Willy and Max: A Holocaust Story

Littlesugar, Amy. (2006) Willy and Max: A Holocaust Story. New York: Philomel Publishers

Willy and Max is a story about the Holocaust for elementary students grades 3-5. The story begins with a Jewish Professor in Belgium going into a store to look at painting, The Lady, he finds beautiful. While in the store the Professor's son Max meets the store owner's son Willy and they become best friends. Times change in Belgium as the Nazi's approach and the Jewish Professor and Max get deported. Before being deported however, the Professor returns the painting to Willy so that he may hide it for him. The effort was in vain because the Nazis eventually seized the painting as well. After the Holocaust both Max and Willy move to America, but never reunite. The story does come full circle though when a museum curator discovers The Lady and it's origins. The Lady is eventually returned to Max's family. This is a unique perspective on the Holocaust and differs from the many non fiction books in that it provides an entertaining story while also providing facts about the Holocaust.