World War II Books For Kids

So Milo has become obsessed with Word War II the last week and John and I have been trying to figure out how to share this event in history without messing with his mind. So I turned to the TJEdMUSE yahoo group and inquired. This post was just so good I could not let it go without letting others know about it. Thanks Kelly for so much great info.

Oh wow, our family has studied and read about WWII forever, it seems. 

I second Twenty and Ten; it is a Sonlight book. I also highly recommend The Young Underground series. It contains eight books which you will probably need to buy used, as I believe it may be out of print; I was not able to find the books new at the time I was assembling the series. I bought all of the books used, but had to wait quite a while before I could find the eighth one at an affordable price. The story revolves around a brother and sister and their friend during the Nazi occupation of Denmark. 

Snow Treasure is a FABULOUS book. I read it as a child, and my children and I have listened to the audio book at least twice, and it was the first audio book my children ever listened to - they were 3 and 7, I believe. We rechecked it a couple of years ago, I believe they were 9 and 13. It is based on a true story of how the children in a Norwegian village smuggled a fortune in gold out of the country, right under the noses of the Nazi occupiers. It is very thrilling. This is probably my number one pick of all the WWII books we have read. The Young Underground series probably comes next. 

Number the Stars is also an excellent book, but it does have some disturbing parts in it. The one that comes to mind is the part where you find out what happened to the older sister - who is dead at the beginning of the book. There are some events that are very frightening to the characters as they face danger. I believe my children were probably around 6 and 10 when they first listened to that one as an audio book, but it could have been a year later. 

The Great Escape is a marvelous book, but as it is an adult book it is probably better suited to a read-aloud, so you can pick and choose the parts you read. My children were 4 and 8 when I read it, so that is what I did. 

If you can get hold of an old How and Why book, that will be a wonderful resource. I have both the WWI and WWII books; I bought them a couple of years ago. Bookfinder.com is an excellent resource for locating old books. 

We also read Nights of Danger, a great book about an American boy living in France because one of his parents was French - his mother, I believe. He becomes involved in the Resistance. It is very exciting, and both my children really enjoyed it. 


Taffy of Torpedo Junction is an exciting book. It is based around the submarine that was on the Carolina coast during WWII. I was racking my brain trying to figure out the title, because when I read the book aloud to my children, I used my daughter's name in place of Taffy's, and our mule's name in place of her horse's name. But I managed to find the title just now. :-) 

I would think that I would be able to remember more of the books we have read. As I said, we have read about WWII ever since our children were little. We've just read so many books that I can't remember them all. But these are the ones that stood out in our minds and came right to mind. 

Later, when your son is older, you might want to read Where the Ground Meets the Sky. The story is set around the Manhattan Project. There are some disturbing things in the book, such as when a cat is exposed to radiation and instead of being put down is left to suffer so they can "study" her. The cat's owner, a teenage girl, puts the cat out of her misery out of love. The main character's mother ends up in an institution because she just cannot handle the knowledge of what her scientist husband is doing. This is a book that you will not soon forget after reading it, but your son may need to be older before he is ready for it. I believe my daughter was 8 or 9 when I read it aloud, and had I pre-read it before beginning it aloud I probably would have waited. You know your child, and what he can and cannot handle, but if you choose this book you might want to pre-read it first. 


Goodreads has put together a list of children's books about WWII. It is at this link.http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/17000.Best_Children_s_Books_about_World_War_II_1939_1945_ 
You have to be careful though, because many of the books are for older children. I do NOT recommend The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The end is VERY disturbing. I checked it out from the library and pre-read it - which I do as much as possible before giving books to my children - and when I got to the end I just put it back in the bag and returned it to the library. When your son is older he can probably read this book, but not at the age of eight. 

I hope this is helpful to you. I wish I could remember more of the books we have read, but there have been so many I just can't remember. I wish I had been better about writing down the titles of all the books we have read over the years. That seems like a good "resolution" for this year. I'd better see if I can remember the books my daughter and I have read so far this month! We've been burning up our library cards! 

I hope this great review of WWII books was a great help to you.

Preparing for Trips Galore

How can I pass this all up. We are in a whole new area and I cant pass up the chance to visit all of these great history sites. Between now and May we will be visiting Columbus Oh, Philadelphia  DC and so much more. I am so excited to share all of the wonderful things we learn.

