Awards

• Nominated for Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2026 (UK)

Overview

Charting 400 years of history, this is the astonishing true story of the Anne Frank House, beautifully illustrated by Britta Teckentrup. In the middle of Amsterdam stands a tall, narrow house on a canal. Over the course of four centuries the house has been a home to many – from poor families to wealthy couples, and those hiding from persecution. Like the family of a young Jewish girl who sought refuge in the annexe and wrote in her diary of the “old house on the canal”. The girl’s name was Anne Frank, and her diary became world famous.

Full Product Details

9781529532753

Table of Contents

Reviews

Thomas Harding’s lyrical text and concise back matter reveal history through the changing face and fortunes of a remarkable structure. Impeccably researched, Britta Teckentrup’s dreamy mixed-media collages, including a map and archival imagery, perfectly echo the layered narrative and capture the ethereal nature of time and circumstance. * Achuka * The illustrations are lovely in pastels, alternating with brighter pages, the buildings in reds and browns with pen and ink accents. All the backgrounds are subtle colors, no white anywhere to be seen. This is the kind of book to be found in museums and, of course, at The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Those interested in this book might be moved to visit it someday. Architects or students interested in architecture might enjoy having a copy of this book. * NY Journal of Books * The work’s large horizontal format showcases mixed-media images that combine the feel of engravings and old photos with layers of translucent color and texture, creating a sense of incidents being summoned, connected, and pondered via collective memory. Back matter includes further historical detail. Ages 7–10. * Publishers Weekly * The book obviously is an excellent addition to any collection supporting learning about Anne Frank and her family as well as introducing them to the Anne Frank House, perhaps inspiring a desire to visit this very special place. However, it also offers the opportunity to look at buildings in the locality and perhaps trace their history and that of those who pass through their doors. ‘The House on the Canal’ is a very moving, beautifully presented celebration of one house’s history, ‘the old house on the canal’ visited today by so many people from all over the world. * Through the Bookshelf * Everyone will learn something from reading this book and it would therefore be a valuable addition to any classroom library, particularly across the primary age range. -- Stephen Dilley * Just Imagine *

Author Information

Thomas Harding is an award-winning author whose books have been translated into over nineteen languages. As a journalist, he has written for the Financial Times, The Sunday Times (London), The Washington Post and The Guardian, among other publications, and works as a radio and television presenter. He co-founded a television station in Oxford and for many years was an award-winning documentary maker. Britta Teckentrup's strikingly beautiful picture books have been published in more than twenty countries. They include Tree, Bee, Moon, Ocean, Under the Same Sky, which was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal, and The House by the Lake. Born in Hamburg and educated in London at St. Martin's College and the Royal College of Art, she currently lives with her family in Berlin. See her work online at brittateckentrup.com, and follow her on Instagram at @britta_teckentrup.

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