Mister Doctor ─ Janusz Korczak & the Orphans of the Warsaw Ghetto

November 1940. A circus parade walks through the streets of Warsaw, waving a flag and singing. They are 160 Jewish children, forced by the Nazis to leave their beloved orphanage. It's a sad occasion, but led by Doctor Korczak, their inspirational director, the children are defiantly joyful.

Their new home is in the ghetto, a prison for Jews. Day by day, more people arrive. Some are forced to live on the street and freeze to death. Others die of disease and starvation. Though they lack food, warmth, and freedom, the children's spirits are sustained by the steadfast respect and kindness of "Mister" Doctor.

But these children will never grow up: in August 1942, they board the train that will carry them away to the death camps. Offered his freedom, Doctor Korczak refuses to abandon the children and proudly joins them on their last journey.

This profoundly moving illustrated book is based on the true story of the celebrated Polish educator, writer, and doctor Janusz Korczak. His works inspired the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which was adopted by the UN in 1959.

With mood-setting artwork and lyrical text, Mister Doctor allows young readers to meet the remarkable man whose humanity and bravery still stand as a glimmer of light in one of history's darkest periods.

Irene Cohen-Janca is a multi-award-winning author who has published many novels and picture books for children. Her book Les arbres pleurent aussi, also illustrated by Maurizio Quarello, has been translated into nine languages. She lives in France.

Maurizio A.C. Quarello is an Italian illustrator of more than 30 children's books published across Europe. His work has won several awards and has been exhibited in galleries in France and the U.S.