For Celia, life is ordinary: school, homework, friends. But Celia is Jewish. When the Nazis begin their campaign to wipe out all the Jews of Europe, Celia's world is ripped apart. Friends and neighbors viciously turn on her, and soon she is in the hands of the Nazis.
From starvation and forced labor in the ghettos to hiding in a hole in the ground, Celia struggles to survive... while tragically losing much of her family. When Celia manages to escape into the forest, she joins up with the partisans, a group of young people fighting back against the Nazis however and wherever they can. Celia is given a mission: to help destroy a stash of Nazi weapons. Can she and her fellow partisans succeed--or will they be caught by the enemy?
This extraordinary and inspiring true story, based on testimony from Holocaust survivor and partisan fighter Celia Kassow, shows where unimaginable hate and prejudice can lead--while reminding us that courage and strength can be summoned even in the darkest of hours.
A Sydney Taylor Book Award 2023 Middle Grade Notable!
A Jewish Book Council Award Middle Grade Finalist!
The moving true story of how young Ukrainian Jewish piano prodigies Zhanna (alias Anna) and her sister Frina outplayed their pursuers while hiding in plain sight during the Holocaust. A middle grade nonfiction novel-in-verse by award-winning author Susan Hood with Greg Dawson (Zhanna's son).
She wouldn't be Zhanna. She'd use an alias. A for Anna. A for alive.
When the Germans invade Ukraine, Zhanna, a young Jewish girl, must leave behind her friends, her freedom, and her promising musical future at the world's top conservatory. With no time to say goodbye, Zhanna, her sister Frina, and their entire family are removed from their home by the Nazis and forced on a long, cold, death march. When a guard turns a blind eye, Zhanna flees with nothing more than her musical talent, her beloved sheet music, and her father's final plea: I don't care what you do. Just live.
This incredible true story in-verse about sisterhood, survival, and music is perfect for fans of Lifeboat 12, Inside Out and Back Again, and Alan Gratz.
Includes extensive back matter with original letters and photographs, additional information, and materials for further reading.
In some ways, Adele, Barney, Eric, Ernie, Frank, Judy, Magda, Rodi, and Ruth had little in common. They were born in different European countries and came from different family backgrounds. But they were all Jewish children who survived the Holocaust each in a different way--from hiding with non-Jews to surviving the horrors of a concentration camp. They prove themselves remarkably resilient as, in their own words, they each share their childhood experiences and describe how they rebuilt their lives after the end of World War II. They also reflect on the principles that have guided them and on their hopes for the future.
In December 1938, a young Englishman canceled a ski vacation and went instead to Prague to help the hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Nazis who were crowded into the city. Setting up a makeshift headquarters in his hotel room, Nicholas Winton took names and photographs from parents desperate to get their children out of danger. He raised money, found foster families in England, arranged travel and visas, and, when necessary, bribed officials and forged documents. In the frantic spring and summer of 1939, as the Nazi shadow fell over Europe, he organized the transportation of almost 700 children to safety.
Then, when the war began and no more children could be rescued, he put away his records and told no one. It was only fifty years later that a chance discovery and a famous television appearance brought Winton's actions to light.
Peter SĂs weaves Winton's experiences and the story of one of the children he saved, Vera Gissing. Nicky & Vera is a tale of decency, action, and courage told in luminous, poetic images by an internationally renowned artist.
The inspirational true story of how twenty-two-year-old Henny Sinding courageously helped smuggle hundreds of Jewish families in occupied Denmark to safety in Sweden during the Holocaust. A middle grade nonfiction novel-in-verse by award-winning author Susan Hood.
It wouldn't be easy, but they had to try.
It was their only chance to survive.
In 1943, Henny Sinding, only twenty-two years old, and the crew of Gerda lll, a lighthouse supply boat, risked everything to smuggle their Jewish compatriots across the resund strait to safety in Sweden during World War ll. In Henny's words, It was the right thing to do so we did it. Simple as that. But what happened when their operation's cover was blown and it was Henny's turn to escape?
This incredible true story in-verse about courage, community, humanity, and hope is perfect for fans of Lifeboat 12, Alias Anna, and Alan Gratz.
Includes extensive back matter with primary sources, additional information, further reading, and photographs.
A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION!
The life-changing story of a young boy's struggle for survival in a Nazi-run concentration camp.
Narrated in the voice of Holocaust survivor Jack Mandelbaum, this harrowing true story includes black-and-white photos from the archives of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
When twelve-year-old Jack Mandelbaum is separated from his family and shipped off to the Blechhammer concentration camp, his life becomes a never-ending nightmare. With minimal food to eat and harsh living conditions threatening his health, Jack manages to survive by thinking of his family.
In this Robert F. Silbert Honor book, readers will glimpse the dark reality of life during the Holocaust, and how one boy made it out alive.
