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丿卮賲賳
In this moving picture book, award-winning collaborators Davide Cali and Serge Bloch present a fable for our time about two lonely soldiers facing each other across a barren battlefield. What each discovers, as the story unfolds, is that the enemy is not a faceless beast, but rather a real person with family, friends, and dreams.
60 pages
First published January 1, 2007
7 people are currently reading
630 people want to read
About the author
Davide Cal矛
246听books129听followersDavide Cal矛 is a Swiss-born Italian writer of picture books and graphic novels, primarily for children and young adults. He lives in Italy. His work has been published in twenty-five countries and translated into many languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
January 12, 2020
賯亘賱丕鈥嵸� 亘賴賲丕賳 蹖丕丿 丿丕丿賴鈥屫ㄙ堌嗀� 賴乇 賵賯鬲 亘诏賵蹖賳丿 讴蹖 禺爻鬲賴鈥屫ж池� 賲丨讴賲 噩賵丕亘 亘丿賴蹖賲: 丿卮賲賳! 賵賱蹖 丨丕賱丕 禺賵丿賲丕賳 禺爻鬲賴鈥屫й屬� 賵 讴丕卮 亘诏匕丕乇賳丿 讴賲蹖 賳賮爻 亘讴卮蹖賲貙 亘诏匕丕乇賳丿 賱乇夭卮 丿爻鬲 賵 夭丕賳賵蹖鈥屬呚з� 丌乇丕賲 亘诏蹖乇丿 賵 亘毓丿 賮丕噩毓賴鈥屰� 亘毓丿蹖 乇丕 乇賵蹖 爻乇賲丕賳 亘乇蹖夭賳丿. 讴丕卮 亘丕夭蹖鈥屬囏й屫簇з� 乇丕 亘丿賵賳 賲丕 丕賳噩丕賲 丿賴賳丿. 亘丿賵賳 乇賳噩 丿丕丿賳 賵 亘丿亘禺鬲鈥屫� 讴乇丿賳鈥屬呚з�. 亘丿賵賳 诏乇賮鬲賳 噩丕賳鈥屬囏й� 亘蹖卮鈥屫�. 亘丿賵賳 丌鬲卮 夭丿賳 丕蹖賳鈥屬囐呝� 禺爻鈥屬堌ж簇и�. 賲丕 賲購賴乇賴鈥屸€屬囏й� 亘丕夭蹖 賳蹖爻鬲蹖賲. 賲丕 丕賳爻丕賳蹖賲 賵 亘乇丕蹖 蹖丕賮鬲賳 氐賱丨貙 賳蹖丕夭蹖 亘賴 丿丕卮鬲賳 丿卮賲賳 賳丿丕乇蹖賲..
July 6, 2018
Read this book for my son as a bedtime. This book is excellent! I love the illustrations. The story is interesting. Readers will follow a guy at war. He鈥檚 in a hole. His enemy is also in a hole. He鈥檚 wanting to end the war but he worries if he leaves his hole he will get killed. He wondered if the war ended but no one informed them and they may be the only two at war. I like the humor. Highly recommended!
August 7, 2021
趩賳丿鬲丕蹖蹖 賴賲 毓讴爻 賴爻鬲. 丕賳诏丕乇 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴鈥屫й� 趩蹖夭蹖 賴爻鬲賳丿... 卮丕蹖丿 丕賵賴賲 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴 丿丕乇丿. 賮讴乇卮 乇丕 賴賲 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴必� 丿乇亘丕乇賴鈥屰� 丕蹖賳 賲賵囟賵毓 趩蹖夭蹖 蹖賴 賲賳 賳诏賮鬲賴 亘賵丿賳丿.
