Synergy: The Children of World War II

World War II had a deep and lasting impact on children. While some young people lived and died in concentration camps, others were able to escape to England as refugees.

Read two recently published children’s books, then learn more at the websites:

THE MISSING: THE TRUE STORY OF MY FAMILY IN WORLD WAR II by Michael Rosen shares the experiences of the author’s family members along with his own stories of growing up with a legacy of lost family connections. Woven throughout the narrative are works of poetry and references to today’s issues of racism and refugees. This short book concludes with resources to help readers dig deeper into history.

HISTORYWORKS has posted audio files of Michael Rosen’s poetry. The project features over two dozen entries.

To listen to the poems, go to https://audioboom.com/playlists/4613930-michael-rosen-poems.

WE HAD TO BE BRAVE: ESCAPING THE NAZIS ON THE KINDERTRANSPORT by Deborah Hopkinson tells the heartbreaking story of children and teens who survived the Holocaust by escaping to England. Using dozens of true accounts, the author weaves together stories of survival and hope at a time of war. Organized into four parts, the book explores pre-war events, the tipping point, the flight, and the aftermath. The postscripts shares a timeline, glossary, resources, and other useful materials to extend the reading experience.

WHAT WAS KINDERTRANSPORT is a BBC Newsround article focusing on the mission that took thousands of children to safety during World War II. The article features text, historical photographs and interviews.

To read the BBC article, go to https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46877532.

ARC courtesy of Candlewick and Scholastic.

Synergy: Internment of Japanese Americans

During World War II, 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated in concentration camps in the United States. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 authorized the military to round up both citizens and non-citizens alike.

Read the recently published graphic memoir, then learn more at the website:

THEY CALLED US ENEMY by George Takei, Eisinger Scott Becker, and Steven Scott tells the true story of Takei’s childhood in American concentration camps during World War II. The book’s stunning illustrations capture the celebrity’s experiences and reveal lessons that are still relevant today.

Densho is a digital collection chronicling incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. The site includes the core story, an encyclopedia, digital archives, American concentration camp information, and many other resources.

Densho http://densho.org/

ARC courtesy of Top Shelf.

Website Review: I Witness

I WITNESS from the USC Shoah Foundation is a website containing over 1,500 video testimonies, multimedia activities, and digital resources focusing the Holocaust and other genocides.

The Watch section provides users with video clips, activities, terms, graphic organizers, and related topics. Students can select from 50 different topics such as Anti-Jewish Laws, Civil Rights in America, and Labor/Concentration Camps. Or, conduct a name or subject search to find resources.

The Activities section provides tools youth can use to build videos, word clouds, and other projects based on the program’s themes. Each activity includes standards, grade level focus, and time to complete the activity. Users can identify mini-quests, info-quests, and video activities in a variety of subject areas.

The Share section contains project news and announcements. It also provides an area where students can view projects created by other youth. Students can share their projects with others.

Librarians will find this website to be an excellent resource for both students and teachers working on history and social studies projects. Consider participating in the Witness Video Challenge that inspires positive change in communities.

To visit the website, go to http://iwitness.usc.edu/