Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580

Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation

ISBN#
9780545487948

The Yellow
Star: The
Legend of
King
Christian X
of Denmark



Carmen
Agra Deedy
(Author)
|Henri
Sorensen
(Illustrator)


Realistic
Fiction
Picture
Book



Grade 3-4
Lexile: 550L
Guided
Reading: L


The retelling of the King of Denmark wearing
a yellow star during World War II to protest
against Nazi Germany.

Parent Choice Award, Christopher Award







ISBN#
9780827605077





Terrible
Things: An
Allegory of
the
Holocaust




Eve Bunting
(Author)
Steven
Gammell
(Illustrator)




Fiction
Picture
Book




Grade 1 up
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:

This unique introduction to the Holocaust
encourages young children to stand up for
what they think is right, without waiting for
others to join them.
In this allegory, the author's reaction to the
Holocaust, the animals of the forest are
carried away, one type after another, by the
Terrible Things, not realizing that if perhaps
they would all stick together and not look the
other way, such terrible things might not
happen.

Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation

ISBN#
9780545487948



I never
saw another
butterfly





Hanna
Volavkova



Non-
Fiction
Picture
Book
Poetry



Grade
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:


Childrens drawings and poems from Terezin
Concentration Camp, 1942-1944.
ISBN#
9780374455064




Nim and the
War Effort


Milly Lee
(author)
Yangsook
Choi
(illustrator)


Historical
Fiction
Picture
Book


Grades:3-5
Lexile: 510L
Guided
Reading:P


Nim is a Chinese-American girl leaving in
California in the 1940s, collecting
newspapers to support the war effort and to
win a school competition. Her competitor in
the newspaper collecting contest is
determined to win at any cost, including
stealing newspapers. This story shows Nim's
determination to remain loyal and true to
herself, family, and country.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation


ISBN#
9780807531471





Hanas
Suitcase




Karen
Levine





Non-
Fiction
Bio-
graphy




Grades 4-8
Lexile: 730L
Guided
Reading: Y



A Japanese Holocaust Education Center goes
on a search to find the meaning of a suitcase
from World War II and uncovers the life of
a young Jewish Czech girl named Hana.

Numerous Awards Teacher Choice Award,
National Jewish Book Award, etc.

ISBN#
9780547577098





Number the
Stars




Lois Lowry



Realistic
Fiction



Grade 5-6
Lexile:670L
Guided
Reading: U



Story of a Danish family helping to relocate
Jewish people. Through the eyes of a 10
year old and her best friend who was Jewish.

John Newbery Medal
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation
ISBN#
9780226400693




A Bag of
Marbles






Joseph
Joffo






Auto-
Biography





Grades:
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:




When Joseph Joffo was ten years old, his
father gave him and his brother fifty francs
and instructions to flee Nazi-occupied Paris
and, somehow, get to the south where France
was free. The journey of the children during
World War II.

ISBN#
9780439784368





The Devils
Arithmetic




Jane Yolen




Realistic
Fiction




Grades: 5-8
Lexile: 730L
Guided
Reading: X



Hannah is tired of remembering her Jewish
ancestors past. She is suddenly transported
back to 1942 in Nazi-occupied Poland and
begins to live her life in a concentration
camp. A story about survival, friendship and
remembering.

National Jewish Book Award Winner
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation
ISBN#
9780590381970




When Hitler
Stole Pink
Rabbit




Judith Kerr



Autobiogr
aphical
Novel


Grades:6-8
Lexile: 940L
Guided
Reading: X

A story of a nine-year old German Jewish girl
and her family fleeing from Berlin just
before Hitler came to power. Over the next
three years she moved to Switzerland,
France and England discovering what it is like
to be a refugee.

School Library Journal Book of the Year

ISBN#
9780064403702






The Upstairs
Room





Johanna
Riess




Autobiogr
aphical
Novel





Grades 3-6
Lexile: 380L
Guided
Reading:NR




A Dutch Jewish girl describes the two-and-
one-half years she spent in hiding in the
upstairs bedroom of a farmer's house during
World War II.

Newbery Honor Award and many more
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation


ISBN#
9780545140638





Someone
Named Eva




Joan M.
Wolf




Realistic
Fiction




Grades: 5-8
Lexile: 820L
Guided
Reading:


When resistance fighters assassinated the
highest ranking Nazi officer in
Czechoslovakia, Hitler sought revenge on the
small village of Lidice. Ten Lidice children,
who exemplified Aryan traits, were selected
for "Germanization." They were sent to
Lebensborn training centers, forced to speak
only German, given new names, and
indoctrinated into the Nazi ideology. They
were then adopted by German families. This
is a story on one such girl, Milada, renamed
Eva.
ISBN#
9780385751537




The Boy in
the Striped
Pajamas



John Boyne



Realistic
Fiction



Grades:6 up
Lexile: 1080
Guided
Reading:

