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    Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot: A True Story of the Berlin Airlift and the Candy That Dropped from the Sky
    Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot: A True Story of the Berlin Airlift and the Candy That Dropped from the Sky
    Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot: A True Story of the Berlin Airlift and the Candy That Dropped from the Sky
    Audiobook23 minutes

    Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot: A True Story of the Berlin Airlift and the Candy That Dropped from the Sky

    Written by Margot Theis Raven

    Narrated by Barbara McCulloh

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    In 1948 West Berlin, Mercedes and her mother rely on the noisy American planes that form a "sky bridge" into the city, bringing vital food and supplies. But the planes deliver more than flour, clothing, and coal. Every day, one special plane wiggles its wings, and its pilot drops small candy-filled parachutes for the children. How can Mercedes get the "Chocolate Pilot" to drop some candy just for her?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateApr 27, 2012
    ISBN9781464044380
    Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot: A True Story of the Berlin Airlift and the Candy That Dropped from the Sky

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    Reviews for Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot

    4.5/5

    241 ratings23 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      This true story is overwhelming! An important piece of history of humanity. My eyes r misty from this true story. It’s a story I’ll share.
    • 5/5
      Touching true story. It was a hit with the whole family.
    • 4/5
      Times were hard during the Soviet blockade of West Berlin. With roads and rail access closed, airplanes were the only way to get food and other supplies into West Berlin. An American pilot, Gail Halvorsen, dropped candy for the children on his daily runs, earning him the nickname the “Chocolate Pilot.” This is the story of the Chocolate Pilot’s gift to a young West Berlin girl named Mercedes that began a lifelong friendship. This sweet story illustrates how kindness toward strangers can have a long-lasting effect. Since it’s a historical story, it should have a long shelf life in libraries. It’s supposed to look old-fashioned!
    • 5/5
      This is another book my son and I read together as a background for a school project they are beginning on WWII. It's a true story about an Air Force pilot that dropped candy from his plane to the children in Berlin. It's a pretty short story but it's so heartwarming. Even in just those few pages, it brought tears to my eyes. It reminds you that there are good people in the world. I think everyone should read it once.
    • 5/5
      Summary: This book is a sweet story about one little girl, Mercedes, and her love for the “Chocolate Pilot.” Gail Halvorsen brought hope to the children of the decimated city of Berlin following World War II. As starvation was quickly becoming a reality for the West Berliners who refused to bow under the cruel control of Soviet Union, Mercedes met an American pilot who was willing to share his gum with her. He brought hope to her and the children of Berlin. More gum and more candy arrived shortly thereafter. Personal Response: I enjoyed the oil paint illustrations, and the gentility of this story. This is a story for young children as well as older students. It shows that there truly are heroes in this world, and it only takes one small act of kindness to truly make a difference in another person’s life. This book was simplistic and personal. It was written from Mercedes’ point of view (based on her true story) and how a stick of gum brought about a lifelong friendship with the pilot who brought hope to a little girl growing up in post-war Berlin and the dreadful hardships she endured. It was a gentle and nice alternative book to the “Candy Bomber” book that is more factual and detailed. Curriculum Connection: I am using this book in conjunction with The Candy Bomber, book mentioned above. This gives a single child’s view of the Berlin Airlift and the pilot who made it his specific mission to give hope to the children of Berlin. Offering different perspectives of the same story for students is important. We each learn in different ways, and my hope is that between both of these stories, and including my own mother’s perspective on such an inspiring story from history will help my own 6th grade students recognize the important difference that one small act of kindness can truly make in the
    • 5/5
      Mercedes is a young girl who witnesses a pilot fly over her house everyday. One day she read about how the pilot drop a bunch of candy pouches over a town. She wanted some of the candy he was dropping, but he never dropped any by her house. So she wrote a letter asking him to drop some candy to her house. One day she comes home and there is a package full of gum and candy just for her. This shows how if you really want something go about achieving that goal no matter what obstacles stand in your way. 
    • 3/5
      This book goes along side Candy Bomber. I would use this book to compare the information in Candy Bomber with my class.
    • 4/5
      This is a picture book of Candy Bomber. I would read this after reading the novel if I had an older group. I would then have the students compare and contrast the book to the novel.
    • 5/5
      This is the story of a young girl named Mercedes and how she writes a letter to the Candy Bomber asking him to drop chocolates off at her farm. This story is so enlightening and I love that it is written from the young girl's point of view. This is a great companion for "The Candy Bomber" and I think children would really enjoy it. I would use this book for third grade on up.
    • 4/5
      Another touching story about the chocolate pilot in the Berlin Airlift. This story however, is told from the perspective of one particular little girl. She writes a letter to him and the answer that she receives has a strong, lasting impact on her life.
    • 5/5