2013 Family Photo

So here is our latest family photo. This is just one of many. Wont be the one I put on the wall but still love it. Taken by Kenna Grace Photography. Check out the boys pages and see how their individual picks turned out. I think they are stunning.

Winter Update

So I have not posted anything of substance in a while so I thought I would at least do an update. As for the Pioneer Christmas It went pretty good. Toys are still hidden away. As for baking every single day...that has not totally become a reality yet. I think we are going to have to work our way up to that. Another thing that has not panned out was doing laundry all on one day. Now if I got rid of all of out cloths and only kept about 4 shirts and a couple pair of pants each we may be able to do it but with how many cloths us crazy people have these days in order to be "socially acceptable" It is just to hard for me while breast feeding a baby.

Books have been read a lot more by the boys. We read the entire Spiderwick series over Christmas break and we are now onto Little Men. The boys still only have their blocks animals and cars to play with.  As for the Small Pile of Christmas gifts. A very nice family gave us things to give the boys and between that and other family members they ended up with another large Christmas. 3 sets of Lego (now put away for only Saturday afternoons), RC cars (They actually don't play with them much. SURPRISED!), lots of books, cloths and a few other things like a solar robot set, Contraptions, science kit and such. I did make the boys the sock cats and they play with them often.

I made them night shirts and they wear them very often also. I even make them these goofy triangle night caps with a matching one for their teddy bears.

Now Movies Ahhh! With my husband home it made this a little hard. It turned into Christmas movie marathon here. Granted, at least one of us were always sitting with them and it was not being used just as a baby sitter. I rarely ever did that in the past as it was. We will be going back to the minimum again now. As for FaceBook. I totally forgot about only 15 min a day at night. I am starting that now. I will say, having a lot less toys HAS NOT deprived my kiddos. If anything, they are free and play so much more.

Paper Boats

For Christmas Milton got a book and papers for making paper air planes. Today we have made dart planes, gliders and stunt planes. After hours of flying them and asking for my help to fold them he decided that he wanted to learn how to fold paper boats. Here is a site with very easy step by step, with pictures, lesson on how to fold your own paper boats. 



You could take them to the bath tub or revisit the lesson when the warmer rains return and head out to a gutter or stream for some outdoor fun.

UPDATE: Paper boat did not work so well in the tub. Boys ran back down stairs within a minute reporting sunk and torn boats. So then we tried aluminum after watching this motivating nautical video.

365 day scripture read

Are you interested in reading your scriptures in 365 days. Here is a link with a reading schedule. Our morning scripture reading will be out of the Book of Mormon and evening will be from the D&C to follow the lds church Sunday school schedual.
http://www.motivatedmamas.net/2011/12/scripture-reading-schedule.html

Mothers in Zion

OK, so these are not my words but I was reading through my patriarchal blessing this morning and mentioned me being a mother in Zion. What does this actually mean? So I decided to go on line and look it up. I came across this talk by Ezra Taft Benson. It had so many good this to share I thought I would just post the whole thing. I hope you get even a little bit of inspiration from it.