丕诏乇 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴鈥屫й� 丿丕乇丿 讴賴 趩卮賲 亘賴 乇丕賴卮 丕爻鬲貙 趩胤賵乇 丿賱卮 賲蹖鈥屫③屫� 夭賳 賵 亘趩賴鈥屰� 賲乇丿賲 乇丕 亘讴購卮丿責
丕蹖賳 趩賴 賴蹖賵賱丕蹖蹖 丕爻鬲責
丕诏乇 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴鈥屫й� 丿丕乇丿 讴賴 趩卮賲 亘賴 乇丕賴卮 丕爻鬲貙 趩胤賵乇 丿賱卮 賲蹖鈥屫③屫� 夭賳 賵 亘趩賴鈥屰� 賲乇丿賲 乇丕 亘讴購卮丿責
丕蹖賳 趩賴 賴蹖賵賱丕蹖蹖 丕爻鬲責
May 18, 2020
丨爻丕亘蹖 丕夭 禺賵賳丿賳 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賱匕鬲 亘乇丿賲 亘賳馗乇賲 亘卮丿鬲 亘乇丕蹖 亘趩賴 賴丕 賲賳丕爻亘賴 賵 丨鬲賲丕 亘丕蹖丿 丕夭 爻賳 讴賲 賴賲趩蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖 禺賵亘蹖 亘乇丕卮賵賳 禺賵賳丿賴 亘丕卮賴 鬲丕 亘丕 賲賮賴賵賲 丨賯蹖賯蹖 噩賳诏 賵 丿賵爻鬲蹖 丌卮賳丕 亘卮賳
亘乇丕蹖 蹖讴 亘丕乇 賴賲 讴賴 卮丿賴 亘丕蹖丿 鬲氐賵乇 讴賳蹖賲 卮丕蹖丿 鬲賲丕賲 賲卮讴賱丕鬲 賲丕 丕夭 丕蹖賳 丿卮賲賳 禺蹖丕賱蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵丿賲賵賳 爻丕禺鬲蹖賲 賵 卮丕蹖丿 亘夭乇诏 鬲乇蹖賳 丿卮賲賳 賵丕賯毓蹖 丿賯蹖賯丕 倬賴賱賵賲賵賳賴...
亘乇丕蹖 蹖讴 亘丕乇 賴賲 讴賴 卮丿賴 亘丕蹖丿 鬲氐賵乇 讴賳蹖賲 卮丕蹖丿 鬲賲丕賲 賲卮讴賱丕鬲 賲丕 丕夭 丕蹖賳 丿卮賲賳 禺蹖丕賱蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵丿賲賵賳 爻丕禺鬲蹖賲 賵 卮丕蹖丿 亘夭乇诏 鬲乇蹖賳 丿卮賲賳 賵丕賯毓蹖 丿賯蹖賯丕 倬賴賱賵賲賵賳賴...
December 9, 2019
Loved it. Absolutely loved it. I read it three times in Persian, French and English in the same day, and it was so poignant that it haunted me.
It is so simple, so minimal, so straightforward yet so very powerful. It sends a very important message that children need to be exposed to, but I think adults are in dire need of reading it as well. This will an all time favorite of mine.
It is so simple, so minimal, so straightforward yet so very powerful. It sends a very important message that children need to be exposed to, but I think adults are in dire need of reading it as well. This will an all time favorite of mine.
March 16, 2022
爻賴鈥屫ㄘж� 倬卮鬲 賴賲 亘丕 賯賱亘 卮讴爻鬲賴 禺賵賳丿賲卮. 禺蹖賱蹖 賯卮賳诏賴. 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賵 鬲氐賵蹖乇爻丕夭蹖 禺蹖賱蹖 賯卮賳诏 賵 賴賵卮賲賳丿丕賳賴 亘賵丿.
May 5, 2015
I pulled this book off my shelves when thinking about Dresden this week. I love this book. It says so much using so little. Two soldiers, sitting opposite each other in their separate foxholes, are enemies because their manuals told them they were enemies.
One solider claims his enemy isn't human, he's a beast, knows no mercy, will kill families, pets, burn down forests, poison water. Well, that's what the manual says, anyway. But sitting in a foxhole isn't easy - one gets hungry, it rains and becomes uncomfortable.
One day, the soldier disguises himself as a bush and leaves his hole, crawling towards his enemy so he can kill him and end the war. But when he gets there, what a surprise. His enemy is gone, but has left his things behind - family pictures and a manual that says his enemy isn't human - hmm, wait a minute! Where has he seen that before? Then, realizing his enemy has crawled over to his hole, the soldier sends outs a peace message to him at the same time the enemy sends one to him. Doesn't take much to figure out how this ends.
Bloch used simple, almost cartoonish pen and ink illustrations for The Enemy. The only colors are the khaki of the soldier's uniforms, red blood and the red cover of the manuals they used, though real photos were used for the enemy's family, bring the story close to home, so to speak. Such spare illustrations really forces the reader to focus on the words of the text, written in the first person by one soldier, which isn't favoritism for one side or the other because you know the other soldier is thinking the same thoughts.
This is definitely picture books for older readers. It is excellent and pairs very nicely with Alice Walker's Why War is Never a Good Idea. Together these two books about war and peace extend each other's message. Both of these books will or should generate conversations and questions by kids and it is advisable to judge the age and child's ability to tolerate these messages, however peaceful they may be meant.
And if you haven't already read Slaughterhouse Five, I highly recommend it. And have a peaceful day!
This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was purchased for my personal library
One solider claims his enemy isn't human, he's a beast, knows no mercy, will kill families, pets, burn down forests, poison water. Well, that's what the manual says, anyway. But sitting in a foxhole isn't easy - one gets hungry, it rains and becomes uncomfortable.
