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The Little Riders
"Take care of the little riders," says Johanna's father to the eleven-year-old when he leaves her with his parents for an extended vacation in their Dutch village.
And Johanna does. She loves the twelve metal figures on horseback who ride forth each hour from the clock on the ancient church tower. She would do anything to protect them, anything. And one night she risks her life to prove it.
Set during the Second World War when the German army occupied Holland, The Little Riders is an exciting, moving adventure story, just right for reading aloud.
And Johanna does. She loves the twelve metal figures on horseback who ride forth each hour from the clock on the ancient church tower. She would do anything to protect them, anything. And one night she risks her life to prove it.
Set during the Second World War when the German army occupied Holland, The Little Riders is an exciting, moving adventure story, just right for reading aloud.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
November 5, 2022
I somehow missed this book in my youth ... it's wonderful! Definitely up there with Twenty and Ten and Number the Stars. So if you haven't read this either, you'll want to make that correction soon.
Johanna was in Holland, staying with her grandparents when World War II broke out. Now, with the war all around them and Holland occupied, she can't get back home to America and her parents. It ends up being five long years in the country of her ancestry, but they are not without adventure, acts of bravery and the rescuing of an important Dutch symbol of freedom - the Little Riders on the church tower that go round as the clock chimes the hours.
With illustrations by Peter Spier ... you couldn't really ask for too much more!
Ages: 5 - 12
Cleanliness: mentions someone smoking a pipe.
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Johanna was in Holland, staying with her grandparents when World War II broke out. Now, with the war all around them and Holland occupied, she can't get back home to America and her parents. It ends up being five long years in the country of her ancestry, but they are not without adventure, acts of bravery and the rescuing of an important Dutch symbol of freedom - the Little Riders on the church tower that go round as the clock chimes the hours.
With illustrations by Peter Spier ... you couldn't really ask for too much more!
Ages: 5 - 12
Cleanliness: mentions someone smoking a pipe.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
November 29, 2022
November 2022: The Little Riders
Johanna, an 11 year old girl was sent to Holland to live with her grandparents, while her parents were on a long voyages. That was the time the WWII breaks out. She had to give up her room which overlooking the town's prized clock, with 12 metal little riders to a German officer, Capt Wilhelm Braun.
'At the beginning of the war, she had made herself a promise never to look a German soldier in the face because she couldn't bear the sight of them.'
Something happened in the house, which forced Johanna to be brave and take a high risk job. When German was defeated, Capt Braun left the country but remained in Johanna's heart.
"He was a German but I couldn't really hate him even when I tried, after I heard him play the flute. And then he helped us, and sometimes I wish I could hear him play the flute again."
Short and sweet war story, still get me teared up. Nobody wants a war. First published in 1963. Old is gold.
Johanna, an 11 year old girl was sent to Holland to live with her grandparents, while her parents were on a long voyages. That was the time the WWII breaks out. She had to give up her room which overlooking the town's prized clock, with 12 metal little riders to a German officer, Capt Wilhelm Braun.
'At the beginning of the war, she had made herself a promise never to look a German soldier in the face because she couldn't bear the sight of them.'
Something happened in the house, which forced Johanna to be brave and take a high risk job. When German was defeated, Capt Braun left the country but remained in Johanna's heart.
"He was a German but I couldn't really hate him even when I tried, after I heard him play the flute. And then he helped us, and sometimes I wish I could hear him play the flute again."
Short and sweet war story, still get me teared up. Nobody wants a war. First published in 1963. Old is gold.
February 9, 2024
The good characters in this story are hard-working, brave and love their family. There is also a great plot twist in the end. It's a great book to read while studying World War II.
