Hidden Courage - The Holocaust and Jewish Resistance
Beyond the Battlefield - Life and Resilience on the Home Front
Valiant Hearts - Military Service on the Front Lines
The Unseen War - Spies, Codebreakers, and Hidden Heroes
On the Horizon - Our 2026 WWII TBR List 📚
Hidden Courage - The Holocaust and Jewish Resistance
Stories of survival, the bravery of those who resisted, and the people who risked everything to save others during the Holocaust.
A tale about Kristallnacht told from the perspective of a local cat. I appreciated reading this story with my son because it was told gently / indirectly enough that we could discuss Kristallnacht with appropriate detail for his age.
Benno and the Night of Broken Glass (Meg Wiviott)
This book's illustration style was unexpected but fitting to the story. The historical note at the end ties everything together.
The Whispering Town (Jennifer Elvgren)
Based on the life of Polacco's aunt, this book tells the story of a little girl and her family who hid Jews from the Nazis.
The Butterfly (Patricia Polacco)
I did not know the role that Miep played in preserving Anne Frank's diary and appreciated this different perspective on Anne's story.
Miep and the Most Famous Diary: Woman Who Rescued Anne Frank's Diary
This is the true story of Nicholas Winston, who worked to get over 700 children out of Nazi-controlled Prague. Sis weaves his story together with the story of one of the children he saved.
Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust
Beyond the Battlefield - Life and Resilience on the Home Front
Look at the war through the eyes of those left behind—from rationing and evacuations to the quiet strength of families and communities across the globe.
This is the true story of a man who built a baseball field and organized a league within a Japanese American Internment Camp. I particularly loved the illustration style for this book as well as the photographs at the end from Zeni's life.
Barbed Wire Baseball: Hope in WWII Camps
I loved that this was a real story from the author's family. It is a sweet, well-written glimpse into life in Europe after World War II.
Boxes for Katje (Candace Fleming)
This sort is set shortly after WWII and is based on the author's grandmother.
Elsa's Chessboard (Jenny Andrus)
Valiant Hearts - Military Service on the Front Lines
Follow the brave soldiers, pilots, and sailors across every theater of war. These stories honor the sacrifice and duty of those who fought on the front lines.
My main warning is that Patricia Polacco's books can be tear jerkers and this is no exception. This is a sweet story of an unlikely friendship amidst war (an American soldier in the Pacific Theatre).
Tucky Jo and Little Heart (Patricia Polacco)
The Unseen War - Spies, Codebreakers, and Hidden Heroes
Behind the scenes of the big battles were secret missions and scrambled codes. Discover the men and women who fought the war through shadows and signals.
Biographical picture book of Jewish-American spy, Moe Berg. This was a slice of history I hadn't considered before and thought it was incredible that the US sent him into Europe on missions even though he was Jewish.
The Spy Who Played Baseball (Carrie Jones)
It was fascinating to see how the Navajo Code Talkers were formed. One thing to consider in reading with children is that Chester Nez held to Navajo spiritual practices, which are portrayed in a positive light in contrast to Catholic / American ideas...
Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code
On the Horizon - Our 2026 WWII TBR List 📚
These are next on our shelf; once reviewed, they’ll join the collection above. If you’ve enjoyed one of these—or have a recommendation for this list—let us know!
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