Liberated from Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp in 1945, sixteen-year-old Gerta tries to make a new life for herself, aided by Lev, a fellow survivor, and Michah, who helps Jews reach Palestine.
Germany
Materials from Germany
The Librarian Of Auschwitz
Follows Dita Kraus from age fourteen, when she is put in charge of a few forbidden books at Auschwitz concentration camp, through the end of World War II and beyond. Based on a true story.
Featured in Volume XI, Issue 4 of WOW Review.
Waiting For Goliath
Bear has been sitting and waiting since dawn. “I’m waiting for Goliath. He’s my best friend.” At last the bus pulls up, but no one gets out. “He’ll definitely show up. You’ll see!” The robins fly south and the first snow falls. When Bear wakes from a long sleep, he hears a noise like a hand sliding slowly across paper.
Reach For The Moon, Little Lion
Size is just a matter of perspective in this story about a little lion who is much, much smaller than the rest. The other animals laugh at him and tell him that real lions are so very big, they can touch the moon with a paw. When a friendly raven discovers the little lion atop a hill, sadly gazing at the moon, the wise bird tells him that to touch the moon, he must reach for it. The next night, Raven brings all the animals to the base of the hill, where at the tippy-top, Little Lion stretches his paw as far as he can. From where the animals are standing, it is clear: Little Lion can touch the moon . . . and no one ever doubts him again.
Survivors Club
The incredible true story of Michael Bornstein–who at age 4 was one of the youngest children to be liberated from Auschwitz–and of his family.
The Book Jumper
A teen girl discovers she is a book jumper–she can leap directly into books, meet the characters, and experience the world of the book.
Max
Born in Nazi Germany in 1936, Max is raised as the perfect Aryan but questions his teachings upon learning that his friend Lukas, a Polish boy snatched from his home to be “Germanized,” is secretly Jewish.
Where Is Grandma?
Henry is visiting his grandmother in the hospital. When his nanny has to take a call, he decides to go on alone. He knows Grandma well, after all. But the hospital is bigger than he thought, and his visit becomes an adventure: up and down elevators, in and out of rooms. Now Henry isn’t sure he will find Grandma after all.
Me Tall, You Small
Creative use of language with wordplay, onomatopoeia, and rhyme infuses this book with humor and surprise. Together with the text, expressive line-drawn artwork drives home the funny differences between life as a parent and a child. This silly, touching read-aloud will have both parties celebrating their role, whether tall or small.
Rapunzel
“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!” Trapped at the top of a tall tower, every day Rapunzel throws down her long, long golden hair for her captor, the enchantress, to climb. Until one day the King’s son discovers Rapunzel and they fall in love. Together they devise a plan to escape but the enchantress discovers their scheme and chops off Rapunzel’s hair.