On her way to death, my mother threw me to life.

Innocenti and stories about the war make beautiful, unforgettable art.

Okay for a young children's story. Way over simplified.

I picked this book up on a whim while looking for pictures books I could use in my classroom to introduce tough issues related to the Holocaust. Although short, with only about 10 pages of straight-forward typed narration, the questions it raises are the same questions we might ask about anyone transported to the work/death camps. Erika's heartbreaking story of how her life was saved brought tears to my eyes instantly. There's no gore, no terror, nothing too terrible for school-aged students, although I'd pre-read it before sharing with your class or child.