence or inaction would lend passive but powerful support to the hate-filled vandals.
I'm an unabashed fan of all illustrations by Paul O. Zelinsky, whose art is distinguished by excellence, though not by a single or characteristic style across his many books. Instead, the quality that shines through every project is how perfectly he pairs his approach to the heart and spirit of each particular story. In this case, with the lights of the season, of the holidays (Hanukkah celebrates the MIRACLE OF THE LIGHTS), and of friends and neighbors, the art achieves a distinctive look of winter nights with twinkling bulbs. The end papers extend that celebration symbolically, with bands of the four colors and interwoven swirls. These are embraced, literally, by a border formed by diverse people, arm in arm, facing the reader as a community with the confidence of mutual respect, tolerance, and love. UPSTANDERS all. Click HERE to learn more about ideas for teaching this approach to UPSTANDING with young people.
This new book takes its inspiration from a positive community and amplifies it, shining it into our lives and into the future. It's the season for faith, and I choose to believe that the good in each of us can turn the darkness that seems to permeate society into light. One choice at a time. One light at a time. One book at a time.
Start with this one.
