Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot - Hardcover

Raven, Margot Theis

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1585360694 ISBN 13: 9781585360697

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press, 2002

Synopsis

A True Story of the Berlin Airlift and the Candy that Dropped from the Sky. Life was grim in 1948 West Berlin, Germany. Josef Stalin blockaded all ground routes coming in and out of Berlin to cut off West Berliners from all food and essential supplies. Without outside help, over 2.2 million people would die. Thus began the Berlin Airlift, a humanitarian rescue mission that utilized British and American airplanes and pilots to fly in needed supplies. As one of the American pilots participating in the Airlift mission, Lt. Gail S. Halvorsen helped to provide not only nourishment to the children but also gave them a reason to hope for a better world. From one thoughtful, generous act came a lifelong relationship between Lt. Gail and the children of Berlin. This is the true story of a seven-year-old girl named Mercedes who lived in West Berlin during the Airlift and of the American who came to be known as the Chocolate Pilot. Artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen's evocative paintings illuminate Margot Theis Raven's powerful story of hope, friendship and remembrance. About the Author: Margot Theis Raven has been a professional writer working in the fields of radio, television, magazines, newspapers, and children's books for thirty years. She has won five national awards, including an IRA Teacher's Choice award. Ms. Raven earned her degree in English from Rosemont College and attended Villanova University for theater study, and Kent State University for German language. Ms. Raven splits her time living in Concord, MA, Charleston, SC and West Chesterfield, NH. About the Illustrator: Born in the Netherlands, Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in Holland. He immigrated to the United States in 1976, and years later he became a children's book illustrator. Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot is Nick's ninth children's book with Sleeping Bear Press.

About this title

About the Author

Van Frankenhuyzen was born in The Netherlands. He studied at the Royal Academy of Arts and immigrated to the U.S. in 1976.

Born in the Netherlands, Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, or "Nick" as he prefers to be known, studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in Holland. He immigrated to the United States in 1976. The Edmund Fitzgerald is Nick's 13th children's book with Sleeping Bear Press. The Legend of Sleeping Bear was Nick's first book and has sold more than 200,000 copies.

From AudioFile

When early events of the Cold War caused a time of dire need for the people of West Berlin in 1948-49, it was the "sky bridge" that brought a lifeline of supplies to the city. From her backyard, young Mercedes watches as American aircraft approach the airfield. Pilots could not know that the noise prevents her chickens from laying or that joyful children delight in the sweet treats wrapped in miniature parachutes that one particular pilot is dropping. All changes on the day that Mercedes writes a letter. Barbara McCulloh is respectful of the history presented in this book. She narrates Mercedes as a child wise beyond her years and yet one who is childlike in her excitement about the candy drops. The tension between Mercedes and her mother is palpable in each voice. The final meeting is a quiet time for appreciation and reflection. A.R. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Edition details

• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1585360694
• ISBN 13: 9781585360697
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 48