Janusz Korczak

Title: The Champion of Children
Author: Tomek Bodacki
Biography

     This is an inspiring biography of Janusz Korczak's life commitment to helping children.  Korczak was born as Henryk Goldszmit in Warsaw, Poland in 1878.  He grew up with a bright imagination wanting to be a king and help people and children everywhere.  His family was not poor and they were Christian, which he soon found out separated him from the poor Jewish children he saw in the streets.  Korczak wanted to help those children more than anything.  Once Russia annexed Warsaw, life became more difficult and soon his beloved father became ill and died.  Korczak continued on to the university to become a doctor.  He served as a medical doctor in three wars, treating soldiers, civilians, and poor families for free at night.  Korczak also started writing books, which is when he started using his pen name.  He wrote children's books and books for adults about children.  He later then left the medical field and opened an orphanage for Jewish children.  The way he ran the orphanage was unique because of his great love for the kids.  He put everything he had into those children trying to better their lives.  When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Korczak went with his children who were forced to move to the ghetto.  Here he tried his best to continue the routines from the orphanage while in the terrible conditions, still doing anything he could for the kids.  When the Nazis started sending people from the ghetto to concentration camps, Korczak led his children to the trains.  He died in the Treblinka extermination camp with his children.  Korczak lived his life to better children's lives.  He left a legacy of books and inspiration to all the people of Poland and educators everywhere.
     This book was very detailed with the events of Korczak's life and the amazing person he was.  In the back, the author talks about when he first heard of this great man who loved children, when he was nine years old growing up in Poland.  It is amazing to me the things Korczak did and the legacy that he left.  Sources are also cited to provide more information and backup the facts stated.  I found this story inspiring and it truly shows the courage of people during those terrible times and I believe every educator should learn about this man, as I am interested in learning so much more.