![]() ![]() Many authors desire to speak to the needs of abused and maladjusted children, and so their books delve deeply into harsh realities. Van Stockum’s novel contrasts with the contemporary trend in children’s literature that dwells on the sorrows and disappointments of life. Paradoxically, as circumstances worsen, they become more compassionate and generous towards their fellow citizens. The characters retain their humanity and humor throughout the war, continuing to love one another even in the face of hunger and fear. They witness the immense suffering inflicted on the Dutch people after they take in a Jewish child whose family has been deported, risk their lives to rescue a downed aviator and even come near to starvation themselves.ĭespite these miseries the book does not descend into despair. Joris and Dirk Jan, the two sons, are often hungry and afraid. She portrays the sufferings of a Dutch family, the Verhagens, with matter-of-fact pathos. ![]() In her 1962 novel, “The Winged Watchman” (parents of small children may want to preview this book), van Stockum takes the tough subject of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during WWII. But her output isn’t limited to simple tales of home life. Hilda van Stockum, a 20th-century Dutch children’s author, is known for her gentle stories of children and their families. ![]()
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