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8yo wants to learn about WWII
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Before the Olympics this evening, NBC aired a very powerful report/documentary-type program, chronicling Great Britain’s steadfastness to hold off the German forces during WWII prior to America’s entry into the war. NBC showed excellent footage of Winston Churchill, German and British forces, Roosevelt’s reactions, and other milestones for our two countries.
My 8yo ds was totally enthralled. Before the show was over, he said, “Momma, I finally got to learn about World War II.” I replied, “I didn’t know you wanted to learn about WWII”, and he said, “I do now.”
So, my question is how to kindle that curiosity he has by giving him books to read on his own while still protecting him from some of the more horrendous aspects of that time in our world’s history that I feel he is not ready for?
We are going to read the Chronicles of Narnia this year, which I know were written during that time, but as far as other living books, literature, biographies, etc., I don’t know where to look for material that is age-appropriate.
Also, this would be him reading and studying this mostly on his own, for fun, as we are doing Module 3 for history this year. Our map studies will involve Europe, so we can learn about the geography of the region, but I still need suggestions for books that he would enjoy but that wouldn’t scare him or provide too much information too soon.
Thank you and blessings,
Lindsey
The picks from the SCM curriculum guide have been great. We’ve enjoyed Little Ships: Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk, Snow Treasure, Journey that Saved Curious George, Always Remember Me: How One Family Survived World War II. Also Winged Watchman (but that might be too long for him to read on his own).
Lindsey,
My son enjoys these DK Eyewitness books to read on his own. Also, we have some from the You Wouldn’t Want to Be series that my kids eat like candy and I treat them as such. DD11 also enjoys the What Really Happened biographical sketch books by Terri Johnson and though none pertain to WWII, I thought I’d mention them.
Christie
What about some of the YWAM books? They are rated 10 and up. I do allow our newly-turned 10YO to read, and he has been doing so since he was 8. We talk about them together.
There is one about Corrie Ten Boom: http://www.amazon.com/Corrie-ten-Boom-Keeper-Christian/dp/1576581365/ref=pd_sim_b_23
We don’t have this one, but it sounds like it involves the time period during WWII: http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Andrew-Secret-Christian-Heroes/dp/1576583554/ref=pd_sim_b_9
And this one might be a possibility (and one I’m going to put on our wishlist): http://www.amazon.com/Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Wickedness-Christian-Heroes/dp/1576587134/ref=pd_sim_b_27
http://www.amazon.com/Douglas-MacArthur-Greater-Heroes-History/dp/1932096159/ref=pd_sim_b_15
I was thinking there was one in the series on Winston Churchill, but I didn’t find it at amazon. They are all 4 for 3 right now at Amazon. These books are ones that are chosen from our book shelves over and over again.
Oh, we love the YWAM books, too LDIMom. However my ds8 isn’t ready to read them on his own just yet not due to content, but due to ability.
We have several of these books as well. They have illustrations are a bit lower reading level than the YWAM books, but not twaddly at all I don’t think.
Also 4 for 3 right now at Amazon!
Good point Missceegee. I forget that my 10YO, who started them at 8, is an advanced reader. He talked early too and always amazed people with the words he used in the proper context.
@LindseyD, as far as reading level, my 12YO, who is now reading about 2nd grade level, reads the Who Was books on his own. He is not ready for the YWAM books due to reading ability as missceegee said, though he enjoys us reading aloud.
My 8yo DS also expressed a huge interest in learning more about WWII after watching the same program last night. I am so thankful that this thread was started! Tomorrow is our library day and I’ll share if I find any good resources there that others might enjoy.
Thank you all for your input!
We have a few of the YWAM books, though I was not aware that they are for ages 10 and up. Ds is a very advanced reader, so it’s not reading ability I’m worried about but mature content, if that makes sense. I am 29 years old, and I can’t read books about certain aspects of WWII because they give me nightmares, literally. I’m not sure why I’m so sensitive to that, but I just avoid them because of years of experience in watching WWII movies or reading WWII books. (Diary of Anne Frank is out for me, as a point of reference.)
I’m going to check out these resources and maybe check at our library as well.
@GuarinoMom, I thought the program was very well done, didn’t you?
Do NOT miss The Winged Watchman by Hilda van Stockum. It’s a wonderful read aloud as well because there are so many wonderful discussion points. Of course you can’t miss The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy if you can find it. My advice for this one is to keep reading (it’s told from the perspective of 5yo Michael and is a bit hard to follow in the very beginning but is NOT to be missed.) Also check out Emily’s list on their library blog.
http://www.livingbookslibrary.com/2011/04/top-10-historical-fiction-books-about.html
Robin, stop with The Chestry Oak!!! If you ever find it for less that $35 please buy it for me! The cheapest I can find right now is $50. I so want to read it and I’m afraid to ILL it for fear I’ll damage it and have to pay a bazillion dollars.
