Book List for Elementary School Holocaust Education | The Center for Jewish-Inclusive Learning Portal

Topic

The Holocaust

Summary

To accurately and effectively teach the Holocaust, educators need reliable information and carefully vetted materials, including age-appropriate books reviewed by experts in the field.

Echoes & Reflection curated this list of recommended titles for elementary school Holocaust education to ensure each book aligns with proper guidelines. It is not exhaustive and will continue to be updated.

The collection includes historical fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, illustrated books, and book series, each with a suggested age or grade level to support meaningful classroom use.

This list of recommended titles for elementary school Holocaust education has been evaluated by the Echoes & Reflections team to ensure each book aligns with proper guidelines. It is not exhaustive and will continue to be updated.

The collection includes historical fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, illustrated books, and book series, each with a suggested age or grade level to support meaningful classroom use.

Recommended Resources

A row of small lit candles glowing in the darkness, their flames softly illuminating the surrounding black background.

Guidance

Guidelines for Effective Holocaust Instruction in Upper Elementary

Teach about the Holocaust to young learners with guidelines that emphasize human rights, build empathy, and support student reflection.

Grades:

3 - 5

Explainer

Glossary of Terms for Upper Elementary Students

This Echoes & Reflections mini-glossary of terms briefly covers Judaism, antisemitism, the Holocaust, and related words, to support deeper understanding for students in grades three to six.

Grades:

3 - 6

Guidance

IWitness Educator Resources

Discover professional development opportunities, Holocaust-survivor testimony-based teaching tools, and tutorials to support integrating testimony into your classroom.

Grades:

K - 12

Guidance

Using Visual History Testimony in the Classroom

Learn how to effectively teach with visual Holocaust survivor testimony in your classroom to engage students in critical thinking about themes of humanity and justice from an individual perspective.

Grades:

K - 2

4 - 12

Video

Lesson

The Number on Great-Grandpa's Arm - Teach with Testimony

Introduce the Holocaust to young children in an age-appropriate manner; learn about the importance of empathy and understanding.

Grades:

3 - 5

Video

Lesson

Lala - Teach with Testimony

Bring history to life with this six-minute virtual reality film featuring Holocaust survivor Roman Kent, his dog, Lala, and the timeless lesson that love is stronger than hate.

Grades:

K - 7

Video

Lesson

Ruth: A Little Girl's Big Journey - Teach with Testimony

Follow Dr. Ruth Westheimer’s survival of the Holocaust as a young girl in this short, animated film that explores universal themes of fear, loss, and loneliness, as well as resilience, bravery, and hope.

Grades:

K - 5

Video

Lesson

The Tattooed Torah - Teach with Testimony

Introduce young children to the Holocaust and the importance of empathy and understanding through the true story of a rescued and restored Torah from Brno, Czechoslovakia, in the animated film, The Tattooed Torah.

Grades:

3 - 5

Educator Guide

The Willesden Project: K–5

Bring the power of music and story to reach students in grades K to 5 and contribute to their development as empathetic, knowledgeable, and resilient individuals.

Grades:

K - 5