Borden, Louise. 2004. THE GREATEST SKATING RACE. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN 0689845022 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-6]
In the snowy winter of 1941 in Holland, young Piet dreams of one day skating in the famous Elfstedentocht race. His dreams of skating are put aside when his grandfather has a most important task for him. Piet’s father is off in England, serving with the Allied armies, and Holland is occupied by German soldiers. When a schoolmate’s father is arrested by the Germans for sending messages to England, Piet is called upon to lead the girl and her brother across the border to safety with an aunt in Belgium. The plan is for the three children to skate along the canals to Brugge under the guise of visiting relatives. When they are stopped by the German border guards and questioned, Piet remembers his mother’s words, “This is what it means to be Dutch. I knew that I must show no fear. And that I must be brave in my heart.”
Piet’s narrative of their tense journey is written verse style and has the reader skating along with them with the rich detail. “We glided under the bridge and heard the echo of our skates in the dusk of this old, historic town.” Piet’s concern for Johanna and young Joop is apparent as he overcomes his own fear and skates them to safety. Niki Daly’s somber illustrations are done in darker, muted reds and browns that convey the feeling that World War II is ever present in the story. An excellent picture book for older elementary ages to introduce the concept of WWII and what it meant to children like themselves.
Have children pick a long distance race, like the Iditirod in Alaska, or one from another country, and make a map showing the race route, and discuss what their strategy would be if they were in the race.
Other books by Louise Borden:
THE LITTLE SHIPS: THE HEOIC RESCUE AT DUNKIRK IN WORLD WAR II. ISBN 0689808275
SLEDS ON BOSTON COMMON: ISBN 0689828128
Other books set in the Netherlands during World War II:
Fleming, Candace. BOXES FOR KATJE. ISBN 037430922
Polacco, Patricia. THE BUTTERFLY. ISBN 0399231706
By Tammy Korns