February 7, 2025
I love this book because it shows that children can help and I think that every body can read it 🥐☺️🥰
February 24, 2010
Johanna, a young Dutch-American girl, is visiting her grandparents in Holland when World War II breaks out and Holland is invaded by the Germans. To her dismay, the Nazis appropriate her bedroom to be the living quarters of one of their officers. This not only produces inconvenience for the girl, but also endangers her grandparents who are leaders in the resistance movement. She takes consolation in watching the village's treasured Little Riders, iron figures of noblemen commemorating the Crusades, which make their circuit in the church steeple as the great clock strikes the hours. When the Nazis announce their intention to melt the Little Riders down for ammunition, Johanna joins the movement to keep the statues out of the Nazis' hands. When plans to smuggle them out of town go wrong, Johanna is left alone with them and she heroically implements a desperate solution. The story ends with a surprise which underscores the humanity of all people who participated in this war.
This riveting story gently introduces the pain and evil involved in World War II, without going into graphic detail about the horrors of the war. Johanna's courage and loyalty are very admirable, and they seem to grow naturally in the context of her family's values of love and courtesy. The book is written at a transitional reader's level and (unlike most war stories) is appropriate for precocious pre-readers.
This riveting story gently introduces the pain and evil involved in World War II, without going into graphic detail about the horrors of the war. Johanna's courage and loyalty are very admirable, and they seem to grow naturally in the context of her family's values of love and courtesy. The book is written at a transitional reader's level and (unlike most war stories) is appropriate for precocious pre-readers.
June 9, 2015
I really give it 3 and a half stars. It was very enjoyable. We had it as a home-schooling read-aloud with my grandson. We both really liked it. I'm looking for the Hallmark movie they made of it, now, on You Tube, as it doesn't seem to be available any other way. I've heard they did a good job with the book.
January 15, 2021
This is a sweet and gentle story about a little girl’s bravery in Holland during German occupancy in WW2. It is especially good for young readers. It speaks tenderly to issues faced and instead of only painting German soldiers one way, it also speaks to the kindness, humanity, and commonality of family love and longing for the war to end.
October 21, 2016
This was a simple yet well told story of a little American girl who was visiting her Dutch grandparents when Nazis occupied Holland. She promised her father that she would help her grandfather take care of the "little riders" but it may be a promise too hard to keep. A story for all children about WWII, family, and hope. Even though it was written for younger readers, I still enjoyed it.
March 17, 2017
Reading for cc2 wk 16...krb 3/13/17
May 10, 2017
It's been a while since I've read this, but I remember REALLY loving it when I was in elementary school. Super sweet historical story.
December 1, 2017
Great World War 2 book for kids. I remember reading this a few years ago!
April 27, 2018
One of my favourite book as a child, still equally as good!
February 7, 2025
I really loved this book, I thought it was brilliant. I recommend this to kids my age and younger. It is full of excitement. I really loved the ending and the whole book.
April 29, 2012
Here is the entire story: An American girl, Johanna, is living with her grandparents in Holland. Her parents initially left her there and then she could not come back to the States due to WWII. Across the street from her granparents' home is a church in which there are beloved lead statues. These statues are the Little Riders.
The book is set towards the end of the war when times are getting desperate for the Germans. There is talk of the Germans taking the Little Riders by force to melt down and use as ammunition. Meanwhile, Johanna is forced out of her attic bedroom because a German captain needs to use the room. Understandably, she is hurt by the loss of her room and the loss of its view of the Little Riders. The German soldier does not say much, but plays his flute in the evenings.
In a secret meeting the town decides to hide the Little Riders. At first they are hidden in Johanna's house with plans to move them elsewhere. But suddenly the German soldiers come and discover they are gone. They take Johanna's grandparents away for questioning.
Worried about her family's fate, Johanna is left behind and decides to hide the Riders in a secret cubby in what is now the German captain's room. He is gone, so she thinks she can hide them in time. However, he comes back unexpectedly. He is kind to her and says that the Little Riders were the only Dutch who did not look at him in disgust. He helps her hide them in the cubby.
Thus, they remain undiscovered and the family is out of danger.
Finally, the war is over. The German captain returns homes, leaving his flute for Johanna. Johanna's father comes for her to take her back to America.
