“Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.” -C.S. Lewis
There are several picture books that teach the Holocaust in a gentle way. Here are some of my favorite recommendations.
50+ Holocaust Books for Grades 4-9
I have read nearly every book on this list and I recommend each one of these wholeheartedly. I starred my top favorites I would encourage anyone to read.
Holocaust Movies for Middle and High School
This list of Holocaust movies includes a variety of fiction and nonfiction from Schindler’s List to more obscure films. There is also a wide variety of content-appropriateness, starting with non-graphic PG-13 movies that work well for introducing the Holocaust.
This list is my favorite WWII books for kids, including books set in America and England.
18 Stories by Holocaust Rescuers
Here is a list of 18 Holocaust rescuers, known as Righteous Among the Nations, and their memoirs, biographies, movies, and documentaries.
Tell Them We Remember Unit Study
This comprehensive, eight-week unit study was created for grades 6-8. It covers four of the most important aspects of the Holocaust: how Hitler rose to power, life in the concentration camps, Jewish resistance, and the Righteous Among the Nations.
The Problems with The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a popular Holocaust book/movie that is taught in schools. Not only is it wholly inaccurate, it can also contain some dangerous falsehoods.