Read to Remember this Holocaust Remembrance Day
Each spring we take the time to commemorate and honor all of the lives lost and affected by the Holocaust. It is a time to reflect and teach the new generation about this horrific part of history in the hope that it will not be repeated and that the lessons of the Holocaust will never be forgotten. As educators, you play a vital role in this effort. Below are titles that can be used to further your readers' understanding of this tragedy.
What the Night Sings by debut author / illustrator Vesper Stamper is a lushly illustrated novel about a teen Holocaust survivor, who must come to terms with who she is and how to rebuild her life.
After losing her family and everything she knew in the Nazi concentration camps, Gerta is finally liberated, only to find herself completely alone. Without her Papa, her music, or even her true identity, she must move past the task of surviving and onto living her life. In the displaced persons camp where she is staying, Gerta meets Lev, a fellow teen survivor for whom she might be falling, despite her hardship. With a newfound Jewish identity she never knew she had, and a return to the life of music she thought she lost forever, Gerta must choose how to build a new future.
A breathtaking look at a lesser-known piece of the life of a Holocaust survivor, What the Night Sings dares to question the role of happiness amongst such anguish. Exploring themes of love and identity in the teenage years, this novel engages young readers in a deeply personal reflection of this historical tragedy.
Teach-Alike:
WHAT THE NIGHT SINGS compliments lessons featuring these titles:
Suggestions for your elementary and middle school readers:
