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Holocaust Survivor
Stories Project
The Midwest Writing Center is pleased to be a part of the following project
as publisher:
History Coming Alive with True Stories Written
by Children for Children
This Holocaust children's book project started as
a dream by program creator Deb Bowen (an Evangelical Christian) to preserve
the stories of our Quad Cities Jewish Holocaust survivors (specifically three
local women named Esther).
Through this project, a teaching tool has been
created for children to read about our area survivor's true stories of World
War II. It is our goal these story books will help area students better
understand this period of history.
The writing project was a combination of ordinary
students writing and illustration extraordinary stories for the children of
the next generation.
The following books written and illustrated in
children's storybook form:
Never Alone (Esther Avruch) by Molly Meyer
Esther Katz: A Girl of Hope by Megan
Svoboda
Edward Optowska Saved My Life (Esther
Schiff) by Michael Bowen
Yanina Ballerina (Righteous Gentile) by
Julia Headley
A Boy Called Jesse (Camp Liberator) by
Joshua Bowen
Sammy: The Youngest Survivor by Cassie
Bowen
Isador Katz by Ethan Svoboda
Mihai - A Survivor's Story by Marlies
Sebeditsch (author is an exchange student from Austria)
Yolanta and Her 2,500 Kids by Barbara
Scholzen (author is an exchange student from Germany)
Thus far, using Midwest Writing Center as
publisher, we have been able to print copies of the first three books in this
series for 100+ schools in and around Rock Island County where the three women
named Esther lived. The books will go into schools in the following counties:
Rock Island, Henry, Bureau, Stark, Henderson, Mercer and Warren. Assisting
with the distribution of these books is the Regional Office of Education in
Moline, Illinois. The funders of this project are the Illinois
Department of Economic Opportunity and the Jewish Federation of the
Tri-Cities.
In addition, early in February the books will be
gifted to the following libraries in Rock Island County: Andalusia Township,
Cordova District Library, East Moline Public Library, Hampton Public Library;
Moline Public Library, Moore Memorial Library, River Valley District Library,
Robert R. Jones Public Library, Rock Island Library (3 locations), Silvis
Public Library and Western District Library. The funding for this part
of the project came from the Teaching Tolerance program of the Southern
Poverty and Law Center
As more financial gifts and grant monies become
available, books will be gifted to additional schools and public libraries
across the bi-state. Also, in the future, copies of the book will be
available at Border's Bookstore in Davenport, Iowa.
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