The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida

Title: The Bracelet

Category: Multiculural

Author: Yoshiko Uchida

Publisher/Year: Puffin / 1996

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 32pp

Summary: Emi and her family are sent to live at an internment camp in Montana during World War II with other Japanese-American families. Her best friend from her home in California sends a bracelet with her to always remember her. She loses the bracelet in all the shuffling around the are made to do. She is upset at first but realizes she doesn't need a bracelet to keep her friend's love and memory with her.

Comments: What a sweet, sweet story! All ages would love to read this book!

Classroom Application:
Lexile: 710L
Age: 5-10 years old
This is a great look at what others experienced during World War II, even living in the United States. It could work within a history lesson. It could also just be a great story of friendship.

The Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse

Title: The Cats in Krasinski Square

Category: International

Author: Karen Hesse

Publisher/Year: Scholastic Press / 2004

Genre: Historical Fiction

Awards:

• PSydney Taylor Book Awards Honor Book - Older Readers (2004)
• ALA Noteable Book for children (2005)

Pages: 32pp

Summary: A young Jewish girl living in Warsaw during World War II has escaped the Ghetto and is living her with older sister. She is trying to sneak food back into the Ghetto to those stuck there but the Gestapo has heard about what she is doing and has the dogs waiting to catch her. Her friends help her collect all the cats from Krasinski Square that used to be others' pets. The cats jump out of the baskets and the dogs run away after the cats.

Comments: This is a wonderful story based on real event that author read. It has great illustrations and is an excellent way to tell children about some of the horrific things that happened back then.

Classroom Application:
Lexile: 990L
Age: 7-18 years old
Obviously a great book to study when learning about World War II and the Holocaust. It is an act of bravery that many children would understand.

Hiroshima No Pika by Toshi Maruki

Title: Hiroshima No Pika

Category: Reconstructive Text

Author: Toshi Maruki

Publisher/Year: HarperCollins / 1982

Genre: Historical Fiction, Picture Book

Awards:

• Jane Addams Children's Book Award (1983)

Pages: 48pp

Summary: Hiroshima No Pika is about the experience of a woman, her husband and daughter when the Atomic Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

Comments: It is a powerful book recounting the experience from another point of view: a survivor. The paintings in the book contribute to make the story even more sad and scary.

Classroom Application:
620L
Ages: 13 - 18 years old
It would generate a lot of questions about World War II and the use of the Atomic Bomb. I think it should be read to give a different perspective when studying about World War II. There are two sides to every story.