the holocaust is a difficult subject. here are some picture books about the holocaust to teach the subject gently.
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illustrated books about the holocaust
the holocaust is a difficult subject to approach. there are many great picture books, many of them inspired by real children of that time, told in a moving and simple way, without diving into the horrors of the time.
irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto by susan goldman rubin
irena sendler rescued more than 2,500 polish jewish children by smuggling them out of the warsaw ghetto. the dedication of this polish social worker to this work told through this story is truly an incredible story of courage. you can find the study of the book here.
jars of hope by jennifer roy
This picture book is also about Irena Sendler, but it is shorter. It has beautiful pictures and is a great introduction to Irena’s amazing story.
star of fear, star of hope by jo hoestlandt
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helen, a young woman recounts the persecution of her Jewish friend, lydia. she raises important questions throughout the story that allow us to realize how things used to be and encourages us to think about how we want the future to be.
the susan goldman rubin fifty-six star flag
This picture book is ideal for older elementary students due to its length, but I really loved it. The prisoners of the Mauthausen concentration camp made a gift for the liberators: an American flag. They weren’t sure how many stars it had, so they included 56 (the United States had 48 states at the time).
the yellow star of carmen agra deedy
The legend of the yellow star and the loyalty it symbolizes is told in this story through the actions of King Christian X of Denmark. Read about this king who dedicated himself to keeping his people safe from Nazi invasion. Although it is based on a fable by King Christian X, I really enjoyed this one and it is a true dedication to the Danish people who rescued over 98% of their Jewish population during the war.
An Illustrated Book of Anne Frank by David Adler
This image that retells Anne’s story is perfect for those who aren’t ready to open up to “dear kitty” just yet. the story of the hiding place and subsequent capture of ana and her family is one of the most famous stories of the holocaust and one that has inspired millions.
ken mochizuki’s passage to freedom
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Despite strict government regulations on refugees, a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania issues thousands of visas for Jews during the Nazi invasion. the escape of these thousands of Jews and the way it all happened is a great way to shed light on the many silent heroes of the time. The story is told from the perspective of Sugihara’s son.
at the end, he says he didn’t realize his father’s bravery, but as an adult, he did. i really enjoyed this one because he focuses on one man’s bravery and doesn’t dwell on the horrors of the holocaust. Since it is from a child’s perspective, there is a strong innocence in this brave story. This book is highly recommended and great for grades 2+. you can find the study of the book here.
tony johnston’s harmonica
When a family is torn apart during the Nazi invasion and sent to different concentration camps, everything seems horrible. a harmonica held by the young son offers him hope and then leads him to survive through the darkest of times. Since it takes place in a concentration camp, it can be a bit dark at times, but it’s still a great story for grades 3+.
cats in krasinski square by karen hesse
This book tells the story of a young woman trapped in the Warsaw ghetto as a result of the Nazi invasion. the young woman, involved in the resistance, takes us on a journey, showing readers the true weight of the terrible experiences we hear around this ghetto.
oskar and the eight blessings of tanya simon
oskar arrives in new york city as a refugee in search of his aunt, but only has a photo of her for reference. he arrives on the seventh day of hanukkah and in this beautifully illustrated picture book, his experiences in the city on this holiday night bring life, hope and attention to his situation.
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