Reading the Holocaust Through Picturebooks: Analysis of Francesco Tirelli’s Ice Cream Shop’s visual storytelling

Abstract

This paper offers a focused analysis of the picturebook Francesco Tirelli’s Ice Cream Shop by Tamar Meir (b. 1976) illustrated by Yael Albert (b. 1984) and explores how its illustrations and narrative structure introduce Holocaust history to children. Through a detailed page-by-page analysis, I focus on several key aspects such as historical accuracy, a child-centered perspective, horizontal flipping in translations, the use of static visual elements, and how movement is represented throughout the story. Set in Budapest, the illustrations combine historical authenticity with appealing storytelling, making the story accessible and meaningful for children. By examining how the city, characters, and motion are visually realized, this paper illustrates how these aspects create a compelling story of resilience, and hope.