We are so excited to have Meg Wiviott join us today to share information about Global Historical Fiction Picture Books.

Meg Wiviott is the author of PAPER HEARTS, a young adult novel-in-verse based on a true story of friendship and survival in Auschwitz. PAPER HEARTS made the 2016 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults and the Amelia Bloomer lists. It was also a Cybils Poetry Finalist and a 2015 Nerdy Poetry and Novel in Verse Winner. Meg is also the author of the award winning picture book, BENNO AND THE NIGHT OF BROKEN GLASS, which tells the story of Kristallnacht through the eyes of a cat. She holds an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

I got the idea for BENNO while attending an SCBWI NJ conference many, many years ago when an extremely well known and respected publisher was asked, “What’s the one project you’d like to see come across your desk?” The publisher responded, “A picture book on Kristallnacht.” Those of us in the room who knew what Kristallnacht was gasped. It was a small gasp, there weren’t many of us.

I blinked. I stared. I blinked again. A picture book on Kristallnacht? How do you do that? How do you write a story on what is essentially the beginning of the Holocaust for young children? The wheels started turning.

It took me years—YEARS—to figure out how to do it (and quite frankly, I still don’t know how I actually did it because I haven’t been able to do it again). The idea stayed in the back of my mind and every once in a while, I pulled it out and played with it. I did tons of research. I read about Hitler and Goebbles, the Nuremberg laws and the expulsion of the Polish Jews. I read about Ernst vom Rath and Herschel Grynszpan. (Note that none of those things are mentioned in the book).But I had to know everything before I could make sense of how to write it. It is my philosophy that it’s not what we tell our children, but how we tell them. This story had to be honest.

When I had a reasonably presentable draft (there were many, many unpresentable versions prior to this one) I took it to my critique group. Like any good critique group, they read my work seriously and then as gently and kindly was possible told me it was boring. They explained that draft lacked a story arc, tension, and a character with whom the reader could identify. They were right. It was missing everything a good story needs.

One person suggested I tell the story from the point of view of a child. This was something I really did not want to do! I did not want to tell it from the pov of a non-Jewish child for several reasons, foremost because I did not want to get inside of the head of that non-Jewish parent. I refused to have any character spew antisemitic sentiments. Nor did I want to tell the story from the pov of a Jewish child because, quite frankly, the story is scary. I decided instead to write what I know…

Me around 6 years old with my first kitten named Lucky.

Cats. I know cats. I have had several in my life. The inspiration for Benno came from a cat I met when my husband and I were newly married and lived in an apartment. The super allowed a stray cat named Hobo to live in the basement of the building. He was a big, gray cat. He looked like the kind of cat who would roll a pack of cigarettes up in his t-shirt sleeve. Everyone in the building knew him. Everyone loved him.

Once I had Benno the rest of the characters fell into place. The facts are still there, but Benno adds the heart that was missing from previous versions.

Thirteen years on and BENNO AND THE NIGHT OF BROKEN GLASS is still in print! I am immensely proud.