      MERCEDES AND THE CHOCOLATE PILOT is an amazing story of the Berlin Airlift and how Gail Havorsen dropped candy to the children of Berlin. Mercedes is determined to get some candy from the Chocolate Pilot and all will be well. You see the strength of her mother and how much Mercedes valued what the Chocolate Pilot did. This book is an excellent way to explain the Berlin Airlift. The illustrations are beautifully done. This book in conjunction with THE CANDY BOMBER help students see a true hero and how one person can make a difference.
    • 4/5
      I found myself close to tears by the end of Margot Theis Raven's Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot, a picture-book retelling of the story of Lt. Gail Halvorsen, the "Berlin Candy Bomber," and the young German girl (one of many) who wrote him with a special request. A pilot in the US Air Force, and a participant in the Berlin Airlift, which ferried much-needed supplies to West Berlin after WWII, when the Soviet Union was blockading the city, Halvorsen responded to pleas from local children for candy and chocolate by releasing tiny handkerchief parachutes filled with sweets. Soon a famous and beloved figure in the beleaguered city - he was nicknamed "The Chocolate Pilot" and "Uncle Wiggly Wings" - he was inundated with letters from children, one of which came from young Mercedes. Realizing that it wasn't just candy he was dispensing, but hope, Halvorsen responded to his young correspondents as best he could, and, in the case of Mercedes, sent a missive that would become a treasured heirloom, and an avenue of friendship, years later...Halvorsen's belief that hope was as essential as food for the children of war-torn Germany, if the country was ever to recover, and get off on a better path than they had hitherto followed, reminded me of Jella Lepman's similar conviction, when it came to supplying post-war Germany's children with books. It might have been tempting, at the time, to dismiss such concerns as frivolous, given the pressing need for more immediate assistance (food, shelter, clothing), but the intangible benefit of such thinking is readily apparent today, with the benefit of hindsight, and the testimony of those - including Mercedes - who were touched by this act of kindness. An engrossing historical story, one that addresses themes of war and reconstruction, and childhood life under military occupation, Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot is a book I would recommend to youngsters (upper elementary school level and above) with an interest in history. It can be paired with One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II, which also deals with the aftermath of this terrible conflict.
    • 5/5
      Teachers canuse this book to teach an inspirational part of Histroy that tends to be overlooked. Due to the fact that this book's cover does not do a good job of discribing the book. this can be used as an Art lesson by assigning the kids to make what they think would be a better one.
    • 5/5
      This was a really cute book, that told the story of a girl and a pilot; and how the girl got the pilots attention and he dropped of chocolate from his airplane so that she could have it. I recommend this book to read.
    • 5/5
      this is one of my favorites, it had some much. This is one that i would tell the kids what it is about beforehand and explain some history so they understand everything. I might pause throughout the book to make sure they all understand.
    • 5/5
      Very good book. The kids may be a bit confused about some of the goings-on and words. There will probably need to be some things clarified before reading the book and discussion afterwards. Overall a fantastic book, good history.
    • 4/5
      The true story of a young German girl, Mercedes Simon, and of the American pilot, Gail Halvorsen, who shared hope and joy with the children of West Berlin by dropping candy-filled parachutes during the Airlift.
    • 4/5
      This is a great conspiracy story. I never knew that this happened until I read this book. This is a story about an American pilot who would deliver chocolate into Berlin for the children there. This book focuses on a little girl, Mercedes, and her hope for chocolate from the pilot. She receives chocolate from him and is touched. The beginning of the book starts with back ground information and ends with a conclusion about the pilot and Mercedes. This book could be used in various subjects. I would love to use it in a History lesson or a social studies lesson on Germany and use it to explain their culture. I would also use it in an English lesson to demonstrate letter writing.
    • 5/5
      This book is a neat way to highlight a positive aspect of wartime. Although her chickens wouldn't lay eggs due to the bombing a kind pilot dropped candy to the children in the safe zone. After receiving letters form the children who miss the air-drops the pilot sent a personal package of candy to those kids. What a sweet highlight of kindness. This pilot affected the outlook of the children on wartime and I am sure gave them encouragement. I would use this book for grades 5+ to give a platform and new perspective of war and showing kindness in little ways makes a big difference. I would not use this book for under 5th grade because the structure of the text is too mature. I enjoyed reading this slice of history, the book has won multiple awards and nominations.
    • 5/5
      I thought this book was excellent in putting in a elementary levels view of what happened to other children in 1948. I would have my 6 th grade social studies class read this before I began to teach about dictotors of the world.
    • 4/5
      A story of a young girl living during the Berlin airlift. She finds herself seeking to catch candy from an American pilot who flies over her neighborhood. This is a great story of persistence and hope for the future.
    • 4/5
      I thought this book did a very good job at telling the story of how no matter throught the sufferings and hardships that people still cared!
    • 5/5
      Interesting study of the chicken symbolism throughout the book. Good book for a hero theme: read and write about heros. Sometimes confusing transitions. Not a satisfying ending - had to read the epilog.