One day, the soldier disguises himself as a bush and leaves his hole, crawling towards his enemy so he can kill him and end the war. But when he gets there, what a surprise. His enemy is gone, but has left his things behind - family pictures and a manual that says his enemy isn't human - hmm, wait a minute! Where has he seen that before? Then, realizing his enemy has crawled over to his hole, the soldier sends outs a peace message to him at the same time the enemy sends one to him. Doesn't take much to figure out how this ends.
Bloch used simple, almost cartoonish pen and ink illustrations for The Enemy. The only colors are the khaki of the soldier's uniforms, red blood and the red cover of the manuals they used, though real photos were used for the enemy's family, bring the story close to home, so to speak. Such spare illustrations really forces the reader to focus on the words of the text, written in the first person by one soldier, which isn't favoritism for one side or the other because you know the other soldier is thinking the same thoughts.
This is definitely picture books for older readers. It is excellent and pairs very nicely with Alice Walker's Why War is Never a Good Idea. Together these two books about war and peace extend each other's message. Both of these books will or should generate conversations and questions by kids and it is advisable to judge the age and child's ability to tolerate these messages, however peaceful they may be meant.
And if you haven't already read Slaughterhouse Five, I highly recommend it. And have a peaceful day!
This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was purchased for my personal library
March 28, 2020
丌賴 讴丕卮 亘胤乇蹖鈥屫з� 鬲賵 诏賵丿丕賱 丕賵 亘蹖賮鬲丿...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2024
丿賵 爻乇亘丕夭 賲丿鬲賴丕爻鬲 讴賴 鬲賵 丿賵鬲丕 诏賵丿丕賱 賳夭丿蹖讴 亘賴賲 诏蹖乇 丕賮鬲丕丿賳貙 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕夭 夭亘丕賳 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 爻乇亘丕夭賴丕 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賲蹖卮賴.
爻乇亘丕夭蹖 讴賴 丿卮賲賳 乇賵 蹖讴 賴蹖賵賱丕 賲蹖丿賵賳賴 賵 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賴 賴乇讴丕乇蹖 丕夭 丿爻鬲卮 亘乇賲蹖丕丿!
亘毓丿 蹖讴 乇賵夭 讴賴 爻乇亘丕夭 丕夭 丕蹖賳 賵囟毓蹖鬲 禺爻鬲賴 卮丿賴 亘丕 丕爻鬲鬲丕乇 禺賵丿卮 乇賵 亘賴 诏賵丿丕賱 丿卮賲賳 賲蹖乇爻賵賳賴 賵 賲蹖亘蹖賳賴 丿卮賲賳蹖 丕賵賳噩丕 賳蹖爻鬲
賵賱蹖 賳卮賵賳賴 賴丕蹖蹖 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖讴賳賴 賵 賲蹖賮賴賲賴 丕賵賳 爻乇亘丕夭 賴賲 亘丕 禺賵丿卮 賴蹖趩 鬲賮丕賵鬲蹖 賳丿丕乇賴 賵 賴乇 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 鬲賵 賲睾夭卮賵賳 賮乇賵 讴乇丿賳 丿乇賵睾 亘賵丿賴 賵 丿卮賲賳 賵丕賯毓蹖 丿乇 賵丕賯毓 讴爻丕賳蹖 賴爻鬲賳 讴賴 噩賳诏 乇賵 亘賴 乇丕賴 丕賳丿丕禺鬲賳 賵 爻乇亘丕夭賴丕 賵 賲乇丿賲 趩蹖夭蹖 噩夭 賯乇亘丕賳蹖 賳蹖爻鬲賳鈥�
讴鬲丕亘 禺賵亘蹖 亘賵丿!
賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賲 亘乇丕蹖 亘趩賴 賴丕蹖 丿亘爻鬲丕賳蹖 賲賳丕爻亘 亘丕卮賴..
丕夭 讴鬲丕亘賴丕蹖蹖賴 讴賴 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿 賲蹖丿賲 丨鬲賲丕 亘乇丕蹖 亘趩賴 賴丕 禺賵賳丿賴 亘卮賴貙
趩賵賳 亘賴 賳馗乇賲 卮賳丕禺鬲 丕夭 噩賳诏 賵 倬蹖丕賲丿賴丕卮貙 亘丕蹖丿 丕夭 賴賲賵賳 亘趩诏蹖 氐賵乇鬲 亘诏蹖乇賴..
爻乇亘丕夭蹖 讴賴 丿卮賲賳 乇賵 蹖讴 賴蹖賵賱丕 賲蹖丿賵賳賴 賵 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賴 賴乇讴丕乇蹖 丕夭 丿爻鬲卮 亘乇賲蹖丕丿!