(I hate giving such a complete synopsis of the book, but I know when I was considering spending money on it, I wanted to know what it was about.)
This book is good for introducing really young kids to WWII without scaring them too much. For me, the focus was on the German captain. It was obvious that he did not want to be fighting in the war, but was forced to. By hiding the Little Riders, he could help the very people he was also hurting. For older kids, there can be discussion about whether what he did was enough. Should he have refused to serve in the military at all and risked his life for it? Was merely hiding statues enough when you consider the atrocities that were taking place at the same time in other parts of Europe?
I definitely want to read more kids' books about WWII. It was a little hard for me to worry too much about the lead statues given that Jewish people were also being hidden in Dutch people's homes.
The book is set towards the end of the war when times are getting desperate for the Germans. There is talk of the Germans taking the Little Riders by force to melt down and use as ammunition. Meanwhile, Johanna is forced out of her attic bedroom because a German captain needs to use the room. Understandably, she is hurt by the loss of her room and the loss of its view of the Little Riders. The German soldier does not say much, but plays his flute in the evenings.
In a secret meeting the town decides to hide the Little Riders. At first they are hidden in Johanna's house with plans to move them elsewhere. But suddenly the German soldiers come and discover they are gone. They take Johanna's grandparents away for questioning.
Worried about her family's fate, Johanna is left behind and decides to hide the Riders in a secret cubby in what is now the German captain's room. He is gone, so she thinks she can hide them in time. However, he comes back unexpectedly. He is kind to her and says that the Little Riders were the only Dutch who did not look at him in disgust. He helps her hide them in the cubby.
Thus, they remain undiscovered and the family is out of danger.
Finally, the war is over. The German captain returns homes, leaving his flute for Johanna. Johanna's father comes for her to take her back to America.
(I hate giving such a complete synopsis of the book, but I know when I was considering spending money on it, I wanted to know what it was about.)
This book is good for introducing really young kids to WWII without scaring them too much. For me, the focus was on the German captain. It was obvious that he did not want to be fighting in the war, but was forced to. By hiding the Little Riders, he could help the very people he was also hurting. For older kids, there can be discussion about whether what he did was enough. Should he have refused to serve in the military at all and risked his life for it? Was merely hiding statues enough when you consider the atrocities that were taking place at the same time in other parts of Europe?
I definitely want to read more kids' books about WWII. It was a little hard for me to worry too much about the lead statues given that Jewish people were also being hidden in Dutch people's homes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2019
This selection was part of our homeschool curriculum this year. I read it predominantly to my 10 and 11 year olds with my 7 and 6 year olds within earshot but not attentive.
It was age appropriate for all and introduced the concept of war, World War II specific, in a manner that was real, showed injustices, and yet kept much of the horrors hidden.
As this book was set in the Kingdom of the Netherlands my heart was already smitten before I read a single page. I have a full Dutch ancestry, dating back to the early 1600's, and my children are half Dutch. Being able to relay the story, with our ancestry in mind, made the book come alive!
We read "The Little Riders" in 2 parts over the course of 2 days (3 chapters at a time) and discussed what was read after each chapter. It was a great book to teach, glean, and learn from.
The biggest take away, deep thought, revelation for my kids and I was: "Even in war not everyone is an enemy."
It was age appropriate for all and introduced the concept of war, World War II specific, in a manner that was real, showed injustices, and yet kept much of the horrors hidden.
As this book was set in the Kingdom of the Netherlands my heart was already smitten before I read a single page. I have a full Dutch ancestry, dating back to the early 1600's, and my children are half Dutch. Being able to relay the story, with our ancestry in mind, made the book come alive!
We read "The Little Riders" in 2 parts over the course of 2 days (3 chapters at a time) and discussed what was read after each chapter. It was a great book to teach, glean, and learn from.
The biggest take away, deep thought, revelation for my kids and I was: "Even in war not everyone is an enemy."