In 1942, a young German boy named Bruno
and his family move to "Out-With," a
desolate place where his father is
commandant. There are no playmates around
so Bruno decides to explore the surrounding
area. He comes upon a fence and on the
other side is a boy about his own age named
Shmuel. Every day the boys meet at the
fence to talk, though Bruno remains confused
about Shmuel's thin appearance, shaved head
and vanishing family members.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation
ISBN#
9781890771911





A Journey to
Topez


Yoshiko
Uchida
(Author)
Donald
Kerrick
(Illustrator)




Realistic
Fiction





Grades:5-8
Lexile: 970L
Guided
Reading:


Based on the authors personal experiences,
it is about a young Japanese girl and her
familys struggles in America during World
War II. Being placed in a Japanese
Internment Camp, the family learns about
true friendships, prejudices and tragedy.

ALA Notable Book

ISBN#
9780590425377





Snow
Treasure




Marie
McSwigan




Realistic
Fiction




Grades:4-6
Lexile: 690L
Guided
Reading: R



True story of Norwegian children saving
their town and the nine million dollars worth
of gold during the German occupation of
World War II. Another great perspective
that most history books miss covering World
War II.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre

Reading
Level
Annotation
ISBN#
9780380731886




Four Perfect
Pebbles


Lila Perl,
Marion
Blumenthal
Lazan



Auto-
Biography


Grade: 6 up
Lexile: 1080
Guided
Reading: T

If she could find four perfect pebbles of
almost exactly the same size and shape, it
meant that her family would remain whole.
Mama and papa and she and Albert would
survive Bergen-Belsen. The four of them
might even survive the Nazis' attempt to
destroy every last Jew in Europe.
ISBN#
9780064433938




The Lily
Cupboard: A
Story of the
Holocaust



Shulamith
Levey
Oppenheim



Biography



Grade: 4-6
Lexile: 420L
Guided
Reading: N


A young Jewish girl is sent to the country
for safety during World War II.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation

ISBN#
9780439810746





Room in the
Heart




Sonia
Levitin



Realistic
Fiction



Grades:6 up
Lexile: 690L
Guided
Reading: X




Told from several points of view, this novel
reveals how life in Copenhagen was affected
by the Nazi occupation and how the Danes
fought back with courage and kindness.



ISBN#
9780545447348




Terezin:
Voices from
the
Holocaust



Ruth
Thomson



Non-
Fiction
Biography



Grades: 5-8
Lexile: 980L
Guided
Reading:

Terezin was a "show" camp, where inmates
were forced to use their artistic talents to
fool the world about the truth of gas
chambers and horrific living conditions for
imprisoned Jews. Here is their story, told
through the firsthand accounts of those who
were there through secret diary entries,
artwork, and excerpts from memoirs and
recordings narrated after the war.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation


ISBN#
9780439880008





I am a Star
Child of the
Holocaust




Inge
Auerbacher




Auto-
biography
Poetry




Grade:6-8
Lexile: 950L
Guided
Reading: W




A Holocaust survivor tells of her experiences
of being sent to a concentration camp. She
was one of 100 children to survive.
ISBN#
9780545200530




The Hidden
Girl: A True
Story of the
Holocaust



Lola Rein
Kaufman
and Lois
Metzger



Non-
Fiction
Biography




Grades 5-7
Lexile: 750L
Guided
Reading:



The true story of Jewish girl, Lola and her
struggles against cold, hunger and living with
strangers in a dirt hole under a barn during
World War II.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation

ISBN#
9780545175746





The Girl who
Survived: A
True Story
of the
Holocaust





Bronia
Brandman
and Carol
Bierman




Non-
Fiction
Auto-
biography




Grades: 5-8
Lexile: 910L
Guided
Reading: T




The youngest survivor of Auschwitz shares
her story of her childhood as a Jewish girl in
Poland during World War II.


ISBN#
9780545071017






Yellow Star





Jennifer
Roy





Biography
Poetry




Grades 5-9
Lexile: 710L
Guided
Reading: Y



The author shares her Aunt Sylvias story of
her survival in Polands Lodz Ghetto during
World War II. Told in first-person free
verse, it takes you into her life as if you are
experiencing it.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation

ISBN#
9780439676083




Heroes of
the
Holocaust:
True Stories
of Rescues
by Teens




Mara
Boysun and
Allan Zullo




Non-
Fiction



Grades:6 up
Lexile: 920L
Guided
Reading: Y




Five different stories of young people
heroically reaching out to the Jewish people
during World War II.

ISBN#
9780545385787



We fought
Back: Young
Resistors in
the
Holocaust



Allan Zullo



Non-
Fiction


Grades:6 up
Lexile: 1090
Guided
Reading:



A collection of true stories of World War II
teen resistors across Europe. Bravery and
extreme danger is portrayed in this book.

Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation

ISBN#
9780553296983





Anne Frank:
The Diary of
a Young Girl





Anne Frank





Auto-
biography



Grades:8 up
Lexile: 1080
Guided
Reading: Y



A world-wide classic! This is a diary of the
life of a thirteen year old Jewish girl and
her family as they fled from the Nazis
during World War II as she hid in small
confined areas. Very poetic and in-depth
writing by such a young girl.
ISBN#
9781603200196



Rutkas
Notebook: A
Voice from
the
Holocaust


Rutka
Laskier



Auto-
biography



Grades:
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:


Rutka Laskier, a 14-year-old Jewish girl in
the town of Bedzin in Poland, died in
Auschwitz in 1943. But she left behind a
notebook in which she recorded her
thoughts, fears and dreams. Some are the
musings of any adolescent girl; others are
the despairing cries of an individual caught in
the middle of World War II. Hailed as the
"Polish Anne Frank."
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation
IBSN#
9780141320816




The Promise



Eva Schloss
and Barbara
Powers



Biography



Grade:5 up
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:

Younger
version of
Evas Story


This is the true story of a young Jewish girl
and her brother growing up during the
Second World War, caught in a world turned
upside down by the Nazis. A simple, yet
unforgettable story for young readers
written by Eva Schloss, the step-daughter of
Otto Frank.
ISBN#
9780312029135

Evas Story:
A Survivors
Tale Step
Sister of
Anne Frank


Eva Schloss
with Evelyn
Julia Kent


Biography


Grade:5 up
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:



Eva Schloss was the step sister of Anne
Frank (her mother married Anne Franks
father after the war). Her story parallels
the story of Anne Frank in many ways: both
were young girls in Amsterdam, both went
into hiding, both were betrayed, and both
were transported to Auschwitz. The only
difference is that Eva Schloss somehow
survived.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation
ISBN#
9780972421300


Ragdolls


Henry Golde


Auto-
Biography


Grades:6 up
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:


A book boys will enjoy as the author recounts
his life from the age of 11 to 16 as a witness
to Holocaust horrors and tragedies in Poland,
Germany and Czechoslovakia. A male child's
understanding of the chaos surrounding him.
ISBN#
9780439189323





Summer of
My German
Soldier




Betty
Greene




Realistic
Fiction



Grades:5-9
Lexile: 800L
Guided
Reading: Z


A small town in Arkansas becomes a site to
house German prisoners during World War
II. A local Jewish girl, Patty, helps hide a
Nazi prison escapee, Anton. She sees him as
a frightened young man with feelings not
unlike her own.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation

ISBN#
9780439498364





Soldier X




Don
Wulffson




Realistic
Fiction




Grades:6 up
Lexile: 740L
Guided
Reading:




A young boy is sent to the Russian Front to
fight in a war he doesnt believe in. He is
separated from his unit and trapped behind
enemy lines. It is fortunate that he knows
the Russian language. Will he survive?

ISBN#
9781571684721



Holocaust
Survivor:
Mike Jacobs
Triumph
over
Tragedy



Mike Jacobs


Auto-
biography



Grade:6-8
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:



A Holocaust survivor tells of his triumphs
over tragedy.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation

ISBN#
9780802715968



Kasztners
Train




Anna Porter



Non-
Fiction



Grades:6 up
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:


The true story of an unknown hero of the
holocaust. Oscar Schindlers and Raoul
Wallenbergs efforts to save people from
Nazi extinction are legendary; Rezso
Kasztner, is practically unknown, even though
he may have been the greatest rescuer of
Jews during World War II.


ISBN#
9780375842207



The Book
Thief


Markus
Zusak


Fiction


Grades:6 up
Lexile:730L
Guided
Reading: Z

The journey of Liesela foster girl living in
Nazi Germany through the eyes of Death.
She cannot resist books, steals them, learns
how to read them and even shares them with
a Jewish man living in the basement.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation

ISBN#
9780545486569





Between
Shades of
Gray




Ruta
Sepetys




Realistic
Historical
Fiction



Grades:6 up
Lexile: 490L
Guided
Reading: Z

Lina is a fifteen year old Lithuanian girl,
living an ordinary life until the Soviet
officers invade her home and separate her
family. During World War II, Stalin
deported Lithuanians and sent them to
Siberian work camps killing over twenty
million. Linas journey is accurately and
historically portrayed where she fights for
her life.