To the Mothers in Zion

President Ezra Taft Benson Fireside for Parents
22 February 1987

I rejoice in the opportunity of being with you this evening.
I have been touched by the beautiful music and the splendid instructions we have received.
There is no theme I would rather speak to than home and family, for they are at the very heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church, in large part, exists for the salvation and exaltation of the family.
At a recent general priesthood meeting, I spoke directly to the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood regarding their duties and responsibilities.
Shortly thereafter, at a general women's conference, I spoke to the young women of the Church, discussing their opportunities and their sacred callings.
Tonight, at this fireside for parents, seeking the sweet inspiration of heaven, I would like to speak directly to the mothers assembled here and throughout the Church, for you are, or should be, the very heart and soul of the family.
No more sacred word exists in secular or holy writ than that of mother. There is no more noble work than that of a good and God-fearing mother.
This evening I pay tribute to the mothers in Zion and pray with all my heart that what I have to say to you will be understood by the Spirit and will lift and bless your lives in your sacred callings as mothers.
President David O. McKay declared: "Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother's image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child's mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security, her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world." (Gospel Ideals, p. 452.)
President McKay continues: "Motherhood consists of three principal attributes or qualities: namely, (1) the power to bear, (2) the ability to rear, (3) the gift to love. . . This ability and willingness properly to rear children, the gift to love, and eagerness, yes, longing to express it in soul development, make motherhood the noblest office or calling in the world. She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the admiration and the plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, . . . deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God." (Gospel Ideals, pp. 453-54.)
With all my heart I endorse the words of President McKay.
In the eternal family, God established that fathers are to preside in the home. Fathers are to provide, to love, to teach, and to direct.
But a mother's role is also God-ordained. Mothers are to conceive, to nourish, to love, and to train. So declare the revelations.
In Section 132 of Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord states that the opportunity and responsibility of wives is "to multiply and replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfill the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the work of my Father continued, that he may be glorified" (D&C 132:62). With this divine injunction, husbands and wives, as co-creators, should eagerly and prayerfully invite children into their homes.
Then, as each child joins their family circle, they can gratefully exclaim, as did Hannah, "For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: therefore also I have lent him to the Lord: as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:27-28).
Isn't that beautiful? A mother praying to bear a child and then giving him to the Lord.
I have always loved the words of Solomon: "Children are an heritage of the Lord and . . . happy is the man [and woman] that hath [their] quiver full of them" (see Psalm 127: 3-5 ).
I know the special blessings of a large and happy family, for my dear parents had a quiver full of children. Being the oldest of eleven children, I saw the principles of unselfishness, mutual consideration, loyalty to each other, and a host of other virtues developed in a large and wonderful family with my noble mother as the queen of that home.
Young mothers and fathers, with all my heart I counsel you not to postpone having your children, being co-creators with our Father in heaven.
Do not use the reasoning of the world, such as, "We'll wait until we can better afford having children, until we are more secure, until John has completed his education, until he has a better paying job, until we have a larger home, until we've obtained a few of the material conveniences," and on and on.
This is the reasoning of the world and is not pleasing in the sight of God. Mothers who enjoy good health, have your children and have them early. And, husbands, always be considerate of your wives in the bearing children.
Do not curtail the number of your children for personal or selfish reasons. Material possessions, social convenience, and so-called professional advantages are nothing compared to a righteous posterity. In the eternal perspective, children--not possessions, not position, not prestige--are our greatest jewels.
Brigham Young emphasized: "There are multitudes of pure and holy spirits waiting to take tabernacles, now what is our duty?--To prepare tabernacles for them; to take a course that will not tend to drive those spirits into the families of the wicked, where they will be trained in wickedness, debauchery, and every species of crime. It is the duty of every righteous man and woman to prepare tabernacles for all the spirits they can" (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 197).
Yes, blessed is the husband and wife who have a family of children. The deepest joys and blessings in life are associated with family, parenthood, and sacrifice. To have those sweet spirits come into the home is worth practically any sacrifice.
We realize that some women, through no fault of their own, are not able to bear children. To these lovely sisters, every prophet of God has promised that they will be blessed with children in the eternities and that posterity will not be denied them.
Through pure faith, pleading prayers, fasting, and special priesthood blessings, many of these same lovely sisters, with their noble companions at their sides have had miracles take place in their lives and have been blessed with children. Others have prayerfully chosen to adopt children, and to these wonderful couples we salute you for the sacrifices and love you have given to those children you have chosen to be your own.
Now, my dear mothers, knowing of your divine role to bear and rear children and bring them back to Him, how will you accomplish this in the Lord's way? I say the Lord's way, because it is different from the world's way.
The Lord clearly defined the roles of mothers and fathers in providing for and rearing a righteous posterity. In the beginning, Adam--not Eve--was instructed to earn the bread by the sweat of his brow. Contrary to conventional wisdom, a mother's calling is in the home, not in the market place.
Again, in the Doctrine and Covenants, we read: "Women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance, until their husbands are taken" (D&C 83:2). This is the divine right of a wife and mother. She cares for and nourishes her children at home. Her husband earns the living for the family, which makes this nourishing possible. With that claim on their husbands for their financial support, the counsel of the Church has always been for mothers to spend their full time in the home in rearing and caring for their children.
We realize also that some of our choice sisters are widowed and divorced and that others find themselves in unusual circumstances where, out of necessity, they are required to work for a period of time. But these instances are the exception, not the rule.
In a home where there is an able-bodied husband, he is expected to be the breadwinner. Sometimes we hear of husbands who, because of economic conditions, have lost their jobs and expect their wives to go out of the home and work even though the husband is still capable of providing for his family. In these cases, we urge the husband to do all in his power to allow his wife to remain in the home caring for the children while he continues to provide for his family the best he can, even though the job be is able secure may not be ideal and family budgeting will have to be tighter.
Our beloved prophet Spencer W. Kimball had much to say about the role of mothers in the home and their callings and responsibilities. I am impressed tonight to share with you some of his inspired pronouncements. I fear that much of his counsel has gone unheeded, and families have suffered because of it. But I stand this evening as a second witness to the truthfulness of what President Spencer W. Kimball said. He spoke as a true prophet of God.
President Kimball declared: "Women are to take care of the family--the Lord has so stated--to be an assistant to the husband, to work with him, but not to earn the living, except in unusual circumstances. Men ought to be men indeed and earn the living under normal circumstances" (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 318 ).
President Kimball continues: "Too many mothers work away from home to furnish sweaters and music lessons and trips and fun for their children. Too many women spend their time in socializing, in politicking, in public services when they should be home to teach and train and receive and love their children into security" (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 319).
Remember the counsel of President Kimball to John and Mary: "Mary, you are to become a career woman in the greatest career on earth--that of homemaker, wife, and mother. It was never intended by the Lord that married women should compete with men in employment. They have a far greater and more important service to render.
Again President Kimball speaks: "The husband is expected to support his family and only in an emergency should a wife secure outside employment. Her place is in the home, to build the home into a haven of delight.
"Numerous divorces can be traced directly to the day when the wife left the home and went out into the world into employment. Two incomes raise the standard of living beyond its norm. Two spouses working prevent the complete and proper home life, break into the family prayers, create an independence which is not cooperative, causes distortion, limits the family, and frustrates the children already born" (Spencer W. Kimball, San Antonio Fireside, Dec. 3, 1977, pp. 9-10 ).
Finally President Kimball counsels: "I beg of you, you who could and should be bearing and rearing a family: Wives, come home from the typewriter, the laundry, the nursing, come home from the factory, the cafe. No career approaches in importance that of wife, homemaker, mother--cooking meals, washing dishes, making beds for one's precious husband and children. Come home, wives, to your husbands. Make home a heaven for them. Come home, wives, to your children, born and unborn. Wrap the motherly cloak about you and, unembarrassed, help in a major role to create the bodies for the immortal souls who anxiously await.
"When you have fully complemented your husband in home life and borne the children, growing up full of faith, integrity, responsibility, and goodness, then you have achieved your accomplishment supreme, without peer, and you will be the envy [of all] through time and eternity" (Spencer W. Kimball, San Antonio Fireside, Dec. 3, 1977, pp. 11-12).
President Kimball spoke the truth. His words are prophetic.
Mothers in Zion, your God-given roles are so vital to your own exaltation and to the salvation and exaltation of your family. A child needs a mother more than all the things money can buy. Spending time with your children is the greatest gift of all.
With love in my heart for the mothers in Zion, I would now like to suggest ten specific ways our mothers may spend effective time with their children.

