Two children need milk for their sick mother. “No money? No milk!” cries the cold-hearted milkman. Then they spy Brundibar. The odd little man has attracted a paying crowd with his hurdy-gurdy and his “awful awful” songs. Inspired, the children decide to sing for their supper—or rather, the money to buy their mother some milk. But Brundibar despises the competition. “Nasty little children, quiet. / Don’t be loud, don’t even try it / You’ll find out what troubles are / If you bother Brundibar!” The children are the heart and soul of this story—the hope for the future. They are the ones who have the courage to lead a rally against the bullying Brundibar. “Oh thundery blundery bothersome Brundibar! Shall you be pounced. And will you be trounced?” They triumph, but not without a haunting epilogue: “I’ll be back.” This picture book adaptation of a satirical Czech opera that was completed in 1938 makes numerous references to the Holocaust, highly appropriate given its history and intent. It was performed more than 50 times by children in the Nazi concentration camp Terezin. There is more than a passing resemblance between Brundibar and Hitler, both in image and action. Tony Kushner’s frantic, frenzied narrative is matched by Maurice Sendak’s unsettling artwork. Sendak’s illustrations are packed with symbols and images both obvious and subtle. The imagery is just part of what makes this such a highly discussible book for older children and teens. (Age 10 and older)

From the legendary imagination of Maurice Sendak--creator of beloved classic Where the Wild Things Are--comes a classic tale of children cleverly overcoming a bully, retold by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner.

Brundibar is based on a 1938 Czech opera for children that was performed fifty-five times by the children of Terezin, the Nazi concentration camp. When Aninku and Pepicek discover one morning that their mother is sick, they rush to town for milk to make her better. Their attempt to earn money by singing is thwarted by a bullying, bellowing hurdy-gurdy grinder, Brundibar, who tyrannizes the town square and chases all other street musicians away. Befriended by three intelligent talking animals and three hundred helpful schoolkids, brother and sister sing for the money to buy the milk, defeat the bully, and triumphantly return home.

"An ambitious picture book that succeeds both as a simple children's story and as a compelling statement against tyranny." --School Library Journal