Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport
| Modern Age |
|---|
 Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport
|
World History > Modern Age > WWII / Holocaust
"A not-to-be-missed, inspirational book about courage, heart, and the necessity of caring for others."―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
This powerful story is told from the collective perspective of the children who were rescued from Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II, as Hitler's campaign of hatred toward Jews and political dissidents took hold. The narrative starts in 1938 and follows the children as they journey to foster families in England for the duration of the war, return to Prague afterward in an unsuccessful search for their parents, and eventually connect with Nicholas Winton, a British former stockbroker who was instrumental in bringing them to safety. Winton and the Czech Kindertransport ultimately rescued 669 children from Nazi persecution.
Award-winning author Caren Stelson teams up with acclaimed illustrator Selina Alko to sensitively tell this tale of survival and defiance in the face of tyranny.
Emily's Review
Whelp...there goes my whole day. I am a blubbering mess after reading this beautiful picture book. The author tells the story of the Czech Kindertransport. One man, Nicholas Winton, was able to rescue 669 Czech children by sending them to live in England for the duration of WWII. The author captures the anxiety and fear of what the children and parents must have been feeling. I can't even imagine having to send my child away to another country not knowing if I would ever see them again, just as I can't imagine being the child being sent away. The uncertainty of it all just breaks my heart.
This is a fantastic introduction to learning about the Holocaust with very young children. It's also an excellent way to teach about refugees and talk about ways in which we can help. The story is beautifully told and the illustrations are gorgeous. Just have a box of tissues handy.
Other Similar Books
Other suggestions on the subject of the Holocaust.
- Hidden Hope (by: Boxer, Elisa, France, LE, MG)
- Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport (by: Stelson, Caren, Czechoslovakia, LE, MG)
- Stone Angel (by: Yolen, Jane, France, LE)
- Once (by: Gleitzman, Morris, Poland, MG, UMG)
- Then (by: Gleitzman, Morris, Poland, MG, UMG)
- The Girl Who Sang (by: Nadel, Estelle, Savos, Sammy, Strout, Bethany, Poland, MG, UMG)
- Out of Hiding (by: Gruener, Ruth, Poland, United States, MG)
- Now (by: Gleitzman, Morris, Australia, MG, UMG)
- Hidden: A Child's Story of the Holocaust (by: Dauvillier, Loïc, France, MG, UMG)
- I Will Protect You: A True Story of Twins Who Survived Auschwitz (by: Kor, Eva Mozes, Romania, MG)
- Esfir is Alive (by: Simon, Andrea, Poland, UMG, YA)
- Four Perfect Pebbles (by: Blumenthal Lazan, Marion, Germany, Holland, UMG)
- Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust (by: Shusterman, Neal, various, UMG, YA)
- We'll Soon Be Home Again (by: Bab Bonde, Jessica, Various, UMG, YA)
- Beyond Courage (by: Rappaport, Doreen, Germany, UMG, YA)
- No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War (by: Lobel, Anita, Poland, UMG, YA)
- The Devil's Arithmetic (by: Yolen, Jane, Poland, UMG, YA)
- Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl (by: Frank, Anne, Netherlands, UMG, YA)
- Upon the Head of the Goat (by: Siegal, Aranka, Hungary, UMG)
- When the World Was Ours (by: Kessler, Liz, Austria, UMG, YA)
- Briar Rose (by: Yolen, Jane, Poland, YA, A)
- They Went Left (by: Hesse, Monica, Poland, Germany, YA, A)
- Names in a Jar (by: Gold, Jennifer, Poland, YA, A)
- 28 Days: A Novel of Resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto (by: Safier, David, Poland, YA, A)
- Margot (by: Cantor, Jillian, United States, YA, A)
- The Redhead of Auschwitz: A True Story (by: Birnbaum, Nechama, Romania, Germany, YA, A)
- The Search (by: Heuvel, Eric, Netherlands, YA, A)
- My Name is Selma (by: van de Perre, Selma, Netherlands, YA, A)
- Mapping the Bones (by: Yolen, Jane, Poland, YA, A)
- Night (by: Wiesel, Elie, Romania, YA, A)
- Dawn (by: Wiesel, Elie, Palestine, YA, A)
- The Librarian of Auschwitz (by: Iturbe, Antonio, Poland, YA, A)
- The Blood Years (by: Arnold, Elana K., Romania, YA, A)
- Day (by: Wiesel, Elie, United States, YA, A)
- The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million (by: Mendelsohn, Daniel, Ukraine, A)