Growing a Reader: Kids' Books, Tips and More

On a trip to Amsterdam a few years ago I had the special privilege of visiting the Anne Frank House. As you move through the Annex (the space where Anne stayed in hiding with her family during the rise of Hitler) you can feel the heaviness of what happened there. Left clear of any furniture, visitors move through the empty space in silence, paying their respects to the spirit of this incredible young girl whose diary lives on as an example of what Jewish people suffered under Nazi rule.

As a young person I found Anne Frank to be a figure that made the concept of the Holocaust very real to me. I also knew that my grandfather was a soldier in the Second World War (WWII), a tail gunner in a Halifax bomber plane, and seeing pictures of him as a soldier helped me to connect the dots too. 

My grandfather, Roy Bellinger, second from the right in the front row.

 

My grandfather with a Halifax Bomber.

 

Sharing stories about role models can help children cultivate a strong sense of empathy. Stories I heard about my grandfather, and figures like Anne Frank, brought difficult moments from history to life. They also helped me understand how history presents us with the opportunity to learn from our mistakes. Below you’ll find some titles about young women that played a role in the war. Reading books like these are just some of the many ways to come together and pay our respects this Remembrance Day.

All About Anne by Menno Metselaar, created by the Anne Frank House (Ages 9+)

This gorgeous book offers a look inside of the actual Anne Frank House. Created by archivists at the museum, it's filled with photographs of documents and manuscripts from this time period, including a photograph of Anne’s famed diary.

Anne Frank by Yona Zeldis McDonough; illustrated by Malcah Zeldis (Ages 5+)

This biography offers Anne's story through the lens of a colourful, illustrated story book.

Little People, Big Dreams: Anne Frank by Ma Isabel Sánchez Vegara; Illustrated by Sveta Dorosheva (Ages 5+)

From the popular Little People, Big Dreams series, this is another beautifully illustrated option. Anne's red checkered diary stands out as the only item in colour throughout. Informative and engaging, you can't go wrong with the biographies from this series. 

Hans and Sophie Scholl: German Resisters of the White Rose by Toby Axelord (Ages 12+)

Learn about Sophie Scholl and her brother Hans who were members of a German student group called The White Rose. The group actively opposed Hitler and his regime, publishing and distributing pamphlets within Germany about the terrible crimes being committed by the Nazis.

Herstory: 5o Women and Girls who Shook up the World By Katherine Halligan; Illustrated by Sarah Walsh (Ages 8+)

Nestled among other influential women in this lovely book are two secret agents from WWII. Noor Inayat Khan was an Indian princess, trained as a secret agent for the British, spying on Nazis and sending information by radio to the British government. Hannah Szenes (pronounced "Senesh") is featured too. Szenes is a well-known author who wrote poems, songs and plays, and who was also trained as a spy. This is an excellent book for learning about the scope of women who have overcome big obstacles in conflicts around the world.

Remembrance day is observed on November 11, the day which marks the end of the First World War in 1918. It's an opportunity to pay our respects to all of the people who have lost their lives in the line of duty from WWI, WWII, and beyond. Hopefully these books will inspire you to commemorate this day in a way that is meaningful to you and your family.