Eddie Jaku’s beautiful children’s book
His story is one of love, survival and triumph.
THE Joint Australia (JDC) is running a competition to win one of five copies of the late Eddie Jaku’s new children’s book, The Happiest Boy on Earth.
Jaku was born Abraham Jakubowicz in Germany in 1920. He was sent to a concentration camp at the age of 18 after returning home from boarding school. In October 1943, Jaku’s family were arrested and sent to Auschwitz, where his parents were both murdered.
Jaku was sent on a “death march” in 1945, but escaped and hid in a forest until he was finally rescued by allied troops.
Then in 1950 he moved with his family to Australia, where he lived until he passed away in October 2021, aged 101.
Like so many other Jewish immigrants looking to escape Europe, Jaku was aided by the JDC who successfully resettled thousands of survivors.
Despite the horrors he suffered, Jaku remained eternally optimistic at heart.
His story is one of love, survival and triumph.
Self-proclaimed as the Happiest Man on Earth, Jaku embraced every day with infectious enthusiasm and devoted himself to educating generations of young people on the value of empathy and compassion. Throughout his life, Jaku stressed the importance of taking nothing for granted.
Now, young readers can connect with his message in a beautifully illustrated picture book.
The Happiest Boy on Earth is framed as a conversation between 101-year-old Jaku and his great-grandchildren, who are bursting with questions about the life of their Pépé.
It is adapted from Jaku’s bestselling book, The Happiest Man on Earth, and is perfect for older readers aged eight and above.
Jaku’s story unfolds sensitively through his words, and with illustrations by Nathaniel Eckstrom.
The book will be available in book stores from August 30.
For a chance to win a copy of The Happiest Boy on Earth, visit www.thejoint.org.au
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