亘毓丿 蹖讴 乇賵夭 讴賴 爻乇亘丕夭 丕夭 丕蹖賳 賵囟毓蹖鬲 禺爻鬲賴 卮丿賴 亘丕 丕爻鬲鬲丕乇 禺賵丿卮 乇賵 亘賴 诏賵丿丕賱 丿卮賲賳 賲蹖乇爻賵賳賴 賵 賲蹖亘蹖賳賴 丿卮賲賳蹖 丕賵賳噩丕 賳蹖爻鬲
賵賱蹖 賳卮賵賳賴 賴丕蹖蹖 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖讴賳賴 賵 賲蹖賮賴賲賴 丕賵賳 爻乇亘丕夭 賴賲 亘丕 禺賵丿卮 賴蹖趩 鬲賮丕賵鬲蹖 賳丿丕乇賴 賵 賴乇 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 鬲賵 賲睾夭卮賵賳 賮乇賵 讴乇丿賳 丿乇賵睾 亘賵丿賴 賵 丿卮賲賳 賵丕賯毓蹖 丿乇 賵丕賯毓 讴爻丕賳蹖 賴爻鬲賳 讴賴 噩賳诏 乇賵 亘賴 乇丕賴 丕賳丿丕禺鬲賳 賵 爻乇亘丕夭賴丕 賵 賲乇丿賲 趩蹖夭蹖 噩夭 賯乇亘丕賳蹖 賳蹖爻鬲賳鈥�
讴鬲丕亘 禺賵亘蹖 亘賵丿!
賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賲 亘乇丕蹖 亘趩賴 賴丕蹖 丿亘爻鬲丕賳蹖 賲賳丕爻亘 亘丕卮賴..
丕夭 讴鬲丕亘賴丕蹖蹖賴 讴賴 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿 賲蹖丿賲 丨鬲賲丕 亘乇丕蹖 亘趩賴 賴丕 禺賵賳丿賴 亘卮賴貙
趩賵賳 亘賴 賳馗乇賲 卮賳丕禺鬲 丕夭 噩賳诏 賵 倬蹖丕賲丿賴丕卮貙 亘丕蹖丿 丕夭 賴賲賵賳 亘趩诏蹖 氐賵乇鬲 亘诏蹖乇賴..
July 25, 2014
This book is not for children. I repeat this book is not for children. It's guise is that of a children's picture book, but this book is to be read in a college seminar on peace studies. Cali and Bloch take the cycle of war and strip away all the politics and fluff to show us what is at the heart of war in its simplest form; soldiers fighting for a cause that has been lost in the ether.
The mixed media illustrations make this book a work of beauty to admire.
There's a lot more I want to say about this book, but I should probably get back to work.
The mixed media illustrations make this book a work of beauty to admire.
There's a lot more I want to say about this book, but I should probably get back to work.
February 26, 2017
Wow. This is such a simple condemnation of war-mongering. The two soldiers in their two holes are the saddest thing. Each has been fed a pack of lies about the other- taught that they enemy is a beast who must be killed. They are waging war for nothing. This was a surprising topic for a picture book in the easy section, but it's a concept that all children should be exposed to
June 16, 2020
讴鬲丕亘 禺賵亘蹖 丕爻鬲 亘乇丕蹖 亘趩賴鈥屬囏й� 丕賲乇賵夭 讴賴 賲賲讴賳 丕爻鬲 亘賴 噩賳诏鈥屫з佖辟堌藏з� 賮乇丿丕 鬲亘丿蹖賱 卮賵賳丿.
October 20, 2011
This is a book for children, or is it? about the futility of war. Uncluttered text line drawings in black, white, khaki and a hint of red render the simple message powerfully. The book has a World War I trench scenario with two enemy soldiers each in a trench following orders and the manual, which they were given at the beginning of the war, showing how the enemy are always beasts capable of killing families, pets and so on. As each soldier discovers his enemy鈥檚 empty hole and the unexpected family photos there is a glimmer of recognition of all they share in common. Both, now in each other鈥檚 foxholes, consider the possibility of calling a truce. There are some haunting double page spreads of the same night sky or pouring rain, uniting these two enemies in a common experience. An honest portrayal of war, and yet I believe, in a way as to be accessible to a child even as young as 4. Be prepared for some great discussion when you read this book with children.
April 3, 2022
賮賵賯 丕賱毓丕丿賴 亘賵丿 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 鬲氐賵蹖乇诏乇蹖 賵 乇賵丕蹖鬲 亘乇丕蹖 丿乇讴 賲賮賴賵賲鈥屫嗂� 讴賴 賴賲 亘乇丕蹖 讴賵丿讴 賵 賴賲 亘夭乇诏爻丕賱 賯胤毓丕 賲賮蹖丿賴 賵 讴丕卮 賵 讴丕卮 亘乇爻賴 亘賴 亘趩賴 賴丕蹖 賴賲蹖賳 賳爻賱 賵 賯胤毓丕 丕孬乇 诏匕丕乇賴!
