As we become further removed from World War II, it is increasingly important to teach kids about the Holocaust. Our kids are the future, and the more educated they are, the better the future will be. The educational book recommendations below are about the Holocaust. Here are 30 Children's Holocaust books all parents should invest in.
1. What Was the Holocaust by Gail Herman
This picture book is suitable for school children to begin learning about the Holocaust. The author describes the rise of Hitler, antisemitism laws, and the killing of the Jews in an age-appropriate way.
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2. Anne Frank by Inspired Inner Genius
Anne Frank is a well-known Jewish girl from the Holocaust. Inspired Inner Genius retells the true story of Anne Frank's family in an inspiring simple narrative. The book includes photographs as well as illustrations that will captivate and motivate young audiences.
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3. Jars of Hope by Jennifer Rozines Roy
This nonfiction picture book describes the true story of Irina Sendler, a brave woman who saved 2,500 people from the concentration camps. Children will learn about the atrocities of the Holocaust while also learning about the bravery of Irina's human spirit.
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4. Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust by Allan Zullo
This book details the history of children survivors of the Holocaust. Each child's true story is unique. Children will latch onto the stories of hope in a world of fear. Readers will remember each child's will to survive.
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5. World War II History For Teens by Benjamin Mack-Jackson
This reference book for adolescents details major events from World War II in an easy-to-understand way. The book provides facts regarding major battles, death camps, and war logistics in a detailed narrative.
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6. Remember World War II by Dorinda Nicholson
In this book with children recounting actual events, readers will learn about bombings, German troops, and fear. Told from the perspective of child survivors, children today will find a deeper connection to the stories of hope.
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7. I Will Protect You by Eva Mozes Kor
This detailed narrative recounts the story of identical twins, Miriam and Eva. After being deported to Auschwitz, Dr. Mengele selects them for his infamous experiments. Young readers will learn about Dr. Mengele's experiments in this recount of actual events.
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8. Survivors of the Holocaust by Kath Shackleton
This graphic novel provides a unique visual of six survivors' true stories. School children will learn about actual events through the eyes of the young survivors. In addition to the children's stories, the book provides an update on their lives today.
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9. Hold On to Your Music by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen
This picture book retells the miraculous story of Lisa Jura, a musical genius who survived the Holocaust. Young readers will learn about the Kindertransport and the children of Willesden Lane through Lisa's journey to become a concert pianist in the midst of war.
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10. Signs of Survival by Renee Hartman
Renee is the only hearing person in her Jewish family. It is her responsibility to warn her family when she hears Nazis approaching so they can hide. Unfortunately, their parents are taken, and she and her sister end up in a German concentration camp.
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11. Heroes of World War II by Kelly Milner Halls
This reference book is an introduction to the heroes of World War II. Each biography recounts a hero's courage during the war, as well as interesting details about their lives. School children will learn about selflessness and bravery as they read each hero's true story.
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12. Survivor's Club by Michael Bornstein
Michael Bornstein was liberated from Auschwitz at the age of four. He retells actual events with the help of his daughter. He interviews many Jewish family members, providing a factual and moving account of his time in Auschwitz, as well as the liberation and end of the war.
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13. They Went Left by Monica Hesse
When Zofia's family was sent to Auschwitz, everyone was sent left in the gas chambers with the exception of her and her brother. Now that the camp is liberated, Zofia is on a mission to find her missing brother. Her journey will lead her to meet other survivors looking for loved ones, but will she find her brother again?
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14. Bear and Fred by Iris Argaman
This children's story tells the actual events from Fred's life through the eyes of his teddy bear. When Fred reunites with his family and travels to the United States, he writes this powerful true story and donates his bear to the World Holocaust Remembrance Center.
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15. The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
This fictional story is a detailed narrative based on the actual events of Helmut Hubner's life. After being sentenced to death for treason, Helmut's story is told in a series of flashbacks that recount his journey from blind patriotism to Hitler's Germany to the young man on trial for telling the truth.