William Allen White Award Winner
Robert F. Silbert Honor
ALA Notable Children's Book
VOYA Nonfiction Honor Book
Sydney Taylor Book Award (Gold Medal)
A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
★ ...There are many picture books about the Holocaust, but this one stands out with Gal's beautiful watercolor pictures and the true account of one woman's goal that her community never be forgotten. A beautiful tribute....Highly recommended. -- School Library Journal, starred review
★ A stunning tale . . . . bursting with detail and life. . . . A magnificent and moving tribute to a loving community and an extraordinary woman. -- Booklist, starred review
★ A powerful tribute....Moving. -- Publisher's Weekly, starred review
★ An affirming tribute to a Jewish past that was lost in the Holocaust as well as to one survivor's work. -- The Horn Book, starred review
...A loving testament to light and hope and the vision of a remarkable woman. -- Kirkus Reviews
...the book's mes-sage is con-sis-tent-ly opti-mistic... Stiefel paints a truth-ful por-trait appro-pri-ate for those just begin-ning to learn about the Holocaust....Gal's artwork...is dramatic and accessible...a book that ensures [Eliach and her town] will not be forgotten. -- Jewish Book Council
There once was a girl named Yaffa. She loved her family, her home, and her beautiful Polish town that brimmed with light and laughter. She also loved helping her Grandma Alte in her photography studio. There, shopkeepers, brides, babies, and bar mitzvah boys posed while Grandma Alte captured their most joyous moments on film. And before the Jewish New Year, they sent their precious photographs to relatives overseas with wishes for good health and happiness.
But one dark day, Nazi soldiers invaded the town. Nearly 3,500 Jewish souls -- including family, friends, and neighbors of Yaffa -- were erased.
This is the stunning true story of how Yaffa made it her life's mission to recover thousands of her town's photographs from around the world. Using these photos, she built her amazing TOWER OF FACES, a permanent exhibit in the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, to restore the soaring spirit of Eishyshok.
I am an ordinary person with an extraordinary past.
In this true and moving story, Alter Wiener, a teen Holocaust survivor of five Nazi prison camps during World War II, transports young readers back in time when an unexpected person demonstrated moral courage in repeated acts of kindness toward him.
From nationally acclaimed author and speaker Trudy Ludwig and award-winning illustrator Craig Orback, Gifts from the Enemy shows how acts of social justice and kindness can change lives. Parents and teachers will find this story a valuable and timely resource to help children understand in an age-appropriate way about the Holocaust and the dangers of hatred, stereotyping, and prejudice. The back matter includes a note from Holocaust survivor Alter Wiener to readers, discussion questions, activities to promote kindness, and more
Gifts from the Enemy is based on From a Name to a Number: A Holocaust Survivor's Autobiography self-published by Alter Wiener in 2007.
Discover the life of Anne Frank--a story about staying hopeful for kids ages 6 to 9
Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who lived during World War II, when people like her were killed just for being Jewish. Anne and her family were forced to hide in a tiny, secret space to try and survive, and Anne began keeping a diary to practice her love of writing and pass the time.
In her writing, she described what life was like as a Jewish person during the war. She also wrote about her hopes, dreams, and the future she wanted when she could live a normal life again. Even though she was scared, Anne believed in the goodness of people and never gave up hope that life would get better again.
How will Anne's bravery and optimism inspire you?
Discover activists, artists, and athletes, and more from all across history with the rest of The Story Of series, including famous figures like: Albert Einstein, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ruby Bridges, Amelia Earhart, and Frida Kahlo.
The moving, award-winning Canada Reads book from Holocaust survivor Max Eisen, now adapted for young readers
Tibor Max Eisen was born in Czechoslovakia into an Orthodox Jewish family. He lived in a compound with his parents, his two younger brothers, his baby sister, his paternal grandparents and his uncle and aunt. Life was far from perfect, but it was relatively peaceful.
But in the spring of 1944--the morning after the family's Passover Seder--officers forcibly removed Eisen and his family from their home. They, and thousands of other Jewish people, were brought to a brickyard and later loaded onto crowded cattle cars bound for the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Fifteen-year-old Max lost his entire family, but he survived the selection process and went on to endure back-breaking slave labour and the infamous Death March in January 1945.
Max eventually survived his painful ordeal. And he knew he had to keep the very last promise he made to his father: to tell the world what happened at Auschwitz. By Chance Alone is the result of this promise.
Is your little one obsessed with all things World War II?
Does he or she keep wanting to know more and more about these historic events?
Or maybe they are just always hungry for knowledge and obscure facts..
Have you been wanting to give them the perfect book?
Our big book of short stories has:
NOTE: These stories don't contain gruesome events, excessive violence or killing - perfect for young readers!
So, if you're little one can't get enough of WWII, this book is perfect for them to not only discover some new history - but they'll also learn the important morals of kindness, genorosity, bravery, doing the right thing, and more!
Order this book now!