World War II Fiction and Non-Fiction for Children

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Adams, Simon. World War II (Dorling Kindersley 2000) nonfiction, ages 9 and up.

“Each double-page spread presents a different subject, such as the Battle of Britain; women at work; inside the Soviet Union; and the atomic bomb. . . . A paragraph of text introduces each subject, while captions carry most of the information. A convenient source of pictures related to the military and especially the home front during the war, this book will suit visual learners.” (Booklist) Includes bibliographical references.

Altman, Linda Jacobs. Crimes and Criminals of the Holocaust (Enslow 2004 Holocaust in History) nonfiction, ages 9-12

This book focus on the Holocaust's aftermath: detailing the quest for postwar accountability that resulted in the Nuremberg trial and Simon Wiesenthal's pursuit of fugitive Nazis, and Impact explores how the Holocaust affected both individuals and entire cultures in the years following World War II. The cogent text is illustrated with black-and-white photos. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Ambrose, Stephen E. The Good Fight: How World War II Was Won (Atheneum Books for Young Readers 2001) nonfiction, ages 10 and up.

The Good Fight brings the most horrific -- and most heroic -- war in history to a new generation in a way that's never been done before. Highlighting Ambrose's narrative are spectacular color and black-and-white photos, and key campaign and battlefield maps. The book on World War II for kids.

Bruchac, Joseph. Code Talker: A Novel About The Navajo Marines Of World War Two (Dial 2005) fiction, ages 10-14.

Ned Begay and other Navajo men become code talkers, sending Allied messages in their native tongue.

Colman, Penny. Rosie the Riveter: Women Working on the Home Front in World War II (Crown Books for Young Readers 1998) nonfiction, ages 9-12.

Written from a child's perspective, this award-winning book details how 18 million women, many of whom had never before held a job, entered the work force in 1942-45 to help the United States fight World War II and changed the course of history for women, and America, forever. An ALA Best Book for Young Adults. An ALA Notable Book. A "School Library Journal" Best Book of the Year.

Cooper, Michael. The Double V Campaign: African-Americans in World War II (Lodestar 1998) nonfiction, ages 10 and up.

In January 1997, seven black veterans were awarded the Medal of Honor for their valor in World War II. They had been overlooked because of racial prejudice. Michael L. Cooper describes the problems black servicemen faced in their fight for a double victory. The Double V Campaign, as it was called, inspired black soldiers to fight on the front lines abroad as well as to fight segregation and inequality at home. At war's end, black veterans joined other African Americans in battling racism on the home front.

dePaola, Tomie. I’m Still Scared: The War Years (G.P. Putnam’s Sons 2006) nonfiction, ages 7-9

Relates the author’s childhood memories of the weeks following the attack on Pearl Harbor when he was in the second grade.

Houston, Jeanne Wakatsuki & James D. Houston. Farewell to Manzanar (1983) nonfiction, ages 9-12.

The true story of Wakatsuki’s own experience as a child growing up at Manzanar. Vivid in its use of detail.

King, David C. World War II Days (John Wiley & Sons 2000) Illustrated by Cheryl Kirk Noll, ages 9-12.

Children can explore life in the United States during World War II through the games and activities this book offers.

Langley, Wanda. Flying Higher: The Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II (Linnet Books 2002) nonfiction, ages 10-13.

In 1942 in the U.S., all military pilots were needed for combat duty, which left critical piloting jobs vacant across the land. Who would deliver the newly manufactured planes to their domestic bases? Who would train new flight crews and tow targets for anti-aircraft practice, test new planes and retest old ones? The answer was: women. These elite pilots were the WASPs. Civilians all, they earned their wings so that they could undertake hazardous, and sometimes deadly, flight assignments. Wanda Langley has conducted extensive interviews with former WASPs, and has the insider's details of their escapades, as well as their training and service. Much of the story is seen in the life of Marie Michell, a nineteen-year-old WASP and fine pilot whose death in a crash underscores the dangers these women faced on a daily basis while doing what they did best to serve their country in war.