A Carnegie Meddal Nominee

ISBN#
9780312370848






Sarahs Key




Tatiana de
Rosnay




Realistic
Historical
Fiction




Grades:8 up
Lexile: 610L
Guided
Reading:

In 1942, ten year old Sarah is arrested with
her family by the French police in the Vel
dHiv roundup, but not before she locks her
younger brother in a cupboard in the family's
apartment, thinking that she will be back
within a few hours.
For the 60
th
Anniversary of the Vel dHiv
roundup in Paris, journalist Julia Jarmond is
asked to write an article about this dark day
in France. Through her investigation, she
stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family
secrets that connect her to Sarah.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation

ISBN#
9780374322717





A Family
Secret




Eric Heuvel



Graphic
Novel



Grade: 5 up
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:

A photo album in the attic sparks interest
for Jeroen and brings back memories for his
grandmother. A family secret regarding
World War II and the German occupation of
the Netherlands is discovered throughout
the book.
ISBN#
9781467715164


A Bag of
Marbles
Joseph
Joffo
(Author)
Vincent
Bailly
(Illustrator)
Edward
Gauvin
(Translator)


Graphic
Novel
Auto-
biography

Based on
his book
written
earlier



Grade: 6 up
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:

In 1941 in occupied Paris, brothers Maurice
and Joseph play a last game of marbles
before running home to their fathers
barbershop. This is the day that will
change their lives forever. With the German
occupation threatening their family's safety,
the boys' parents decide Maurice and Joseph
must disguise themselves and flee to their
older brothers in the free zone.

Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation


ISBN#
9780394747231



Maus I: A
Survivors
Tale: My
Father
Bleeds
History




Art
Spiegelman




Graphic
Novel

Grade:6 up
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:


A tale of a father who survived the
Holocaust and his cartoonist son coming to
terms with his fathers story and the history
behind it.

ISBN#
9780679729778


Maus II: A
Survivors
Tale: And
My Troubles
Begin


Art
Spiegelman


Graphic
Novel


Grade: 6 up
Lexile:
Guided
Reading:


A continuation of the fathers story and
journey.

Pulitzer Prize winner.
Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Book Cover
ISBN#
Title Author
Illustrator
Genre Reading
Level
Annotation
http://www.ushmm.or
g/learn/students/the
-holocaust-a-learning-
site-for-students

Inform.
Website
This is a great resource for students and
teachers to search, look and learn.
http://www.holocaust
history.net/start.htm

Inform.
Website
This is a great resource for students and
teachers to search, look and learn.
http://www.kz-
gedenkstaette-
dachau.de/index-
e.html


Inform.
Website
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial,
Virtual tour of the facility can be seen
online.
http://www.history.ac
.uk/ihr/Focus/Holocau
st/websites.html

Inform.
Website
This is a great resource for students and
teachers to search, look and learn.
http://www.holocaust
revealed.org/_domain
/holocaustrevealed.or
g/badges.htm

In form.
Website
This site shows all the different badges of
the Holocaust, beyond the Jewish star that
everyone knew; locations of all the camps,
many that were outside of Germany; a time
line of complete events; and links to many
other websites.
http://www.hanassuit
case.ca/
http://www.cbc.ca/ha
nassuitcase/


This sight is based on the book Hanas
Suitcase. Lots of great information with
another site offering a documentary video.

Laurie Wangerin Holocaust Text Set EDUC 580
Text Set Topic: The Holocaust, World War II
The Holocaust is studied at various times throughout middle school and high even into high school. While researching and
discovering new books, I found it difficult to only select eight to twelve books. The Holocaust wasnt just about the elimination
of the Jewish communities, it was so much more.
Starting out the unit, I would read aloud Hanas Suitcase. This is a great opportunity to share a group of students journey to
learn about the Holocaust. The picture books, The Yellow Star, I never saw another butterfly, and Nim and the War
Efforts would also be utilized throughout the unit and shared for discussions, writings, drawings and student created poetry.
Based on the reading levels and interest of the students, book options to read will be given: Journey to Topaz (Lex:970),
Someone Named Eva (Lex:820), Lilys Cupboard (Lex:420), When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (Lex:940), Number the Stars
(Lex:730) Devils Arithmetic (Lex:730) The Upstairs Room (Lex:380) Snow Treasure (Lex:690). The stories can all be read and
discussed as to what they learned from all different perspectives to help gain better understanding of World War II around
the world.
If a student really wants to read the Diary of Anne Frank, but the reading level is too high, books like Evas Story, and The
Promise, written by Anne Franks step-sister and Rutkas Notebook , known as the Polish Anne Frank would be great
replacements.
The boys may prefer to read Ragdolls, Holocaust Survivor: Mike Jacobs Triumph over Tragedy or A Bag of Marbles, which are
from a male perspective.
I have also listed some good websites to explore. For the older more mature students, a virtual tour of Dachau is available.
I have included over forty books in this set. I have read just over half of them. The reason I included all of them is to give the
student options based on their interest and reading levels. Many of these books give different perspectives, from all angles of
the war. Allowing the students to explore and select their own readings can create deeper discussions and view the Holocaust
well beyond, showing how many different people were affected by the holocaust.