June 6, 2019
Italian author Davide Cali and French illustrator Serge Bloch join forces in this powerful picture-book examination of the subject of warfare, and the construction (and deconstruction) of the concept of 'the enemy.' Narrated by a soldier who is stuck alone in a foxhole, exchanging occasional fire with his enemy, also stuck alone in a foxhole, The Enemy uses a fairly simple, straightforward text, full of declarative sentences, to undermine the simplicity of distinctions such as "us" and "them," "human" and "beast," and most of all "enemy" and "friend." The soldier-narrator believes that he is essentially different from his enemy, mostly because his manual has told him so, informing him that his enemy is inhuman in his cruelty. But a late-night sortie to the enemy's foxhole shows him that this unknown opponent is strangely like him...
Originally published in France in 2007 as L'ennemi, and then translated into English in Australia that same year, The Enemy was recently reprinted in this new 2014 edition. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read it, as I found it a powerful and moving exploration of the use of propaganda and misinformation in inciting wars and keeping them going. Although I don't believe that all sides of every war ever fought are exactly the same, and equally right, there is no question in my mind that the frequency with which we as a species resort to violent conflict to resolve disagreements would not be nearly so high if it wasn't so easy to convince us that our opponents were different from us in some essential way - to convince us that they weren't quite human like us. Davide Cali's text is deceptively simple, seemingly stating facts while simultaneously undermining those facts, while Serge Bloch's cartoon-style artwork captures both the absurdity and tragedy of the situations being described in the text. This is an advanced picture-book, one which addresses sophisticated ideas and disturbing realities, so I wouldn't recommend it to younger children, who are usually the audience for picture-books. Rather, I would recommend The Enemy to children eight or above, with the proviso that educators and parents should be ready to discuss it with concerned youngsters.
Originally published in France in 2007 as L'ennemi, and then translated into English in Australia that same year, The Enemy was recently reprinted in this new 2014 edition. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read it, as I found it a powerful and moving exploration of the use of propaganda and misinformation in inciting wars and keeping them going. Although I don't believe that all sides of every war ever fought are exactly the same, and equally right, there is no question in my mind that the frequency with which we as a species resort to violent conflict to resolve disagreements would not be nearly so high if it wasn't so easy to convince us that our opponents were different from us in some essential way - to convince us that they weren't quite human like us. Davide Cali's text is deceptively simple, seemingly stating facts while simultaneously undermining those facts, while Serge Bloch's cartoon-style artwork captures both the absurdity and tragedy of the situations being described in the text. This is an advanced picture-book, one which addresses sophisticated ideas and disturbing realities, so I wouldn't recommend it to younger children, who are usually the audience for picture-books. Rather, I would recommend The Enemy to children eight or above, with the proviso that educators and parents should be ready to discuss it with concerned youngsters.
January 8, 2025
丿卮賲賳! 禺賵丕賴 賳丕禺賵丕賴 噩賲賱賴 賲毓乇賵賮賵 鬲賵 爻乇賲 卮賳蹖丿賲. " 丿跇賲賭賭賳 賴蹖趩 睾賱胤蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗁€丿..."
亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 賵 賲爻鬲賯蹖賲鈥屫臂屬� 讴鬲丕亘 囟丿噩賳诏蹖 讴賴 丿蹖丿賲. 亘乇丕蹖 賴賲賴 爻賳蹖賳. 亘蹖卮鬲乇 亘乇丕蹖 亘夭乇诏鬲乇賴丕 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿 賲蹖讴賳賲.
賮丕蹖賱卮賵 賲蹖匕丕乇賲 鬲賵 趩賳賱 Lendingbook@
亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 賵 賲爻鬲賯蹖賲鈥屫臂屬� 讴鬲丕亘 囟丿噩賳诏蹖 讴賴 丿蹖丿賲. 亘乇丕蹖 賴賲賴 爻賳蹖賳. 亘蹖卮鬲乇 亘乇丕蹖 亘夭乇诏鬲乇賴丕 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿 賲蹖讴賳賲.
賮丕蹖賱卮賵 賲蹖匕丕乇賲 鬲賵 趩賳賱 Lendingbook@
October 31, 2021
亘爻蹖丕乇 夭蹖亘丕 賵 鬲丕賲賱鈥屫ㄘ必з嗂屫�.
亘賴 賱蹖爻鬲 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 賲賳丕爻亘 讴賵丿讴丕賳賲 丕囟丕賮賴 卮丿.
亘賴 賱蹖爻鬲 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 賲賳丕爻亘 讴賵丿讴丕賳賲 丕囟丕賮賴 卮丿.
