Literature for 1939-1945 - World War II The Farm Summer by Donald Hall. Illustrated by Barry Moser A young boy, Peter, spends the summer on his grandparent's farm in New Hampshire while his mother works in the war effort in New York and his father serves on a destroyer in the Pacific. Heroes by Ken Mochizuki. Illustrated by Dom Lee Japanese-American Donnie, whose playmates insist he be the "bad guy" in their war games, calls on his father and reluctant uncle to help him get away from that role. The Lion and the Unicorn by Shirley Hughes. Lenny, a Jewish boy living in London during the Blitz in World War II, must adjust to many changes and find the true meaning of courage when he is evacuated to a large mansion in the English countryside. The Little Ships by Louise Borden. Illustrated by Michael Foreman A young English girl and her father take their sturdy fishing boat and join the scores of other civilian vessels crossing the English channel in a daring attempt to rescue Allied and British troops trapped by Nazi soldiers at Dunkirk.   My Daddy was a Soldier by Deborah Kogan Ray. While Daddy is away fighting in the Pacific, Jeannie plants a Victory garden, collects scrap, and sends letters to her father as she anxiously awaits his return. Nim and the War Effort by Milly Lee. Illustrated by Yangsook Choi In San Francisco's Chinatown in the spring of 1943, young Nim worked hard in the school paper drive to help the war effort. So Far From the Sea by Eve Bunting When seven year-old Laura and her family visit Grandfather's grave at the Manzanar War Relocation Center, the Japanese-American child leaves behind a special symbol.   The Holocaust The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco Let the Celebrations Begin by Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas One Yellow Daffodil by David Adler Hiding from the Nazis – David Adler The Faithful Elephants – Yukio Tsuchiya Rose Blanche – Roberto Innocetti Pearl Harbor Child – Dorinda Nicholson The Yellow Star by Carmen Agra Deedy Terrible Things by Eve Bunting Rose Blanche by Roberto Innocenti The Number on My Grandfather’s Arm by Eichenbaum Terrible Things:  An Allegory of the Holocaust by Bunting Let the Celebrations BEGIN! by Wild & vivas The Lily Cupboard by Oppenheim The Hand-Me-Down Horse by Marion Hess Pomeranc The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida. Illustrated by Joanna Yardley In 1942, Emi, a Japanese -American girl in 2nd grade in California is sent to an internment camp during World War II. She is given a farewell gift of a bracelet from her best friend, which she loses shortly after arriving at the camp Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki. Illustrated by Dom Lee A Japanese-American boy learns to play baseball when he and his family are forced to live in an internment camp during World War II. His ability to play helps him after the war is over. Star of Fear, Star of Hope by Hoestlandt It concerns a friendship between a French girl and her Jewish friend who is forced to wear a star...when Lydia (the Jewish girl) suddenly leaves Helen's party to warn her family of roundups there are unforeseen consequences and regrets. One Candle by Eve Bunting Summary: Every year a family celebrates Hanukkah by retelling the story of how Grandma and her sister managed to mark the day while in a German concentration camp. Star of Fear, Star of Hope by Jo Hoestlandt It concerns a friendship between a French girl and her Jewish friend who is forced to wear a star...when Lydia (the Jewish girl) suddenly leaves Helen's party to warn her family of roundups there are unforeseen consequences and regrets. Anne Frank in the World. Compiled by the Anne Frank House. This is an excellent selection of pictures Anne Frank, her family, and what the world was like in the days immediately preceding the war and the Frank family going into hiding, as well as during the war. Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies. Frank's workers in Amsterdam who was instrumental in the family's survival during their years in hiding. This is probably better as a read-aloud for some, but it offers a wonderful insight into the Frank family from someone who knew them intimately. Tell Them We Remember. The Story of the Holocaust by Susan This is a compilation of pictures and stories of different people across the world who were affected by the Holocaust (e.g. children sent to foster homes), as well as a chronological history of the "final solution." The book was specifically designed to help children understand the events surrounding the Holocaust. In My Hands by Irene G. Opdyke She was a 16 year old Catholic girl leaving home in Poland for nursing school. She got separated from her family by the division of Poland and became a rescuer. Excellent book. Fireflies in the Dark: The story of Friedl Dicker-Brandeis and the Children of Terezin by S. G. Rubin. Friedl was a Jewish artist and teacher who continued her art with children while in the  Terezin concentration camp. Many of the children's work are now in the State Jewish Museum in Prague. This is a powerful book with many photographs and illustrations. When the Soldiers Were Gone by Vera Propp Its based on the true story of an 8 year old Jewish boy in Holland after the Holocaust has ended, when he learns that the family he lives with isn't really his family but took him in to protect him during the war.

Links

A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust  http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/default.htm