Let the Celebrations Begin by Margaret Wild illustrated by Julie Vivas

Miriam lives in Hut 18, Bed 22. In her hut there are adult women and young children. Miriam is sad because two of the children - Sarah and David think life in the camp is normal but Miriam remembers all the beautiful things from her life before this horrible time. She especially remembers her toys - her teddy bear, her doll with eyes that blink and her soft pink elephant.

"in this place there are no toys."

The women decide to plan for the party which they will hold when their freedom comes. Freedom must come soon - they are sure. At the party they will present the children with toys. These will be hand made toys made from any bits and pieces the women can scrounge. Buttons, thread, scraps of fabric from their own clothes.  All of this is a secret. Miriam cannot tell Sarah and David. Finally the day arrives. The allies arrive to liberate the camp:

"They are here! Everyone, everyone, the soldiers are here! See their guns, their tanks and the big gates swinging open."

"That night at our party, our very special party, the women and I bring out the toys. ... and so the celebrations begin!"


I found this perfect quote on a blog called Books My Kids Read:

"There are many truly amazing books for younger readers about the Holocaust. While a number of them are what you might consider middle grade fiction, and sometimes non-fiction, there are also some picture books that tell the story very well. It is a difficult topic to touch on, so all good books have to tread somewhat lightly and focus on the resilience and perseverance of a nation of people rather than on the tragedy itself."

Let the Celebrations Begin is a book I have read (and cried) every year to my Grade Six classes since it was first published in 1991. In 1992 the CBCA short listed Let the Celebrations Begin, The winner that year was Window by Jeannie Baker.

An outstanding book, filled with reverent awe at the nobility of the human spirit. Kirkus

It’s not often we come across a children’s picture book centring on World War 2, concentration camps and human suffering.  Such a topic needs an exceptional balance of truth and sensitivity. Kids Book Review

The final page contains words from the diary written by a survivor:

"We ran out of the barracks and saw ... a British army car with a loud speaker on top going through the camp and repeating the same message over and over again. Within minutes, hundreds of women stopped the car, screaming, laughing, and crying, and the British soldier was crying with us."

If you are unfamiliar with this book take a look at this very detailed and deeply thoughtful review from Tablet.

Let the Celebrations Begin is now sadly out of print. I hope the publisher  (Walker Books) will consider a reprint in 2021 - the 30th anniversary of this important, courageous, and powerful book. Here are the teachers notes they produced in 2013.


Why did Margaret Wild write this book? I heard her talk about it once and she said she had seen a tiny newspaper reference to toys made in Belsen.  In her book Let the Celebrations Begin she shares her inspiration:

"A small collection of stuffed toys has been preserved which were made by Polish women in Belsen for the first children's party held after the liberation."  From the book Antique Toys and their background by Gwen White 1971.

I also know Julie Vivas spent a long time thinking about this book and drafting and redrafting the images.

When I read Let the Celebrations Begin with Grade 6 I also share each of these books - one each week.

Rose Blanche

Stefania's Dancing Slippers