First, take time to always be at the crossroads when your children are either coming or going--when they leave and return from school--when they leave and return from dates--when they bring friends home. Be there at the crossroads whether your children are six or sixteen. In Proverbs we read: "A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame" (Proverbs 29:15). Among the greatest concerns in our society are the millions of latchkey children who come home daily to empty houses unsupervised by working parents.

Second, mothers, take time to be a real friend to your children. Listen to your children, really listen. Talk with them, laugh and joke with them, sing with them, play with them, cry with them, hug them, honestly praise them. Yes, regularly spend unrushed one-on-one time with each child. Be a real friend to your children.

Third, mothers, take time to read to your children. Starting from the cradle, read to your sons and daughters. Remember what the poet said, "You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be--I had a mother who read to me" (Strickland Gillilan, "The Reading Mother"). You will plant a love for good literature and a real love for the scriptures if you will read to your children regularly.

Fourth, take time to pray with your children. Family prayers, under the direction of the father, should be held morning and night. Have your children feel of your faith as you call down the blessings of heaven upon them. Paraphrasing the word of James: "The . . . fervent prayer of a righteous [mother ] availeth much" (James 5: 16 ). Have your children participate in family and personal prayers and rejoice in their sweet utterances to their Father in Heaven.

Fifth, take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening. With your husband presiding, participate in a spiritual and an uplifting home evening each week. Have your children actively involved. Teach them correct principles. Make this one of your great family traditions. Remember the marvelous promise made by President Joseph F. Smith when home evenings were first introduced to the Church: "If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them." This wonderful promise is still in effect today.

