Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Holocaust Children's Books in the Classroom

    Posted 04-20-2021 11:37 AM
    Hi there!
    I'm doing a research project for grad. school where I'm looking at children's picture books written about the Holocaust.  I'm approaching it from an historiography pov (i.e. how the history has been told through these books, what's being said/not said, whose pov is it, etc.). 
    I'm posting here for two purposes:
    1) If anyone has any recommendations for picture books about the Holocaust, and
    2) I'm also curious about who is the intended audience for these books and how educators/families/religious leaders have used them. So you have every used Holocaust books in your preschool, prekindergarten, or kindergarten classroom, I would love to hear from you here about the experience and, if you're willing, ask you some additional questions 1 on 1. Or if you've used them in settings outside the traditional classroom (home, youth group, church/synagogue groups, etc.), I would also appreciate your input. 

    Thank you in advance,
    Leah

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    Leah Walker
    Director / Lead Teacher
    Early Childhood Demonstration Center
    Glassboro NJ
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  • 2.  RE: Holocaust Children's Books in the Classroom

    Posted 04-21-2021 09:17 AM
    I have a book called Terrible Things, by Eve Bunting. It is about a terrible thing that comes for different animals.  I have read this book in kindergarten and first grades. It  delivers the message that we all need to help each other and should never stand by will an injustice is happening to others.

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    Leslie Gordesky
    EC Director/Principal
    Politz Day School
    Cherry Hill NJ
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  • 3.  RE: Holocaust Children's Books in the Classroom

    Posted 04-21-2021 10:01 AM
    I have not used it in a group setting but I have given The Grand Mosque of Paris as a gift to friends and family and it was well received- might be too old but since it was well liked I thought i would share.

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    Beth Menninga
    St. Paul, MN
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  • 4.  RE: Holocaust Children's Books in the Classroom

    Posted 04-22-2021 10:39 PM
    Hi Leah,
    I run a small Jewish Saturday school (Shabbat) school and have in a Jewish preschools and Day Schools for years.  I never shared books about the Holocaust with preschoolers, but with K - 6, these are some that I have shared and find approachable.  (I also really like the book that Leslie mentioned, Terrible Things.) Angel Girl, by Laurie Friedman ( a sweet story even though it turned out to not be a true one as it was originally reported to be), The Harmonica, by Tony Johnston, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, Children's Drawings and Poems from Theresienstadt, The Secret Seder, by Doreen Rappaport, Flowers on the Wall, by Miriam Nerlove, and Six Million Paper Clips by Peter Schroeder and Dagmar Schroeder-Hildebrand.  I always found sharing information about the Holocaust was tricky with K and 1st grade mostly because many parents had never mentioned anything about it at home, so while the kids themselves were very able to hear information in the way that I presented it, there were often parents that were upset that their children had learned about this awful event.  You can definitely contact me if you want to talk more about this.

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    Joanie Calem
    Music and Inclusion Specialist
    Sing Along
    Columbus, OH
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