A BOOK by ME
How It Started
In spring of 2003, our middle school aged daughter Cassie and I went to the program. I had grown up Methodist, and at that time our family attended a non-denominational church. I had never visited a synagogue, nor did I have any close Jewish friends.
This service took place on Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. This special day of remembrance is observed in Jewish communities around the world. On that spring day, with my young daughter by my side, I both anticipated and dreaded hearing a survivor’s story firsthand. I knew that my heart might break for the speaker’s losses of family members and of a childhood. Since she was a child during a time of terror and suffering, and I knew that as a mother I would be especially affected by the impact on a child’s life. Although my introduction to the Holocaust through Anne Frank’s diary had prepared my understanding, this evening would be life-changing for me.
While waiting for the event to begin, I read the program and was surprised to learn there were a number of survivors living in our own community. In fact, there were ten or twelve at that time, and the program contained short biographies of each of them. I was riveted by their stories, especially the stories of three different women named Esther.
To start the service, a congregant blew the shofar, a musical instrument of ancient origin made from a ram’s horn. Its powerful sound serves as a call to worship and as a reminder to the Lord of His promises to His people. The panel onstage was made up of Christian leaders, Jewish leaders, and educators who would speak and say prayers in remembrance.
I think it was as soon as I read the biographies of the three survivors sharing the name Esther that I fell in love with them. They seemed so brave to me, three young girls about my daughter’s age who suffered terribly and lost everything in life except their determination to survive.
As a mother, I could picture them as children clinging to their parents when they were ordered to leave their homes, not knowing if they would ever return. All three of them had become orphans by the end of the war, just like their namesake, Queen Esther in the Bible.
Then I saw these ladies. They stood with our other local Holocaust survivors at the back of the synagogue, ready to come forward to light candles in remembrance of the six million Jews who perished. An announcer read each one’s name as they came forward. As their names were called, I identified each Esther, and in my mind, I matched them with the short biographies I had just read.
Our keynote speaker, Edith Molnar of Dallas, Texas, told a powerful story as I sat riveted and almost unable to move. Cassie also sat very still as she drank in the story. The speaker had been a young girl whose family was taken from their home and sent to a concentration camp. She was the only survivor. She told of her family having all their belongings taken from them upon entering the camp. She told of how lonely it was to be orphaned with so little hope in sight. She told of how cold it was in the winter, with only one dress, no undergarments, and no coat. She told of having no heat in the crowded barracks and no blankets, of huddling together with other prisoners to share body warmth.
I could not imagine myself in her situation. How bereaved and hopeless she must have felt, a young girl all alone in these terrible circumstances. I thought of her mother and father not being able to protect their child. I was hearing firsthand a story of a girl whose happy, secure life was taken from her and replaced by a life of horror. Our speaker’s honest pain showed the audience the reality of being a Holocaust survivor. The Holocaust became real to me that night because I heard my first witness speak.
In my heart, I knew I needed to find a way to preserve these important stories for future generations. That’s how A BOOK by ME was born. Young people came alongside me, interviewed each lady, researched and told their story in a children’s book format. Each story was written and illustrated by kids for kids.
We told the stories of the three Esthers first and today there are over 100 stories in our series.
Gwen McDerby had big dreams. It is safe to say that when Gwen set her mind to something, she could accomplish anything. As a young child staying up late to listen to her dad share with his buddies stories of their time in the Canadian Navy, Gwen decided she also wanted that military life.
For a woman in the 1960s, that wasn’t so easy. There were certain roles and privileges that were not open to women who served their country in 1962. But, Gwen became a member of a secretive and highly intelligent group of women involved in a Cold War event of the 1960s. The lessons she learned in the Women’s Royal Canadian Navy would guide her through her struggles and help shape her accomplishments throughout her life.
Eva was born after the start of WWII in Warsaw, Poland. She survived the war after a series of miraculous events. Mainly involving luck and coincidence. Mainly her survival was a result of the
courage and kindness of several individuals, both family members and strangers. As a Jewish child she was hidden and cared for with love in a convent during the dangerous war years. Young author Brady Fuhr weaves her story of survival and shares how years later Eva had a surprise meeting with the nun who cared for her.
In 1966, 25-year-old John Mason left the comforts of home to serve in the Vietnam War. He was a door gunner on a helicopter which was a dangerous job. Over ten percent of casualties in Vietnam were helicopter crew members. Most were door gunners who protected the helicopter, its crew and whatever they were transporting. The average lifespan of a gunner was only two weeks. John, an adrenaline junkie, beat those odds and did three tours in Vietnam. Young author Aaliyah Naff did an amazing job telling John’s story for young readers.
Young Steen Metz and his mother miraculously survived the Nazi concentration camp, Theresienstadt, during WWII. His father died of starvation in the camp, as did many others. Steen has said today’s youth are the last generation who will meet Holocaust survivors, so he was thrilled when students wanted to preserve his story for the future. He’d like every reader to tell his story to four other people in an effort to keep Holocaust history alive.
The day Larry Ross decided to flee his home in Czechoslovakia was the day his life changed forever. During WWII Nazi Germany and the dictator, Adolf Hitler, began a rampage in Europe. In March 1939 Czechoslovakia was invaded, eventually resulting in mass arrests and Jewish roundups across many cities and towns. A roundup occurred in the town of Banska Bystrica. As Larry witnessed this horrible event, his friend advised him to run. This event became the catalyst for Larry’s story of survival.
Hannah Caldwell is remembered as a notable figure in American history, particularly for her role during the Revolutionary War. She was the wife of a prominent pastor and landowner, James Caldwell. Her life took a tragic turn in 1780 when she was killed by British soldiers in front of her children. Her death sparked outrage among local patriots and became a rallying point for the American cause.
