Children's Literature

In a stirring chronicle, Doreen Rappaport brings to light the courage of countless Jews who organized to sabotage the Nazis and help other Jews during the Holocaust. Under the noses of the military, Georges Loinger smuggles thousands of children out of occupied France into Switzerland. In Belgium, three resisters ambush a train, allowing scores of Jews to flee from the cattle cars. In Poland, four brothers lead more than 1,200 ghetto refugees into the forest to build a guerilla force and self-sufficient village. And twelve-year-old Motele Shlayan entertains German officers with his violin moments before setting off a bomb. Through twenty-one meticulously researched accounts -- some chronicled in book form for the first time -- Doreen Rappaport illuminates the defiance of tens of thousands of Jews across eleven Nazi-occupied countries during World War II. In answer to the genocidal madness that was Hitler's Holocaust, the only response they could abide was resistance, and their greatest weapons were courage, ingenuity, the will to survive, and the resolve to save others or to die trying. Back matter includes a pronunciation guide, a list of important dates, source notes, a bibliography, a bibliography by chapter, and an index.

In the #1 New York Times bestseller, Leon Leyson (born Leib Lezjon) was only ten years old when the Nazis invaded Poland and his family was forced to relocate to the Krakow ghetto. Leon Leyson (born Leib Lezjon) was only ten years old when the Nazis invaded Poland and his family was forced to relocate to the Krakow ghetto. With incredible luck, perseverance, and grit, Leyson was able to survive the sadism of the Nazis, including that of the demonic Amon Goeth, commandant of Plaszow, the concentration camp outside Krakow. Ultimately, it was the generosity and cunning of one man, a man named Oskar Schindler, who saved Leon Leyson's life, and the lives of his mother, his father, and two of his four siblings, by adding their names to his list of workers in his factory-a list that became world renowned: Schindler's List. This, the only memoir published by a former Schindler's List child, perfectly captures the innocence of a small boy who goes through the unthinkable. Most notable is the lack of rancor, the lack of venom, and the abundance of dignity in Mr. Leyson's telling. The Boy on the Wooden Box is a legacy of hope, a memoir unlike anything you've ever read.

The ultimate Chanukah gift--a glorious celebration of the true spirit of the holiday from a pop-up master and an acclaimed poet. Open this beautiful gift book and follow the Festival of Lights through place and time--from Herod's temple to a shtetl in Russia; from a refugee ship bound for the New World to an Israeli kibbutz. Inspired by Michael J. Rosen's reverent poem, Robert Sabuda's striking pop-ups depict each night's menorah in a different scene, using such imagery as desert tents, olive trees, and a final panorama of skyscrapers. Sure to be a treasured family heirloom, this stunning collaboration showcases the spirit and resilience of a people in search of home.

Rather than regret or atone for his everyday mistakes, baker Gershon simply sweeps them into his basement. Once a year on Rosh Hashanah, he stuffs these demon-shaped transgressions in a giant bag and dumps them into the Black Sea. Of course, Gershon must discover sooner or later that his selfish acts cannot be disposed of so easily. In spite of a pointed warning from a rabbi, Gershon refuses to realize that his behavior will come back to haunt him someday. It's only when he is faced with the monstrous bulk of his misdeeds that Gershon finally, truly repents.

A traveler rids a village synagogue of goblins by outwitting them. A Caldecott Honor Book.

IIrena Sendler, a Polish social worker, helped nearly four hundred Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto and into hiding during World War II.

In 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, 11-year-old Lonek and his family fled to the east. When Russia invaded Poland, the family was imprisoned in a Soviet gulag. In 1941, when Germany attacked Russia, about 100,000 Poles were released from gulags and prisons and joined General Anders on a march of thousands of miles to join the Allied Forces in the Middle East. Lonek was one of the 1,000 Jewish children who traveled with them to freedom. Illustrated with photographs.

The author-illustrator traces his father's imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp through a series of disarming and unusual cartoons arranged to tell the story as a novel.

Explains the history and significance of many Jewish symbols and discusses how these symbols are used in holiday rituals.

Winner of the 2015 National Jewish Book Award for Children's Literature A refugee seeking sanctuary from the horrors of Kristallnacht, Oskar arrives by ship in New York City with only a photograph and an address for an aunt he has never met. It is both the seventh day of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve, 1938. As Oskar walks the length of Manhattan, from the Battery to his new home in the north of the city, he passes experiences the city's many holiday sights, and encounters it various residents. Each offers Oskar a small act of kindness, welcoming him to the city andhelping him on his way to a new life in the new world. This is a heartwarming, timeless picture book.