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16. Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy
Sylvia was one of twelve children to survive the Lodz ghetto in Poland. She tells her miraculous story in free verse. Young readers will find the poetry powerful and inspiring in this unique memoir, recounting historical events.
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17. It Rained Warm Bread by Gloria Moskowitz Sweet
Another memoir told in verse, this story of actual events is unforgettable. Moishe is deported to Auschwitz at only thirteen years old. He and his family were separated and Moishe had to find the courage to survive. When he seems to have lost all hope, it rains warm bread.
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18. Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli
Misha is an orphan fighting to survive on the streets of the Warsaw ghetto. He wants to be a Nazi until he sees the truth. In this fictional narrative, children will see historical events through Misha's eyes--a young boy who learns to be a nobody to survive.
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19. Trapped in Hitler's Web by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
This fictional story is about Maria and Nathan, best friends in Ukraine; but when the Nazis come, they have to find a way to be together. Maria is likely safe, but Nathan is Jewish. They decide to go to Austria to hide as foreign workers--but everything changes when they are separated.
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20. The Grand Mosque of Paris by Karen Gray Ruelle
During a time when few people were willing to help Jewish refugees, Muslims in Paris provided a place for the refugees to stay. This story of actual events shows how Jews found help in unlikely places.
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21. Lily Renee, Escape Artist by Trina Robbins
Lily is only fourteen when the Nazis invade Austria and Lily must travel to England, but her obstacles aren't over. She continues to fight for survival as she pursues her art, ultimately becoming a comic book artist. This story is based on actual events.
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22. Corrie ten Boom by Laura Caputo Wickham
This illustrated biography is the perfect literature for children based on actual events. Corrie's family hides Jews in their home, and they help hundreds escape a dire fate; but when Corrie is caught, she becomes a concentration camp inmate where her faith helps her survive.
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23. The Light of Days by Judy Batalion
In this rewritten literature for children from the popular adult book, kids will read about Jewish women who fought against the Nazis. These "ghetto girls" secretly communicated across countries, smuggled weapons, spied on the Nazis, and more to defy Hitler.
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24. Yossel April 19, 1943 by Joe Kubert
This fictional narrative is a graphic novel that explores what might have happened to Kubert's family in the Warsaw ghetto had they not been able to emigrate to America. Using his artwork, Kubert imagines the Warsaw ghetto uprising in this depiction of defiance.
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25. Flight by Vanessa Harbour
Follow a Jewish boy, his guardian, and an orphan girl through the mountains of Austria to escape the Nazis and bring their horses to safety. This fictional narrative is the perfect read for animal lovers and middle schoolers who want to learn about what people did to survive the Holocaust.
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26. Run, Boy, Run by Uri Orlev
This is the true story of Jurek Staniak, formerly knowns as Srulik Frydman. Jurek sheds his Jewish identity, forgets his name, learns to be Christian, and leaves his family all to survive in this simple narrative.
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27. Black Radishes by Susan Lynn Meyer
The Nazis have invaded Paris, and Gustav must flee with his family to the French countryside. Gustav lives in the country until he meets Nicole. With Nicole's help, they might be able to help his cousin escape Paris in this fictional narrative.
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28. I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 by Lauren Tarshis
In this simple narrative, Max and Zena must find a way to survive a Jewish ghetto without their father, who was taken by the Nazis. They escape into the woods where Jewish people help them find refuge, but they aren't safe yet. They escaped the ghetto, but can they survive the bombings?
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29. Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz
Deemed Prisoner B-3087 via the tattoo on his arm, Yanek Gruener survived 10 different German concentration camps. This simple narrative based on a true story, reveals the atrocities of the concentration camps while also exploring what it takes to survive when you are alone, scared, and losing hope.
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30. We Are Their Voice: Young People Respond to the Holocaust by Kathy Kacer
This book is an anthology of remembrance. Children across the world share their reactions after learning about the Holocaust. Some of the children write stories while others draw pictures or interview survivors. This anthology is a must-read for children and parents alike.
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