In this storybook, you’ll meet Dorothy Stoddard, who is an example of the strength, perseverance, and dedication of women during World War II. As a young woman she served as a nurse’s aide with the Red Cross. She also worked in manufacturing at the Wurlitzer Piano factory in DeKalb, Illinois, which was then producing wooden air frames for two of the U.S. Navy’s most secret drone and guided bomb projects. Lastly, you’ll learn about her service in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) which transformed the roles of women during World War II.
This book shares how Aida’s parents survived the horrors of the Jewish Holocaust in Germany. Eventually they settled in Uruguay where Aida was born. Aida immigrated to the U.S. as an adult and began working with PanAm in New York City. Through a stroke of luck she survived the attack
on 9/11. Like most New Yorkers who worked nearby, she knew people who were killed during this
terrible terrorist attack on the two towers of the World Trade Center. Aida cannot comprehend how people can do these kinds of things to innocent people. Students in Iowa heard Aida’s story and have preserved the history she and her parents lived through.
Read this harrowing story of young Regina whose big family was in constant danger
in Germany in the midst of World War II. Their city became a target of Allied bombings,
since it was mass producing ball bearings as war supplies. Thankfully, her parents were able
to move the family to a nearby village where it was much safer. Regina grew up and met the
man of her dreams while visiting America. They married and it was a proud moment when
she became a United States citizen. Her children and grandchildren will carry forward her
legacy.
Are you ever too scared to voice your opinion when you see someone being mistreated? Have you ever wondered how your actions impact others? The story of the White Rose is an inspirational story about how forming alliances with others, against injustice, can have a major impact. Learn about the founding members and their journey to spread truth.
Young Marrietta Walden was happy with her family living in rural Arkansas. When her father’s crops failed due to drought, a new door opened for her father to take a job up North at John Deere in Illinois. She was hit with culture shock and intimidation seeing the size of the school she would attend, and learning about electricity and indoor plumbing. Soon, the family settled into a more stable and prosperous life that resulted in Marrietta going to college and becoming a teacher and college professor.
William Landhauser, immigrated alone to the U.S. at 16 and joined the U.S. Cavalry in order to qualify for citizenship. He served during the Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848, a conflict over vast territories in the American West. Later, his son James Landhauser played an important role in another war, WWII. Here is the story of two generations of heroes, their stories preserved by nine students at Jefferson Elementary School in Muscatine, Iowa.
William Gluba was born on October 7, 1942 in Davenport, Iowa. As a student at St. Ambrose College, Bill chose to travel to Washington D.C. to take part in the March on Washington, where he heard Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. give his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Bill later became a public servant, serving in political offices including the Mayor of Davenport, Iowa.
Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power in Germany in the 1930s and invaded Austria in 1938, putting Irene and Walter, both Jewish, in danger. Walter was arrested and taken to prison by the Gestapo. Irene bribed officials to get him released. Irene was able to obtain visas so she and Walter could immigrate to America in 1939. Once there, they worked to bring other family members to the United States.
On July 19th, 1944, Staff Sergeant Mike Bisek was initiated into the Caterpillar Club when he and the Sorgenfrei B-24 Liberator Bomber crew had to bail out of their damaged plane and float to the ground in their parachutes. When they landed in Nazi-occupied France, they were discovered by French partisans and would soon realize that they were starting on a grand adventure. The Sorgenfrei crew would need to work together and work with the French partisans in order to avoid becoming prisoners of war or even being killed.
A farm boy named Ken Cole was sent to fight in the Korean War. It was a challenging and life-changing experience. Despite the hardships, Ken and the other soldiers showed courage and resilience. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, but the Allies kept the South Koreans free from communism. Thanks to two talented teenagers, you can learn more about this war by reading Ken’s story.
The story of Susan “Sukey” Richardson is one of courage and hope. Sukey sought her freedom from slavery in 1840’s Illinois, and those serving as part of the Underground Railroad network played a part.
When WWII began in 1939, Lydia Friedl was just eight years old. Her German father was taken away from his family to fight for Nazi Germany in a war her family didn’t agree with. Then one day the war came to her front door and affected her life in a profound way. In what was called the Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission, Lydia’s village was turned into a war zone, and her mother was soon jailed for her disapproval of Hitler,
Grace served her time in the military in Washington, DC working as a typist for the Intelligence Division of the Navy. She dealt with captured foreign documents and was told that “Loose lips sink ships.” This meant she should keep her mouth shut and her eyes closed about what she heard and saw!
Young Edgar Harrell was a United States Marine during World War II. His top-secret mission took him aboard the USS Indianapolis, and on July 30, 1945 the Japanese sank his ship. Edgar found himself surrounded by a group of men in the Philippine Sea in the middle of the night. The men were terrified, and during hot days and cold nights they found themselves alone in shark-infested waters.
Don Bein served in WWII and was an eyewitness to Bergen-Belsen. He is still following Eisenhower's orders to tell people what he saw.
The letters of chai add up to 18. David Wolnerman told Dr. Mengele, “I am 18”, his tattoo 160344, adds up to 18, and he was liberated when he was 18. This book is based on a lucky lie and the power of 18.
Andre, his mother Clara, and his father Aron were happily living in Holland until their lives took a turn for the worst when their family was separated during the horrors of WWII. The Nazi occupation had begun. At only five years of age Andre was forced into hiding. As the war raged on, Andre was unaware that he was being hunted by the Nazis. One wrong move and he would share the same fate as thousands of other Jewish children. Join Andre on his journey through dodging danger, being hidden in plain sight, and accepting the help of others to survive.