January 1, 2022
Our 8yo and 5yo both really liked this book. It’s a good age-appropriate introduction to World War 2 through the German occupation of Holland and a little girl and her grandparents who are trying to save some clock statues from being taken and melted down. It gives a sense of what things were like without being too overtly scary.
February 11, 2014
Enjoyed this simple book written about a church tower clock and how a little girl helped her grandparents maintain the clock.
Dutch resistance and the Nazi occupation of Holland.
Understanding your enemy could be your friend in other moments of time.
Dutch resistance and the Nazi occupation of Holland.
Understanding your enemy could be your friend in other moments of time.
June 3, 2014
I read this to the kiddos for school and they loved it. It is a story about a girl in Holland during World War II and her town's fight to save some of the relics of town, the Little Riders, from German destruction.
February 22, 2021
Second time I've read this to the kids for school. A simple story beautifully told.
June 11, 2017
I had read this as a child, and reread when Peter Spier's death reminded me of it. (He's the illustrator.)
Johanna, an American girl, is visiting her Dutch grandparents while her sea captain father and mother are at sea. She is trapped in the Netherlands when WWII breaks out, for more than 4 years now. Sitting in her father's old attic room, she can easily watch the little clockwork riders that mark each hour in the town's church steeple, as he did. But she's finding it hard to remember his face, exactly.
Without going in to any detail about Nazi atrocities, the author tells the reader that the German invasion 3 years earlier has meant the loss of Holland's freedom, and that men stay inside because otherwise they can be taken "far away to work for the Germans". Johanna hates the Germans, as they march around the town, drowning out the sound of the clock, posting about new arbitrary rules and hostages taken, and most of all, for keeping her from going home to America. These are all things a young reader can understand, without being overwhelmed.
And then Johanna's room is commandeered for a German officer, Captain Braun. Her grandparents' hidden radio and the secret weekly meetings must not be discovered. The little riders are banned, for no reason, and may be melted down by the Germans to make weapons. So the danger has come home, literally.
But Captain Braun is polite and apologetic. He seems lonely, plays the flute, and has a wife and young son back home.
When the time comes to save the little riders, what will happen?
If you want a suspenseful story about WWII that a younger reader can understand, one that even humanizes the enemy, this is a good choice.
Johanna, an American girl, is visiting her Dutch grandparents while her sea captain father and mother are at sea. She is trapped in the Netherlands when WWII breaks out, for more than 4 years now. Sitting in her father's old attic room, she can easily watch the little clockwork riders that mark each hour in the town's church steeple, as he did. But she's finding it hard to remember his face, exactly.
Without going in to any detail about Nazi atrocities, the author tells the reader that the German invasion 3 years earlier has meant the loss of Holland's freedom, and that men stay inside because otherwise they can be taken "far away to work for the Germans". Johanna hates the Germans, as they march around the town, drowning out the sound of the clock, posting about new arbitrary rules and hostages taken, and most of all, for keeping her from going home to America. These are all things a young reader can understand, without being overwhelmed.
And then Johanna's room is commandeered for a German officer, Captain Braun. Her grandparents' hidden radio and the secret weekly meetings must not be discovered. The little riders are banned, for no reason, and may be melted down by the Germans to make weapons. So the danger has come home, literally.
But Captain Braun is polite and apologetic. He seems lonely, plays the flute, and has a wife and young son back home.
When the time comes to save the little riders, what will happen?
If you want a suspenseful story about WWII that a younger reader can understand, one that even humanizes the enemy, this is a good choice.
November 12, 2024
I remember loving this book as a kid and it was a fun read-aloud to finish up our study of the Netherlands. I'll admit I had a bit of a hard time believing that American parents would leave their only child in the Netherlands so Mom could keep Dad company while he was at work on the high seas...especially considering the climate of Europe before war officially broke out (also the ending implies he's in the military and I have my doubts that a military ship would've allowed him to bring his wife along so he didn't get lonely 😂). But those problems never occurred to my kids and we flew through this story. They loved catching all sorts of details they wouldn't have noticed if we hadn't been studying the Netherlands.
