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Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 and ends at nightfall on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

This the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar, and is the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Note: International Holocaust Memorial Day is 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

 

Every year, Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, and Tonga commemorate Anzac Day on 25 April.

Anzac Day commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations” and “the contribution and suffering of all those who have served.’ It is the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for the Australian and New Zealand (ANZAC) forces during the First World War.

 

On the face of it, these commemorative days have little in common.

As someone from Aotearoa New Zealand, I could see the resonances between the two.

Both are seminal events for a group of people – for survivors and relatives. For the world, with impacts throughout the generations since.

Both are horrific and incredibly sad events.

Which raises the question: how do you write about these in a way that is appropriate in a picture book?

 

Please note: because of the subject matter, many of these books are not appropriate for a public library storytime setting.

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Behind the Bookcase: Miep Gies, Anne Frank, and the Hiding Place book cover.
Behind the Bookcase: Miep Gies, Anne Frank, and the Hiding Place

Behind the Bookcase: Miep Gies, Anne Frank, and the Hiding Place

Book cover of The Wren and the Sparrow.
The Wren and the Sparrow

The Wren and the Sparrow

Gifts from the enemy book cover.
Gifts from the Enemy

Gifts from the Enemy

The Tree in the courtyard book cover.
The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank’s Window

The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank’s Window

The Tree of Life: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World book cover.
The Tree of Life: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World

The Tree of Life: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World

Stone Angel book cover.
Stone Angel

Stone Angel

Otto: The Autobiography of a Teddy Bear book cover.
Otto

Otto

Star of Fear, Star of Hope book cover.
Star of Fear, Star of Hope

Star of Fear, Star of Hope

The Cat who lived with Anne Frank book cover.
The Cat Who Lived With Anne Frank

The Cat Who Lived With Anne Frank

Book cover of Through Eva's Eyes.
Through Eva’s Eyes

Through Eva’s Eyes

The Cats In Krasinkski Square book cover.
The Cats In Krasinkski Square

The Cats In Krasinkski Square

Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport book cover.
Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport

Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport

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Lest we forget by Feana Tu'akoi.
Lest We Forget

Lest We Forget

Meet the ANZACs book cover.
Meet the ANZACs

Meet the ANZACs

Only a donkey book cover.
Only a Donkey

Only a Donkey

The water bottle book cover.
The Water Bottle

The Water Bottle

A day to remember book cover.
A Day to Remember

A Day to Remember

This is where I stand book cover.
This is Where I Stand

This is Where I Stand

Grandad's medals book cover.
Grandad’s Medals

Grandad’s Medals

Book cover of Memorial by Gary Crew and Shaun Tan.
Memorial

Memorial

The Donkey Man book cover.
The Donkey Man

The Donkey Man

My grandad marches on Anzac Day book cover.
My Grandad Marches on Anzac Day

My Grandad Marches on Anzac Day

The ANZAC tree book cover.
The ANZAC tree

The ANZAC tree

Reflection book cover.
Reflection: Remembering Those Who Serve In War

Reflection: Remembering Those Who Serve In War

Also check out our blog post: Everybody Hurts: dealing with tragedy. 

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