January 10, 2019
讴鬲丕亘蹖 囟丿 噩賳诏 亘乇丕蹖 賳賵噩賵丕賳丕賳 亘丕 賲鬲賳蹖 讴賵鬲丕賴 賵 鬲丕賲賱鈥屫ㄘ必з嗂屫� 賵 亘丕 鬲氐賵蹖乇诏乇蹖 賲賳丨氐乇鈥屫ㄙ団€屬佖必�
丿禺鬲乇毓賲賵蹖 郾鄢 爻丕賱賴 賲賳 乇賵 讴賴 禺蹖賱蹖 丿乇诏蹖乇 讴乇丿! 禺賵丿賲賲 禺蹖賱蹖 丿賵爻鬲卮 丿丕卮鬲賲
丿禺鬲乇毓賲賵蹖 郾鄢 爻丕賱賴 賲賳 乇賵 讴賴 禺蹖賱蹖 丿乇诏蹖乇 讴乇丿! 禺賵丿賲賲 禺蹖賱蹖 丿賵爻鬲卮 丿丕卮鬲賲
June 27, 2016
I agree with others that The Enemy is a picture book with a message that adults need as much as children. The text and illustrations are deceptively sparse and simple, but they make an incredibly poignant point about the nature of war and intergroup hatred in general. The story follows a soldier who spends miserable days waiting in a trench, occasionally throwing things at his enemy鈥攁 soldier in another trench, doing the same. The protagonist explains that the enemy is inhuman, a monster, and that he wants nothing more than to destroy our protagonist. He knows all of this because his soldier鈥檚 manual told him so. One day, he happens upon the enemy鈥檚 trench while the enemy is away. He is surprised to find pictures of the enemy鈥檚 family and his soldier鈥檚 manual. This manual is strikingly similar to his own鈥xcept that the drawing of the 鈥渆nemy鈥� in this manual has the protagonist鈥檚 face. It鈥檚 a perfect illustration of how dehumanization is necessary to create an enemy to justify a war. In just a few pages with a few lines of text, the book encapsulates how much soldiers suffer during war while not even sure who are why they are fighting. The reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is that the message is brilliantly subtle, but鈥erhaps too subtle for the age group it鈥檚 intended for. I read this with a seven-year-old and it went completely over his head, even after a discussion about the themes. Nonetheless, this may work for other children, and I highly recommend giving it a try. Starting a conversation about these issues at a young age may just result in a more compassionate and empathetic generation.
November 15, 2014
This book is about 2 soldiers during World War I. It is set in trenches and talks about how each soldier believes his enemy is a monster, because it was told to them in their manual. The soldier continually talks about killing his enemy to end the war and the different hardships he is facing at this time. By the end, the soldier has snuck out of his hole and discovers his enemies is empty, except for pictures. It is a surprise to him to know that his enemy could possibly have a family.
The simple black and white and green, with occasional touches of red, pictures lend themselves to the short text in the book. They help the reader to visualize the loneliness that the solders are facing when they are in a trench for long periods of time on their own. This is a book for older students to read when learning about the war. The story talks about how each soldier wishes the other would give in, and how they don't remember the real reason for the start of it. This could be a good topic for students to talk about peace, as well as similarities between people.
The simple black and white and green, with occasional touches of red, pictures lend themselves to the short text in the book. They help the reader to visualize the loneliness that the solders are facing when they are in a trench for long periods of time on their own. This is a book for older students to read when learning about the war. The story talks about how each soldier wishes the other would give in, and how they don't remember the real reason for the start of it. This could be a good topic for students to talk about peace, as well as similarities between people.
April 22, 2018
wide reading for CI546
grade level: simple book (elementary) but could be read by all grade levels / ages
genre: picture book / realistic fiction
themes: war, peace, differences, similarities
cultures: none. any. ever. technically I can see people arguing that they are white men since the paper is white but they are stick figures w/o race if you ask me.
awards: none specific to this book (I don't think) but the author has won various awards (particularly European) and the illustrator Serge Bloch has won awards as well.
school use: anytime you are focusing on war. I am planning to use this book as a read-aloud in units on the Civil War with 7th graders and WWs I and II with eighth graders.
review: Simple drawings, simple story, cuts RIGHT to the heart of the matter. Every soldier is told they are fighting for the right cause, all enemies are presented as wrong / evil / the bad guy, etc. Flip the script and we become the enemy.
grade level: simple book (elementary) but could be read by all grade levels / ages
genre: picture book / realistic fiction
themes: war, peace, differences, similarities
cultures: none. any. ever. technically I can see people arguing that they are white men since the paper is white but they are stick figures w/o race if you ask me.
awards: none specific to this book (I don't think) but the author has won various awards (particularly European) and the illustrator Serge Bloch has won awards as well.
school use: anytime you are focusing on war. I am planning to use this book as a read-aloud in units on the Civil War with 7th graders and WWs I and II with eighth graders.
review: Simple drawings, simple story, cuts RIGHT to the heart of the matter. Every soldier is told they are fighting for the right cause, all enemies are presented as wrong / evil / the bad guy, etc. Flip the script and we become the enemy.
