Anne Frank (National Geographic Readers) by Alexandra Zapruder Ages 7-12 48 pages National Geographic August 2013 Paperback     The true story of Anne Frank is told in this Level 3 book for fluent readers. The book begins with a four-page introduction about the young girl and her childhood. Readers will discover what life was like in the 1930s in Germany and how Anne’s life changed when Hitler invaded Holland. Author Alexandra Zapruder includes a labeled map to explain the German invasion of other countries during World War II and color photographs of the Secret Annex. Sections from Anne’s diary are quoted throughout the book; her original words add truth and emotion to Zapruder’s narration. Aspiring young writers will likely be inspired by Anne’s commitment to writing, even during the bleakest of times. The book continues with information about Anne’s capture and her eventual death in a concentration camp. Black-and-white photographs show children in the camps and skeletal men who survived to see liberation. A timeline of events from 1929 to 1947 borders the last few pages of the book, and a photograph glossary recaps the words defined in the “Words to Know” boxes that appear throughout the chapters. There is no bibliography or reference section, but children may want to learn more about World War II by reading about the other six young diary writers mentioned in this book.     web reviews   Tanya Boudreau/2013 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)