6 books that educate kids—and maybe their parents—about the Holocaust
— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
Talking with kids about uncomfortable subjects can be, well, uncomfortable. If you've been wanting to broach the subject of the Holocaust with your children—either due to Holocaust Remembrance Day or other recent events—but you're not sure where to start, we've put together a list of books that can give you an entry point.
Get deals and shopping advice delivered straight to your phone. Sign up for text message alerts from the experts at Reviewed.
It's worth noting that talking about the Holocaust is best done once kids are a bit older, hence the reason you won't find any board books on this list. Here are six age-appropriate books that educate kids about the Holocaust—and that might be informative for parents, too.
1. Benno and The Night of Broken Glass
Best for ages: 7 to 11
This beautiful picture book about a cat named Benno is a great place to start with younger grade school children. Benno lives a wonderful life in Berlin being fed by friendly shopkeepers and following a little girl named Sophie to school—until Kristallnacht changes everything.
What truly sets Benno and The Night of Broken Glass apart from other picture books is that the story is illustrated with multimedia images that kids will find mesmerizing.
Get Benno and The Night of Broken Glass at Amazon for $8.99
2. Hidden: A Child's Story of the Holocaust
Best for ages: 6 to 10
If you've got a curious kid who prefers graphic novels to more traditional books, Hidden is the book for them. A young girl listens to her grandmother's fascinating story of having to hide her identity during the war. This book covers the overall scope of what happened without giving young kids too much upsetting information.
Get Hidden: A Child's Story of the Holocaust at Amazon for $10.77
3. Who Was Anne Frank?
Best for ages: 8 to 12
I love the Who Was? series because they seemingly have a book about every eminent person from history and present day—plus they're engaging reads for beginners and middle readers alike. Who Was Anne Frank? introduces children to Anne Frank and what her life was like both inside and outside the attic. The black and white illustrations, maps and diagrams make this an easy-to-understand beginning biography.
Get Who Was Anne Frank? at Amazon for $5.08
4. White Bird: A Wonder Story
Best for ages: 8 to 12
Another graphic novel, this one comes from author R.J. Palacio, of Wonder fame. White Bird focuses on the story of Grandmère, and her experience of hiding in a French village during World War II. White Bird's overarching theme is that kindness and courage can triumph over evil—a great lesson for young readers.
Get White Bird: A Wonder Story at Amazon for $15.99
5. Number the Stars
Best for ages: 10 to 12
A classic book that you probably read during your youth, Number the Stars is told through the eyes of a 10-year-old Dutch girl whose family is hiding her best friend. A fascinating story about the Dutch Resistance's heroic undertaking of smuggling thousands of Jews across the sea to Sweden, Number the Stars is a book they won't want to put down.
Get Number the Stars at Amazon for $17.99
6. The Diary of a Young Girl
Best for ages: 12+
Known more widely as The Diary of Anne Frank, no list of Holocaust reading would be complete without this groundbreaking work. This edition includes sections that Anne's father had previously censored, which means that there are some sexual themes that aren't appropriate for younger readers. That being said, tweens and teens will relate to the thoughts and feelings that Anne shared so openly in her diary, proving that no matter the circumstances, we're all more alike than different. And that is a lesson worth imparting.
Get The Diary of a Young Girl at Amazon for $24.30
There’s a lot more where this came from. Sign up for our twice-weekly newsletter to get all our reviews, expert advice, deals and more.
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.