Hedy’s Journey: The True Story of a Hungarian Girl Fleeing the Holocaust #DiverseKidLit

Hedy’s Journey: The True Story of a Hungarian Girl Fleeing the Holocaust

By Michelle Bisson

Illustrated by El Prima Ramon

The illustrations have a simple, classic feel to them, almost sophisticated with their neutral grays, browns, and blues and a touch of soft, salmon-pink here and there for a bit of color.

This book has a powerfully message right at the beginning: 

“Everyone always says how brave I was to travel through Europe on my own in the middle of World War 11. I didn’t think I was brave. I was Jewish, so I had no choice.”

Hedy’s cousin, who stayed with them in Budapest, willingly boards a train for deportation. She says she wants to be with her parents and brother no matter what happens. Her finals words were: “I am only sorry I didn’t get more out of life while I could.” This statement shows the horror of this time.

“Marika understood she was going to die.”

After this, Hedy’s family knew they were no longer safe.

“If the Nazis were coming for one Jew, it was only a matter of time before they came for us all.”

They set plans to travel to the United States. First, they have to get to Portugal to board a ship, but a problem arises when only three tickers are acquired. Someone would have to stay behind and wait. That person is Hedy.

When it’s time for her to leave, she’s in Nazi territory alone.

Before their flight to the United States, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, initiating the US’s entrance into the war. The tragic turn of events ruins their plan to travel by an American passenger ship to New York.

They have set backs and a bit of luck that sees them on a boat sailing refugees to Cuba, Chile, and New York. While on board, tragedy strikes, reminding everyone the cost of war.

Parts of this story is gloomy for a picture book, as any story would be when talking about the Holocaust, but it’s a good story for kids learning about the Holocaust in school. It’s another perspective.

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Anne Frank #DiverseKidLit

Anne Frank

Written by Josephine Poole

Illustrated by Angela Barrett

For kids too young to read The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, this is a great way to introduce them to Anne and her story and spark interest in learning about Anne’s life and hopefully want to read her words one day.

This story is an excellent way to start the conversation about what happened in Germany and to Jews when Adolf Hitler rules.

“Mostly Anne felt on top of the world. But sometimes she was afraid. There was a good reason for this: Adolf Hitler ruled Germany then, and he had vowed to get rid of Jews. Frank was a German Jew.”

A short history is given to explain how Germany had changed because of the first World War and how Germans looked for someone to blame. Because Hitler hated Jews, he claimed they were to blame for all of Germany’s troubles.

Frightened, Jews left Germany. Anne’s father, Mr. Frank worked in the Netherlands and found an apartment in Amsterdam.

The author paints a clear picture of Anne for young readers, saying Anne was naughty in class by telling jokes and making funny faces so everyone, even the teachers, laughed.

Soon, German soldiers marched through Amsterdam, and Jews were ordered to wear “a big yellow start with Joed printed on it.”

Anne’s father, a clever man, began moving furniture and installing a toilet and sink in the abandoned upstairs rooms in the building where he worked—an annex.

When Anne’s sister, Margot, was 16, she was sent an order to report for labor service working for Germans. This was the moment her father knew it was time to disappear. Anne packed the diary she’d been given on her last birthday.

A woman named Miep, who worked with Mr. Frank, led them into the secret annex. From then on, they muse hide, silently, with a second family. Soon, 8 people were hiding in the cramped space.

We get glimpses into what Anne endured during the day and at night while hiding mere feet from the real world for two years.

Somehow, on August 4, 1944, the Franks are found out, and everyone in the annex are taken away. In the chaos, Anne’s diary was scattered across the floor. Miep collected the papers and hid it, hoping to one day give it back to Anne, but only Mr. Frank returned.

This children’s story has the same sad ending as The Diary of a Young Girl, as it should because it’s a true story, but it could be hard for kids to digest. I, for one, as an adult, still have a hard time knowing Anne (and her sister) died of typhus in a concentration camp.

“Anne Frank was no more than a girl, and her short life had come to an end. But her story was just the beginning.”

I truly believe all young adults and older adults should read The Diary of a Young Girl. And now I believe children and parents should read this started story packed with history and memories of a brave girl.

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Nile Crossing #DiverseKidlit

Nile Crossing

By Katy Beebe

Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport

The first thing I noticed were the large, full-page illustrations with colors, shading, and texture that bring Egypt to life.

The prose is written in a way that is poetic, thoughtful, and can further entice a reader’s imagination.

“We wake in the still darkness of a day unlike all others.I roll up my mat, and my heartswoops like a falcon in this new day,the first day of school.”

Children get to learn about Ancient Egypt culture with little details that help to paint a picture of Egyptian life, including what a scarab is and a mention of Thoth, the god of the moon. These things, as well as a few others, are highlighted in the glossary for further study.

The descriptions of the Nile are beautiful.

“It greets us with the whisper of reeds, The lap of water at the river bank, The muttering of geese as they mumbled in their sleep.”

Khepri and his father cross the Nile on their way to school. Although this story is set in Ancient Egypt, all kids getting ready for their first day of school or going to a new school for the first time will be able to relate to Khepri and his nerves, as well as his bravery.

When the story ends, there’s more of a story to follow titled “Writing in Ancient Egypt” where we get to read about Kehpri using his brand-new pens gifted by his father. We even learn about the paper they used back then as well as what Kephri has to do to prepare his pens and write for the first time.

There’s also a section at the end titled “School in Ancient Egypt” that explains how royal sons went to school and young girls did not get a formal education, but some evidence shows a few boys from ordinary families (like Khapri) and a few girls did learn to read and write. This will be an awakening for children as they begin to learn to read and write themselves.

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Juliane's Story #DiverseKidLit

Juliane's Story: A Real-Life Account of Her Journey from Zimbabwe

Written by Andy Glynne

Illustrated by Karl Hammond

(Based on the BAFTA winning animations)

Juliane lived on a farm in Zimbabwe. She was only three and a half when her mom left for her own safety. Church people took Juliane in and raised her.

"I had to learn to be my own mother and father."

But she believed, deep down, her mom was looking for her.

"In the orphanage, there were about 30 children trying to eat from one plate."

Reading about what life was like in the orphanage is heartbreaking. For kids, especially for many kids in America, it'll show them that they have things and privileges that other kids around the world don't have--a full plate of food and clean drinking water. There are things many children take for granted in this generation of iPhones, video games, and YouTube.

"I survived by drinking water, but it wasn't clean."

One day, all the orphan are put on a truck. Juliane's the smallest and the last to get on the truck. All of a sudden, a woman is chasing at it--her mom! They're reunited and leave Zimbabwe, but Juliane struggles to adapt to her new life in her new host country.

She experiences severe panic attacks, something not many kids understand, so this is a great teaching moment for parents to see if their children have ever experienced anxiety.

This is a picture book with few words, but the illustrations are stunning. There are also several lessons for kids today between these pages, such as acceptance.

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