Lazo, Caroline. Elie Wiesel (1994) nonfiction, ages 9-12.

Aided by Wiesel's own words, the competent synopsis of his life story explains why his horrific experiences in Nazi concentration camps led him to dedicate his life to fighting oppression worldwide. Most of the book's black-and-white photographs show Wiesel as an adult, but readers will not soon forget the picture of him and other emaciated young men taken at the liberation of the Buchenwald camp.

Panchyk, Richard & Senator John McCain. World War II for Kids: A History with 21 Activities (Chicago Review Press 2002) nonfiction, ages 9 -12.

Excellent classroom aid, provides a comprehensive survey of the WWII era, beginning with Hitler's rise to power in 1933 to the Japanese surrender in 1945. Includes a timeline, wartime letters, interviews with soldiers, and Holocaust survivors. Activities include creating a CARE package for enlisted soldiers and writing and performing a radio adventure. Forewords by Bill Clinton and John McCain.

Paulsen, Gary. The Quilt (Lamb 2004) fiction, ages 9-12.

Though this companion to The Cookcamp and Alida's Song is autobiographical, Paulsen uses a distancing narrative technique, referring to his protagonist only as "the boy." During World War II, the six-year-old and his grandmother stay at a farm with a pregnant cousin.

Stein, R. Conrad. The World War II D-Day Invasion in American History (Enslow 2004) nonfiction, ages 9-12.

Dependent on readers already having solid background information on the topic and the scattering of small black-and-white photographs don't do much to further engagement with the texts. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Tunnell, Michael O. & George W. Chilcoat. The Children of Topaz: The Story of the Japanese-American Internment Camp (Holiday House 1996) nonfiction, ages 9-12.

This non-fiction book was based on a diary kept by Miss Yamauchi's third-grade class at the relocation center. Highly recommended for reading in conjunction with related fiction.

Additional WWII Children's Books

Altman, Linda Jacobs. Impact of the Holocaust (Enslow 2004 Holocaust in History series) nonfiction, ages 9-12.

Borden, Louise. The Little Ships: The Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk in WWII (Aladdin 2003) Illustrated by Michael Foreman, fiction, ages 9 and up.

Story of a young girl and her father who sail across the English Channel in their small boat to take part in the miracle at Dunkirk, rescuing British soldier from the beach.

De Capua Sarah . The Tuskegee Airmen: African-American Pilots of World War II (Child’s World 2003) nonfiction, ages 9-12.

Introduction to the lives and accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen, the famed African-American pilot group of WWII.

Drogues, Valerie. Battleship “Missouri” (Crestwood 1994 Those Daring Machines) nonfiction, ages 9-12.

The 'Missouri' served the United States Navy in the Pacific theater during World War II, hosted the signing of the peace treaty that ended the war, and later was called for duty in the Korean War and the Persian Gulf conflict. The long history of the battleship gives the slender volume a rushed feeling. Many of the accompanying photographs are tinted.

Giff, Patricia Reailly. Lily’s Crossing. (Yearling 1999) fiction ages 9-12.

Every summer Lily and her father go to her family's house in Rockaway, near the Atlantic Ocean. But the summer of 1944 is different. WWII has called Lily's father overseas, Lily's best friend Margaret had to move with her family to a wartime factory town, and Lily is forced to live with her grandmother. But then a boy named Albert, a refugee from Hungary, comes to live in Rockaway. He has lost most of his family to the war. Soon he and Lily form a special friendship, and they have secrets to share. But they have both told lies, and Lily's lie may cost Albert his life.

Goldstein, Margaret J. World War II--Europe (Lerner 2004 Chronicle of America's Wars) nonfiction, ages 9-12.

"Eyewitness quotes," photographs, and maps help break up the sometimes dense text. Occasional double-page spreads focus on topics including weapons and uniforms. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Gourley, Catherine. Welcome to Molly’s World: 1944 (Pleasant Company 1999) fiction, ages 9-12.

Part of the American Girl series, this book offers interesting facts about the United States in 1944, through the fictional adventures of Molly McIntire.