Not a book, but my boys enjoyed Soldering Through History from Vision Forum (they aren’t gory). We have WWII: D-Day and the Providence of God; and The League of Grateful Sons (also from Vision Forum), but I haven’t watched them yet (don’t know if they’re gory).
What program are y’all talking about? Perhaps it will be available later for viewing.
Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust – Eve Bunting – age 6+
Hiding from the Nazis – David Adler – true story – age 7+
A Hero and the Holocaust: The Story of Janusz Korczak and His Children – David Adler – Gr. 2+
Anne Frank: Life in Hiding – Johanna Hurwitz – ages 9+
Raoul Wallenburg: The Man Who Stopped Death – saved Jewish lives-Sharon Linnea-ages 9+
Raoul Wallenberg : Swedish diplomat and humanitarian -Thomas Streissguth – gr. 7+
Raoul Wallenburg: Rescuing Thousands From the Nazi’s Grasp – ages 9+ – Debra McArthur
Remember Not to Forget: A Memory of the Holocaust – introduction to Holocaust- Norman Finkelstein – age 6+
Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story – Jews saved to Japan- Ken Mochzuki-gr. 2-5
Number the Stars – Denmark Nazi Resistance- Lois Lowry – ages 8-12
The Hidden Children- Howard Greenfield-ages 8-12
Ten Thousand Children: True Stories Told by Children Who Escaped the Holocaust on the Kindertransport- Anne Fox – gr. 4-8
The Endless Steppe – Esther Hautzig – ages 10+
When he’s older, at least grade 5:
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow – Susan Bartoletti
Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps – Andrea Warren – ages, for a mature 10+ The Devil’s Arithmetic – Jane Yolan – age 10+Also:
The TUskegee Airmen Story: http://www.amazon.com/Tuskegee-Airmen-Story-Lynn-Homan/dp/1589800052/ref=pd_sim_b_9
The Tuskegee Airmen (We the People Series): http://www.amazon.com/The-Tuskegee-Airmen-We-People/dp/0756514045/ref=pd_sim_b_1
Tuskegee Airmen – Cornerstones of Freedom seriesBaseball Saved Us: http://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Saved-Us-Ken-Mochizuki/dp/1880000199/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344815657&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=japanese+basweball+saved+us
The Story of Winston Churchill – Alida Sims Markus
If his reading level is good, these Landmark books:
The Battle of Britain by Reynolds
The Rise and Fall of Adolph Hitler by Shirer
Commandos of WWII by Carter
Winston Churchill by Reynolds
Great American Fighter Pilots of World War II by Loomis
The Seabees of World War II by Castillo
Combat Nurses of World War II by Blassingame
Medical Corps Heroes of WWII by Blassingame
The U.S. Frogmen of World War II by Blassingame
From Pearl Harbor to Okinawa by Bliven
Midway: Battle for the Pacific by Castillo
The Story of D-Day by Bliven
Battle of the Bulge by Toland
From Casablanca to Berlin by Bliven
The Battle for Iwo Jima by Leckie
Thirty Seconds over Tokyo by Lawson
Ben Gurion and the Birth of Israel by CowayThe Childhood of Famous Americans Series:
Douglass MacArthur
Franklin Roosevelt
George S. Patton
Albert Einstein
Harry S. Truman (Roosevelt’s VP)
Dwight D. EisenhowerAlso, my son enjoyed the DK Eyewitness, too. I second (or third?) Winged Watchmen.
The Focus on the Family’s Story of Deitrich Bonhoeffer is excellent.
The movie Tora, Tora, Tora is great. My children were around ten when they watched it, so preview. But no sex and I don’t recall language, maybe one here or there.
Of course, John Wayne movies!
I encourage you to encourage him to also learn about WW I; without it and the political aftermath, it’s possible WW II wouldn’t have happened and a man like Hitler would not have been able to put his spell over such a sophisticated country as Germany.First Book of the Long Armistice- Louis Snyder
Russell Freedman- The War to End all Wars:
http://www.amazon.com/The-War-End-All-Wars/dp/0547026862/ref=la_B001ILIEB2_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1344814604&sr=1-6and
Truce:
http://www.amazon.com/Truce-The-Soldiers-Stopped-Fighting/dp/0545130492/ref=pd_sim_b_7Sorry crazy4boys…
If I ever find it for $35, I’ll buy it for myself as an extra copy. It’s worth every penny of whatever you have to pay. I got mine in unread condition for $55 and was thrilled to find it for that.My hubby has a huge library of WWII books. He has been fascinated ever since he was a child too. 🙂
My kids recently watched with their dad a wonderful American girl movie from our library called Molly. She is the doll created for that time period. It had good acting and my kids were asking many educational questions throughout such as “What’s an air raid siren?” It’s a bit emotional due to loved ones killed in the war but I think it was appropriately presented in a decent way for young viewers.
If I ever find it for $35, I’ll buy it for myself as an extra copy. It’s worth every penny of whatever you have to pay. I got mine in unread condition for $55 and was thrilled to find it for that.
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