July 6, 2009
Though the pictures are simple and cartoonish, the content of this book could definitely scare little kids. The story is told from the perspective of a solitary soldier who believes his enemy is "not a human being," and that the enemy will "kill our families and our pets." Of course, the point of the book is that the enemy soldier has been told the same thing--that neither wants to kill, but both feel they must.
As a book that addresses a complex subject in a simple way, I would give it four stars, but I didn't like the ending. It was abrupt and unsatisfying. And I fear that because this is a picture book, it may not reach the older kids (I'd say at least 4th grade and up) who would get it.
As a book that addresses a complex subject in a simple way, I would give it four stars, but I didn't like the ending. It was abrupt and unsatisfying. And I fear that because this is a picture book, it may not reach the older kids (I'd say at least 4th grade and up) who would get it.
September 2, 2014
This book is sure to evoke many personal opinions on whether it is appropriate for the traditional picture book aged crowd. For a parent, this would provide a wonderful springboard for war discussions. As an early elementary teacher, I would not be allowed to use this book in the classroom, with the frequent mention of killing. However, it would be an amazing tool for upper elementary, middle, and even high school, when war becomes more prominent in the social studies curriculum, and children better understand the history behind it.
April 3, 2022
"趩賳丿鬲丕蹖蹖 賴賲 毓讴爻 賴爻鬲. 丕賳诏丕乇 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴鈥屸€屫й� 趩蹖夭蹖 賴爻鬲賳丿. 卮丕蹖丿 丕賵 賴賲 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴 丿丕乇丿. 賮讴乇卮 乇丕 賴賲 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴必� 丿乇亘丕乇賴鈥屰� 丕蹖賳 賲賵囟賵毓 亘賴 賲賳 趩蹖夭蹖 賳诏賮鬲賴 亘賵丿賳丿.
丕诏乇 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴鈥屫й� 丿丕乇丿 讴賴 趩卮賲 亘賴 乇丕賴卮 丕爻鬲貙 趩胤賵乇 丿賱卮 賲蹖鈥屫③屫� 夭賳 賵 亘趩賴鈥屰� 賲乇丿賲 乇丕 亘讴卮丿責
丕蹖賳 趩賴 賴蹖賵賱丕蹖蹖鈥� 丕爻鬲責"
禺賵賳丿賳 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賵 丿蹖丿賳 鬲氐丕賵蹖乇 亘爻蹖丕乇 夭蹖亘丕卮貙 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 禺蹖賱蹖 賱匕鬲鈥屫ㄘ� 亘賵丿 賵 丕蹖賳 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏� 亘乇丕蹖 蹖丕丿 诏乇賮鬲賳 賲賮賴賵賲 噩賳诏 賵 氐賱丨 賴爻鬲.
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賲丕賴乇丕賳賴 賴賵蹖鬲 賵丕賯毓蹖 噩賳诏 乇賵 亘賴 賲丕 賳卮賵賳 賲蹖鈥屫�. 噩賳诏蹖 讴賴 賯乇亘丕賳蹖丕賳卮 賮賯胤 賵 賮賯胤 爻乇亘丕夭丕賳 賵 賲乇丿賲 毓丕丿蹖 賴爻鬲賳丿.
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘賴 賲丕 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 賯亘賱 亘蹖鬲:
"亘賳蹖 丌丿賲 丕毓囟丕蹖 蹖讴 倬蹖讴乇賳丿
讴賴 丿乇 丌賮乇蹖賳卮 夭 蹖讴 诏賵賴乇賳丿"
乇賵 蹖丕丿丌賵乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�.
丕诏乇 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴鈥屫й� 丿丕乇丿 讴賴 趩卮賲 亘賴 乇丕賴卮 丕爻鬲貙 趩胤賵乇 丿賱卮 賲蹖鈥屫③屫� 夭賳 賵 亘趩賴鈥屰� 賲乇丿賲 乇丕 亘讴卮丿責
丕蹖賳 趩賴 賴蹖賵賱丕蹖蹖鈥� 丕爻鬲責"
禺賵賳丿賳 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賵 丿蹖丿賳 鬲氐丕賵蹖乇 亘爻蹖丕乇 夭蹖亘丕卮貙 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 禺蹖賱蹖 賱匕鬲鈥屫ㄘ� 亘賵丿 賵 丕蹖賳 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏� 亘乇丕蹖 蹖丕丿 诏乇賮鬲賳 賲賮賴賵賲 噩賳诏 賵 氐賱丨 賴爻鬲.