Sixth, take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible. This is a challenge as the children get older and lives get busier. But happy conversation, sharing of the day's plans and activities, and special teaching moments occur at mealtime because mothers and fathers and children work at it.

Seventh, take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family. Individual scripture reading is important, but family scripture reading is vital. Reading the Book of Mormon together as a family will especially bring increased spirituality into your home and will give both parents and children the power to resist temptation and to have the Holy Ghost as their constant companion. I promise you that the Book of Mormon will change the lives of your family.

Eighth, take time to do things together as a family. Make family outings and picnics and birthday celebrations and trips special times and memory builders. Whenever possible, attend as a family, events where one of the family members is involved, such as a school play, a ball game, a talk, a recital. Attend Church meetings together and sit together as a family when you can. Mothers who help families pray and play together will stay together and will bless children's lives forever.

Ninth, mothers, take time to teach your children. Catch the teaching moments. This can be done anytime during the day--at mealtime, in casual settings, or at special sit-down times together, at the foot of the bed at the end of the day, or during an early morning walk together. Mothers, you are your children's best teacher. Don't shift this precious responsibility to day-care centers or babysitters. A mother's love and prayerful concern for her children are her most important ingredients in teaching her own.
Teach children gospel principles. Teach them it pays to be good. Teach them there is no safety in sin. Teach them a love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and a testimony of its divinity.
Teach your sons and daughters modesty and teach them to respect manhood and womanhood. Teach your children sexual purity, proper dating standards, temple marriage, missionary service, and the importance of accepting and magnifying Church callings.
Teach them a love for work and the value of a good education.
Teach them the importance of the right kind of entertainment, including appropriate movies, and videos, and music, and books, and magazines. Discuss the evils of pornography and drugs and teach them the value of living the clean life.
Yes, mothers, teach your children the gospel in your own home, at your own fireside. This is the most effective teaching that your children will ever receive. This is the Lord's way of teaching. The Church cannot teach like you can. The school cannot. The day-care center cannot. But you can, and the Lord will sustain you. Your children will remember your teachings forever, and when they are old, they will not depart from them. They will call you blessed--their truly angel mother.
Mothers, this kind of heavenly, motherly teaching takes time--lots of time. It cannot be done effectively part time. It must be done all the time in order to save and exalt your children. This is your divine calling.

Tenth and finally, mothers, take the time to truly love your children. A mother's unqualified love approaches Christlike love.
Here is a beautiful tribute by a son to his mother: "I don't remember much about her views of voting nor her social prestige; and what her ideas on child training, diet, and eugenics were, I cannot recall. The main thing that sifts back to me now through the thick undergrowth of years is that she loved me. She liked to lie on the grass with me and tell stories, or to run and hide with us children. She was always hugging me. . . . And I liked it. She had a sunny face. To me it was like God, and all the beatitudes saints tell of Him. And sing! Of all the sensations pleasurable to my life nothing can compare with the rapture of crawling up into her lap and going to sleep while she swung to and fro in her rocking chair and sang. Thinking of this, I wonder if the woman of today, with all her tremendous notions and plans, realizes what an almighty factor she is in shaping of her child for weal or woe? I wonder if she realizes how much sheer love and attention count for in a child's life."
Mothers, your teenage children also need that same kind of love and attention. It seems easier for many mothers and fathers to express and show their love to their children when they are young, but more difficult when they are older. Work at this prayerfully. There need be no generation gap. And the key is love. Our young people need love and attention, not indulgence. They need empathy and understanding, not indifference from mothers and fathers. They need the parents' time. A mother's kindly teachings and her love for and confidence in a teenage son or daughter can literally save them from a wicked world.

In closing, I would be remiss this evening if I did not express my love and eternal gratitude for my sweetheart and companion and the mother of our six children. Her devotion to motherhood has blessed me and our family beyond words of expression. She has been a marvelous mother, completely and happily devoting her life and her mission to her family. How grateful I am for Flora.
May I also express my gratitude to you fathers and husbands assembled this evening. We look to you to give righteous leadership in your home and families and, with your companions and the mothers of your children, to lead your families back to our Eternal Father.
Now God bless our wonderful mothers. We pray for you. We sustain you. We honor you as you bear, nourish, train, teach, and love for eternity. I promise you the blessings of heaven and "all that [the] Father hath" (see D&C 84:38) as you magnify the noblest calling of all--a mother in Zion.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.