February 2, 2021
The Little Riders is a wonderful little story of bravery and freedom in the midst of WWII. Johanna lives with her grandparents in Holland and they are charged with caring for the riders that are part of the town clock. When the Nazis take over their city, they are faced with many challenges, including protecting the historic riders from being taken and melted down. Will they be able to save the riders or will the Nazis take the pride of the city?
An excellent read to share with children a glimpse of what happened during the terrible war. My children really enjoyed this book. The story telling is simple and clear yet still engaging for all ages.
An excellent read to share with children a glimpse of what happened during the terrible war. My children really enjoyed this book. The story telling is simple and clear yet still engaging for all ages.
December 31, 2025
A good read aloud for parents and their kids. When the Nazis take over a small Dutch village in WW2, a young girl gets a glimpse of the humanity of a German officer who takes residence in her room in her grandparents house. A good reminder that most of the German soldiers were not Nazis, but were fighting for their country, not for the “ideals” of those at the top of the chain of command.
The book does not get into the atrocities committed elsewhere in the theater of the European conflict. It concentrates on the impact of the war as it was experienced by the residents of this Dutch village, so it is appropriate for younger kids.
The book does not get into the atrocities committed elsewhere in the theater of the European conflict. It concentrates on the impact of the war as it was experienced by the residents of this Dutch village, so it is appropriate for younger kids.
December 4, 2024
Johanna is visiting her grandparents in Holland while her father and mother are away. While she is there World War Two breaks out and all passages home are closed off. It's now been four years since she has seen her parents and she is starting to forget their faces. One day there is a knock on her grandparent's door. Just outside there is a German soldier demanding living quarters in their house. The only suitable room is Johanna's! She is not sure what to think. Follow along as she learns to become friends with Captain Braun, hides the little riders, and makes her grandparents proud.
September 19, 2025
As you all know, I am constantly on the lookout for meaningful books for my grandchildren. This fit the bill quite nicely, with an intriguing premise and captivating characters, especially the young heroine.
The setting was gripping, war torn Holland, during the Nazi occupation of World War II. The story was compelling, a secret and dangerous quest. Surprise! Unexpected help from an unlikely source.
So it was a fun little read that I will recommend to my young ones and to all of you to share with yours.
The setting was gripping, war torn Holland, during the Nazi occupation of World War II. The story was compelling, a secret and dangerous quest. Surprise! Unexpected help from an unlikely source.
So it was a fun little read that I will recommend to my young ones and to all of you to share with yours.
April 23, 2018
I rediscovered this childhood favorite by accident the other day. I remembered loving it for the elements of suspense and humanity it brought to the historical fiction genre. Not only that, I was fascinated by the Dutch Resistance and this book sparked my interest in learning more about the movement.
Rereading it, I would give it 3.5 stars as I wish there was slightly more historical information inserted throughout the book.
Rereading it, I would give it 3.5 stars as I wish there was slightly more historical information inserted throughout the book.
October 20, 2020
I remember reading this all the time when I was a kid and loving it so much! Actually, the first story I ever started writing was inspired by this, though I was super young and had no writing experience, so nothing ever came of it. :)
March 7, 2021
I nice, short children's novel set in war-time Holland. It tells the story of a brave little girl and how she saved the town's clock lead ornaments from being melted down by the German invaders. It's a lovely story that shows the human side of the invaders.
April 27, 2022
I don’t think I’ve seen my kids this completely enraptured with a story!! Personally I love stories of WWII so I am delighted that my kids loved this one just as much as I did. Beautiful, touching and moving. Such a great little book about a young hero of WWII.
September 15, 2022
4.5 stars
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But how strange that I ever thought I had forgotten what he looked like, she thought. I would have recognized him anywhere.
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But how strange that I ever thought I had forgotten what he looked like, she thought. I would have recognized him anywhere.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews