“Always Remember Your Name” is the title of our latest documentary. But it’s also the title of the Bucci sisters’ memoir. Andra and Tatiana Bucci were just 4 and 6 years of age when they were deported from Italy to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Their unusually hopeful book recalls, through a child’s eyes, events before, during and after the war. It’s been described as a parallel story of “The Diary of a Young Girl,” the story of Anne Frank, which has sold more than 30 million copies and is frequently a young reader’s introduction to the Holocaust. The sisters, now in their 80s, were two of 50 children under the age of eight to survive Auschwitz-Birkenau and miraculously be reunited with their parents. The sisters share their experiences with school children and lead memory trips back to Auschwitz in the hopes of history not repeating.We asked Tina Ferguson, owner of Face in a Book bookstore, for recommendations on books for children of all ages to learn more about the Holocaust.Here are Tina’s picks: “The Tree of Life: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World”Author: Elisa Boxer Illustrator: Alianna Rozentsveig (illustrator) Suitable for ages 3 and upDuring World War II, at the Terezin concentration camp, a devoted teacher held secret classes for children, teaching them about Jewish history and traditions – including a holiday known as the New Year of the Trees, which is honored by planting a tree. The teacher bribed a guard, who smuggled a sapling into the camp in his boot. The children planted the sapling and cared for it. Over time, many children were taken but those who remained shared their water and lovingly took care of the tree. When the War at last came to an end, the sapling had grown to be five feet tall. Today, around 600 saplings from this tree have been planted around the world, including in front of New York City’s Museum of Jewish Heritage, as a sign of hope for a bright future.Children will see that this is a powerful story of hope and resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship, teaching them about the enduring power of life and the importance of nurturing even small acts of kindness, all while providing a gentle introduction to the complexities of the Holocaust through a relatable, symbolic narrative about a tree planted by children in a concentration camp.”Number the Stars” Author: Lois Lowry Suitable for ages 8 and upIn this unforgettable Newbery Medal-winning novel, the German troops begin their campaign to “relocate” all the Jews of Denmark. Annemarie Johansen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family.Through the eyes of 10-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly 7,000 people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world, even during a time of terror and war.The story ends with the war’s end and Annemarie donning Ellen’s Star of David necklace, with the hope that she will soon see her friend again.There’s a quote I like from the Lord of the Rings movie, “The Fellowship of the Ring.” It goes, “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.” I believe that is a strong message in this story and one that’s important to children to know that they have agency and that they can make a difference for good.”When We Flew Away” Author: Alice Hoffman Suitable for ages 8 and upHoffman sets out to explore Anne Frank’s life before she and her family went into hiding and has created a story of Anne as a bright, high-spirited girl who fights with her older sister, feels criticized by her mother, who dreams of the possibility of a life in California, and whose childhood comes to feel increasingly hemmed-in and threatened as a reign of terror grows closer.She wants and dreams, but can see by the actions of her parents — her father cries at his helplessness in getting his family overseas, and her mother hides her jewelry — that these hopes and dreams might slip away. Add on top of that the new restrictions Jews were facing. American children reading this book might be startled to learn about the segregation, the yellow stars, and the rules prohibiting even such things as ice-skating for the Jewish children. Hopefully, by reading this, they realize that the bright star that was Anne Frank should have been allowed to shine.The author read “The Diary of a Young Girl” when she was 12 years old and said that it changed the person she was. It made her realize that even though there was evil in the world, it was still possible to be brave and to have a dream. And it made her want to be a writer. I wonder if children reading this book might find that same inspiration.”White Bird” Author: R.J. Palacio Suitable for ages 9 and upThrough a FaceTime chat, Julien has asked his grandmother Sara about her wartime experience. Readers of the author’s previous book, “Wonder,” will recognize the grandson as the bully of that story. He’s come to see his previous behavior as wrong, and his grandmother’s experiences remind him how important it is – and how it often takes courage – to be kind and to do the right thing.A graphic novel is a great and powerful storytelling vehicle. The author skillfully ties these terrible events to the threats of today’s world. The character’s grandson, and hopefully the readers of this novel, learn that these terrible events of the past don’t have to be repeated and that our positive actions are necessary to keep the world a safe and just place for all.”The Book Thief” Author: Markus Zusak Suitable for ages 13 and upDeath narrates this story – the life of a girl named Liesel, who steals her first book from her brother’s gravesite. She becomes the book thief of the title, even before she knows how to read, stealing books from the site of Nazi book-burnings. Liesel learns to read and befriends a neighbor boy named Rudy, and a Jewish man, Max, who comes to her foster father seeking refuge from the Nazis. Max, hidden in the basement, becomes part of the family – and writes a story for Liesel, using painted-over pages of “Mein Kampf,” the autobiographical manifesto by Adolf Hitler. It’s a perfect metaphor – for this is a story about the power of words to both hurt and heal.Liesel experiences great suffering and loss before the war’s end, and many of the characters we meet are gathered up by Death, but still, this is a hopeful story, with a message that our lives matter. The New York Times called this “the kind of book that can be life-changing” and I think that, especially for young people, who so often look for answers to life’s complexities in fiction, there are answers to be found here.Watch “Always Remember Your Name” at 9 p.m. on KCRA 3.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
“Always Remember Your Name” is the title of our latest documentary. But it’s also the title of the Bucci sisters’ memoir.
Andra and Tatiana Bucci were just 4 and 6 years of age when they were deported from Italy to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Their unusually hopeful book recalls, through a child’s eyes, events before, during and after the war. It’s been described as a parallel story of “The Diary of a Young Girl,” the story of Anne Frank, which has sold more than 30 million copies and is frequently a young reader’s introduction to the Holocaust.
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The sisters, now in their 80s, were two of 50 children under the age of eight to survive Auschwitz-Birkenau and miraculously be reunited with their parents. The sisters share their experiences with school children and lead memory trips back to Auschwitz in the hopes of history not repeating.
We asked Tina Ferguson, owner of Face in a Book bookstore, for recommendations on books for children of all ages to learn more about the Holocaust.
Here are Tina’s picks:
“The Tree of Life: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World”
Author: Elisa Boxer
Illustrator: Alianna Rozentsveig (illustrator)
Suitable for ages 3 and up
During World War II, at the Terezin concentration camp, a devoted teacher held secret classes for children, teaching them about Jewish history and traditions – including a holiday known as the New Year of the Trees, which is honored by planting a tree.
The teacher bribed a guard, who smuggled a sapling into the camp in his boot. The children planted the sapling and cared for it. Over time, many children were taken but those who remained shared their water and lovingly took care of the tree.
When the War at last came to an end, the sapling had grown to be five feet tall. Today, around 600 saplings from this tree have been planted around the world, including in front of New York City’s Museum of Jewish Heritage, as a sign of hope for a bright future.
Children will see that this is a powerful story of hope and resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship, teaching them about the enduring power of life and the importance of nurturing even small acts of kindness, all while providing a gentle introduction to the complexities of the Holocaust through a relatable, symbolic narrative about a tree planted by children in a concentration camp.
“Number the Stars”
Author: Lois Lowry
Suitable for ages 8 and up
In this unforgettable Newbery Medal-winning novel, the German troops begin their campaign to “relocate” all the Jews of Denmark. Annemarie Johansen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family.
Through the eyes of 10-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly 7,000 people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world, even during a time of terror and war.
The story ends with the war’s end and Annemarie donning Ellen’s Star of David necklace, with the hope that she will soon see her friend again.
There’s a quote I like from the Lord of the Rings movie, “The Fellowship of the Ring.”
It goes, “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”
I believe that is a strong message in this story and one that’s important to children to know that they have agency and that they can make a difference for good.
“When We Flew Away”
Author: Alice Hoffman
Suitable for ages 8 and up
Hoffman sets out to explore Anne Frank’s life before she and her family went into hiding and has created a story of Anne as a bright, high-spirited girl who fights with her older sister, feels criticized by her mother, who dreams of the possibility of a life in California, and whose childhood comes to feel increasingly hemmed-in and threatened as a reign of terror grows closer.
She wants and dreams, but can see by the actions of her parents — her father cries at his helplessness in getting his family overseas, and her mother hides her jewelry — that these hopes and dreams might slip away. Add on top of that the new restrictions Jews were facing.
American children reading this book might be startled to learn about the segregation, the yellow stars, and the rules prohibiting even such things as ice-skating for the Jewish children. Hopefully, by reading this, they realize that the bright star that was Anne Frank should have been allowed to shine.
The author read “The Diary of a Young Girl” when she was 12 years old and said that it changed the person she was. It made her realize that even though there was evil in the world, it was still possible to be brave and to have a dream. And it made her want to be a writer. I wonder if children reading this book might find that same inspiration.
“White Bird”
Author: R.J. Palacio
Suitable for ages 9 and up
Through a FaceTime chat, Julien has asked his grandmother Sara about her wartime experience. Readers of the author’s previous book, “Wonder,” will recognize the grandson as the bully of that story. He’s come to see his previous behavior as wrong, and his grandmother’s experiences remind him how important it is – and how it often takes courage – to be kind and to do the right thing.
A graphic novel is a great and powerful storytelling vehicle. The author skillfully ties these terrible events to the threats of today’s world. The character’s grandson, and hopefully the readers of this novel, learn that these terrible events of the past don’t have to be repeated and that our positive actions are necessary to keep the world a safe and just place for all.
“The Book Thief”
Author: Markus Zusak
Suitable for ages 13 and up
Death narrates this story – the life of a girl named Liesel, who steals her first book from her brother’s gravesite. She becomes the book thief of the title, even before she knows how to read, stealing books from the site of Nazi book-burnings.
Liesel learns to read and befriends a neighbor boy named Rudy, and a Jewish man, Max, who comes to her foster father seeking refuge from the Nazis. Max, hidden in the basement, becomes part of the family – and writes a story for Liesel, using painted-over pages of “Mein Kampf,” the autobiographical manifesto by Adolf Hitler. It’s a perfect metaphor – for this is a story about the power of words to both hurt and heal.
Liesel experiences great suffering and loss before the war’s end, and many of the characters we meet are gathered up by Death, but still, this is a hopeful story, with a message that our lives matter.
The New York Times called this “the kind of book that can be life-changing” and I think that, especially for young people, who so often look for answers to life’s complexities in fiction, there are answers to be found here.
Watch “Always Remember Your Name” at 9 p.m. on KCRA 3.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
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