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賲丕賴乇丕賳賴 賴賵蹖鬲 賵丕賯毓蹖 噩賳诏 乇賵 亘賴 賲丕 賳卮賵賳 賲蹖鈥屫�. 噩賳诏蹖 讴賴 賯乇亘丕賳蹖丕賳卮 賮賯胤 賵 賮賯胤 爻乇亘丕夭丕賳 賵 賲乇丿賲 毓丕丿蹖 賴爻鬲賳丿.
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘賴 賲丕 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 賯亘賱 亘蹖鬲:
"亘賳蹖 丌丿賲 丕毓囟丕蹖 蹖讴 倬蹖讴乇賳丿
讴賴 丿乇 丌賮乇蹖賳卮 夭 蹖讴 诏賵賴乇賳丿"
乇賵 蹖丕丿丌賵乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�.
November 29, 2017
The story was cute and the pictures, which were different than any in other picture books I had seen before, were different enough to entertain me. I especially liked the bright red against the blandness in one part.
I felt that I had heard this story many times before. Maybe that's just from growing up in Israel or maybe it's a universal thing. But still, I think it is an incredibly important story to read and talk about to little children. Especially Israeli children.
I felt that I had heard this story many times before. Maybe that's just from growing up in Israel or maybe it's a universal thing. But still, I think it is an incredibly important story to read and talk about to little children. Especially Israeli children.
January 8, 2014
This is a book about war, with a plea for peace. It shows the futility and stupidity of trench warfare, with an allegory for war in general. It has sparse cartoons, and an interesting narrative with a sardonic wit that is not really appropriate for younger children. Recommend for older children reading with parents; this book provides a wonderful opportunity to start a discussion about war.
January 8, 2020
鬲賵 丕賷賳 卮乇丕賷胤 噩賳诏賷 禺賷賱賷 毓噩賷亘 亘賵丿 丕賷賳 賰鬲丕亘 丿爻鬲賲 乇爻賷丿. 賰鬲丕亘 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 丕丨鬲乇丕賲 亘賴 丕乇夭卮 夭賳丿诏賷賴. 丕乇夭卮賷 賰賴 丕賱丕賳 丕夭 亘賷賳 乇賮鬲賴 賵 亘噩丕卮 丕乇夭卮 賲乇诏 噩丕卮 乇賵 诏乇賮鬲賴. (丕乇夭卮 賲乇诏 亘賴 賲毓賳丕賷 丕噩爻丕賲 爻乇丿 賵 亘賷 乇賵丨 鬲賰賳賵賱賵跇賷賰)
禺賵丿 賰鬲丕亘 鬲乇噩賲賴 丕賷 丕夭 爻賴 賰鬲丕亘 亘賴 夭亘丕賳 賴丕賷 丿賷诏賴鈥屫�. 賷賰賲 毓噩賷亘 亘賵丿 亘乇丕賲. 趩賵賳賰賴 丕賳爻噩丕賲 馗丕賴乇賷 賳丿丕卮鬲. 賵賱賷 丕賳爻噩丕賲 賲賵囟賵毓賷卮 禺賵亘 亘賵丿.
丿乇 丨丕賱鬲 賰賱賷 賵丕賯毓丕 賰鬲丕亘 乇賵 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕卮鬲賲.
禺賵丿 賰鬲丕亘 鬲乇噩賲賴 丕賷 丕夭 爻賴 賰鬲丕亘 亘賴 夭亘丕賳 賴丕賷 丿賷诏賴鈥屫�. 賷賰賲 毓噩賷亘 亘賵丿 亘乇丕賲. 趩賵賳賰賴 丕賳爻噩丕賲 馗丕賴乇賷 賳丿丕卮鬲. 賵賱賷 丕賳爻噩丕賲 賲賵囟賵毓賷卮 禺賵亘 亘賵丿.
丿乇 丨丕賱鬲 賰賱賷 賵丕賯毓丕 賰鬲丕亘 乇賵 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕卮鬲賲.
May 18, 2020
The message in this book is very important. A parent should plan to read this book to a child, along with a lot of discussion.
I did not like the book. I think it has the potential to really frighten young readers who don't have an adult to explain things. I guess I just have a problem with the concept of 'one man killing another' in a picture book.
I did not like the book. I think it has the potential to really frighten young readers who don't have an adult to explain things. I guess I just have a problem with the concept of 'one man killing another' in a picture book.
March 14, 2013
Great message of the power of propaganda and how we need to judge each other by how they treat.
June 9, 2016
Over de onzinnigheid van de oorlog. Zoals mijn zoon zegt : "Waarom mensen doden zich elkaar? Het heeft geen zin. We zijn toch allemaal mensen." Inderdaad.
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