Hart, Philip S. Flying Free: America's First Black Aviators (Lerner Publications Co. 1992) nonfiction, ages 9-12.

This book surveys the history of black aviators beginning with the early black aviation community in Chicago during the 1920s through World War II to modern times.

Lawrence, Iain. B for Buster (Delacorte 2004) fiction, ages 12 and up.

Known as "Kak," the narrator is a sixteen-year-old Canadian who lied about his age to join the military. Serving as a wireless operator on the bomber B for Buster, Kak endures mounting panic with each bombing run, though he finds some refuge from his fears in his friendship with the squadron's pigeoneer, Bert. This hefty WWII novel balances scenes of air warfare with the personal experiences of an underage flier.

McGowen, Tom. Germany's Lightning War: Panzer Divisions of World War II (21st Century Books 1999) nonfiction, ages 10 and up.

Discusses the development and actions of German tank units in World War II, covering specific battles and the changes that tanks brought to warfare in general

Mochizuki, Ken. Baseball Saved Us (Lee & Low 1995) Illustrated by Dom Lee, fiction, ages 6-9.

Successful both as a story within the Internment experience and as a sports story. A stand-out, must-read for anyone interested in this experience in American history

Radunsky, Vladimir. What Does Peace Feel Like? (Atheneum 2004) nonfiction, ages 8-10.

Simple text and illustrations portray what peace looks, sounds, tastes, feels, and smells like to children around the world.

Robertshaw, Andrew. Warfare in the 20th Century (Bedrick 2004) Illustrated by Mark Bergin, nonfiction, ages 9-12.

This book features double-page spreads that introduce various conflicts, including World Wars I and II, Vietnam, and the 1991 Gulf War. It is illustrated with archival images, photos, and color art. Timeline, Glossary, index.

Savin, Marcia. The Moon Bridge (Scholastic 1995) fiction, ages 8-12.

A friendship between Ruthie Fox and Mitzi Fujimoto is tested by anti-Japanese-American prejudice, especially when Mitzi's family is sent to an interment camp.

Seabrooke, Brenda. The Haunting at Stratton Falls (Dutton 2000) fiction, ages 9-12.

With her father missing in action in WWII, Abby must live with her pesky cousin Chad's family. As Christmas nears, Abby sees mysterious wet footprints in the hallway and hears the story of a girl who drowned eighty years ago. What is the ghost trying to tell her? The 1940s setting is as intriguing as the not-too-scary chills this well-told tale delivers.

Shea, George. The Silent Hero: A True Escape Story from World War II (Random 1994) nonfiction, ages 9-12.

Pierre, a deaf-mute boy participating in the French Resistance during World War II, rescues an Allied pilot and helps hide him from the Nazi secret police. Although Shea forces the tension in the story, the fast-paced, early chapter book offers plenty of action for reluctant readers.

Schomp, Virginia. World War II – Letters from the Home front (Benchmark 2004) nonfiction, ages 9-12.

Books in this series contain more general information than actual soldiers' letters, most of which are relegated to short quotes. The books are liberally illustrated with photographs and reproductions of propaganda posters. Reading list, timeline, and websites included.

Uchida, Yoshiko. The Bracelet (Yardley - Philomel 1993) Illustrated by Joanna, fiction, ages 4-8.

Emi must leave both her home and her best friend Laurie because her family is being moved to an internment camp. Laurie gives Emi a bracelet, so that Emi can look at it and remember their friendship. When Emi loses the bracelet, she fears she'll soon forget her friend.

Whitman, Sylvia. Children of the World War II Home Front (Carolrhoda Books 2001) nonfiction, ages 4-8.

Focuses on the upheavals of daily life that children experienced in WWII; captivating photographs, timeline, and activities are included.

Woodson, Jacqueline. Coming on Home Soon (Putnam's 2004) Illustrated by E.B. Lewis, fiction, ages 4-8.

After Mama takes a job in Chicago during World War II, Ada Ruth stays with Grandma but misses her mother who loves her more than rain and snow.