The boy whose stories became Fiddler on the Roof Sholom Aleichem's favorite childhood memory may have been listening as his father read stories aloud on Saturday nights and a roomful of adults burst out laughing. Sholom wanted to make people laugh, too. At school he became the class clown. At home he imitated even his pious grandmother. But Sholom was also thoughtful. In Russia in the 1800s, life was especially difficult for Jews, and Sholom longed to help his father by finding a legendary hidden treasure. It turned out that Sholom Aleichem's destiny was to give his father a different kind of treasure - one of words and tales that to this day bring laughter to readers around the world. This taut, focused biography of the young Sholom Aleichem is animated with the artist's quick, brilliant line and richly toned watercolors.

By issuing visas against the orders of his superiors, Chiune Sugihara, A Japanese consul in Lithuania saved the lives of thousands of Jews during World War II. This book recounts one of the largest rescues of Jews during the Holocaust.

Perfect for young readers, this retelling of the Purim story brings together a mighty king, a jealous scoundrel, a wise uncle-- and a clever heroine. Long ago, King Ahasuerus of Persia was seeking a new wife. Though many beautiful maidens came to meet the King, it was a young Hebrew woman who caught his eye.  She was called Esther, for she was as beautiful as the Morning Star, and the king decided to marry her immediately. But when the King's hot-tempered chief minister Haman threatened Esther's uncle, it was up to the young queen to save her family-- and her people.  With quick wits and courage, Esther persuaded the King to protect his Hebrew subjects-- an event still celebrated today as the holiday called Purim. Recounted by master storyteller Eric A. Kimmel, this dramatic story is a perfect introduction for young readers to the history of this holiday.  Bright paintings influenced by Persian art and architecture pair with the lyrical text to create an unforgettable picture book celebration.

The tree in the courtyard was a horse chestnut. Her leaves were green stars; her flowers foaming cones of white and pink. Seagulls flocked to her shade. She spread roots and reached skyward in peace. The tree watched a little girl, who played and laughed and wrote in a diary. When strangers invaded the city and warplanes roared overhead, the tree watched the girl peek out of the curtained window of the annex. It watched as she and her family were taken away-and when her father returned after the war, alone. The tree died the summer Anne Frank would have turned eighty-one, but its seeds and saplings have been planted around the world as a symbol of peace. Its story, and Anne's story, are beautifully told and illustrated in this powerful picture book.

The rich traditions of Passover come alive in this contemporary family haggadah. As children and adults gather at the seder dinner to remember the Israelites' journey from slavery to freedom, this creative yet authentic haggadah will guide and engage them. It takes children beyond the Four Questions and the search for the afikoman, encouraging them to enjoy every step of the seder. Through stories, songs, poems, activities, and explanations, children can step back in time to experience the exodus as if they themselves were leaving Egypt -- and at the same time understand the significance of Passover traditions today. Lushly illustrated, with the blessings and text of every major section of the haggadah in Hebrew, English translation, and transliteration, this haggadah's welcoming and accessible style will make it a treasured seder companion year after year.

Eric A. Kimmel, America's foremost author of children's Judaica has drawn together Passover stories, commentary, poetry, music, art, and prayers that span four continents and 3000 years! In this rich and fascinating compilation, beloved storyteller Eric A. Kimmel presents every element--from beginning to end -- of this ancient holiday through stories, songs, poems, prayers and art. Reflecting three millenniums of Jewish life around the world, the book will not only make this multi-layered holiday accessible to people of every background. But it will also make this timeless-ever changing holiday relevant to today's readers. (continued on next page.....)

In this striking picture book biography, an old-timer tells us what made Sandy Koufax such an amazing baseball player. We learn that the beginning of his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers was rocky, that he was shy with his teammates, and experienced discrimination as one of the only Jews in the game. We hear that he actually quit, only to return the next season--different--firing one rocket after another over the plate. We watch him refuse to play in the 1965 World Series because it is a Jewish high holy day. And we see him in pain because of an overused left arm, eventually retiring at the peak of his career. Finally, we are told that people are still "scratchin' their heads over Sandy," who remains a modest hero and a mystery to this day. Accompanied by sidebars filled with statistics, this Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year and Booklist Top of the List is sure to delight budding baseball fans.