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Book of the week archive

Holocaust Memorial Day 27/1/2017

1/25/2017

6 Comments

 
Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27 January each year. It’s a time for everyone to pause to remember the millions of people who have been murdered or whose lives have been changed beyond recognition during the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. On HMD we can honour the survivors of these regimes and challenge ourselves to use the lessons of their experience to inform our lives today. 27 January marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

We have collated some books that may help teachers share these poignant stories with their class. 

The Harmonica by Tony Johnston - Illustrated by Ron Mazellan
Click on the image for further information
'The Harmonica' starts with a poignant sentence.  
​

"I cannot remember my father's face, 
or my mother's, 
but I remember their love, 
warm and enfolding
as a song."



The story is Henry's.  Henry was a jew living in Poland during WWII.  When the Nazi's invade the family finds itself split ​- Henry in one concentration camp and his parents in another. 

Henry though has his prized possession with him, a harmonica which his father taught him to play.  He plays this in the darkness, he 'played it to keep from losing hope.'

Henry plays Schubert as his heart is breaking, by some 'terrible miracle' he is heard playing by the camp commandment who each night after making him play tosses him some meagre food.  This makes Henry feel guilty, guilty that he is playing beautiful music for such a monster but also because he is 'getting bread while others starved to death.'  He feels sick to his stomach with guilt until one night the other prisoners thank him for bringing the beauty of the music into their sad existence. 
Picture
Picture
Alternative Children's books with similar themes
​(Click on the images for more information)


Picture Books
Star of fear, star of hope by Jo Hoestlandt
Rose Blanche by Ian McEwan
Erika's Story by Ruth Vander See
Hidden (graphic novel) Loic Dauvillier
Anne Frank by Josephine Poole
The Whispering Town by Jennifer Elvgren
Benno and the Night of Broken Glass by Meg Wiviott. 
Young Person's Novels
Click on an image for more details
The Silver Sword by Ian Serallier
Hitler's Canary by Sandi Toksvig 
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Once, Then and Now by Morris Gleitzman
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by Jon Boyne
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
This is not an exhaustive list.  Please add your own recommendations in the comments below. 
6 Comments
Emma Hughes link
1/28/2017 04:40:33 am

Would any of these books on the holocaust be suitable for my year 4 class?

Reply
Rob
1/30/2017 12:31:10 pm

Sorry for the late reply.

In my opinion - Rose Blanche, Hidden, The Silver Sword all fine.

Others it would be dependent on the cohort.

Reply
Linda link
6/11/2017 10:39:12 am

Friend or Foe M Morpurgo
Carrie's War Nina Bawden
Goodnight Mister Tom Michelle Magorian
Letters from the Lighthouse Emma Carroll
The Little Ships Louise Borden
War Boy Michael Foreman

Reply
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1/12/2021 02:21:32 am

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    ​After building up a small library of books we thought the time had come to share them! 

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