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Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust
The remarkable true story of how a toy duck smuggled forged identity papers for Jewish refugees during WWIIDuring World War II, a social worker named Jacqueline bicycled through the streets of Paris, passing Nazi soldiers and carrying a toy duck to share with the children she visited. What the Nazis didn’t know, however, was that Jacqueline wasn’t a social worker at all, but a Jewish member of the French Resistance.
Families across Europe went into hiding as the Nazis rounded up anyone Jewish. The Star of David, a symbol of faith and pride, became a tool of hate when the Nazis forced people to wear the star on their clothing and carry papers identifying them as Jewish, so that it was clear who to arrest. But many brave souls dared to help them.
Jacqueline was one of them. She risked her life in secret workshops, where forgers created false identity papers. But how to get these life-saving papers to families in hiding? The toy duck held the answer.
Written by award-winning journalist Elisa Boxer and movingly illustrated by the acclaimed Amy June Bates, Hidden Hope, a true story, celebrates everyday heroism, resilience, the triumph of the human spirit, and finding hope in unexpected places.
Families across Europe went into hiding as the Nazis rounded up anyone Jewish. The Star of David, a symbol of faith and pride, became a tool of hate when the Nazis forced people to wear the star on their clothing and carry papers identifying them as Jewish, so that it was clear who to arrest. But many brave souls dared to help them.
Jacqueline was one of them. She risked her life in secret workshops, where forgers created false identity papers. But how to get these life-saving papers to families in hiding? The toy duck held the answer.
Written by award-winning journalist Elisa Boxer and movingly illustrated by the acclaimed Amy June Bates, Hidden Hope, a true story, celebrates everyday heroism, resilience, the triumph of the human spirit, and finding hope in unexpected places.
Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
April 6, 2023
I love this book but even though it’s a picture book it’s not for preschoolers. Even though there is nothing graphic and a lot of the information in the book proper is implied, it is made fairly clear what conditions the Jews experienced Nazi occupied France. The author’s note and illustrator’s note in the back leave little to the imagination, even though there is no graphic violent content at all. I’d say the book is appropriate for those ages 9-109, though for those on the lower ages of that spectrum I think reading the book with a teacher or parent or librarian there to help answer any questions and foster discussion would be wise, especially if the reader (or listener for a read aloud) reads the detailed notes at the end of the book.
The illustrations are beautiful and incredibly well done. They are so expressive and they are masterful in helping to tell this story.
The (basically) true story is inspiring and suspenseful. Once again I learned something more about what happened in the Holocaust. The teenager who is the main character in this book is a true heroine. I am in awe of her and of the many others who did the lifesaving work that they did. They were brave and creative and hardworking and caring.
I appreciate that two photos of the actual toy duck (closed and open to show where papers could be hidden) are included in this book.
The author’s and illustrator’s notes are heartfelt and informative. There is also a short bibliography included.
5 full stars. Highly recommended for readers who like picture book biographies and/or Holocaust history.
The illustrations are beautiful and incredibly well done. They are so expressive and they are masterful in helping to tell this story.
The (basically) true story is inspiring and suspenseful. Once again I learned something more about what happened in the Holocaust. The teenager who is the main character in this book is a true heroine. I am in awe of her and of the many others who did the lifesaving work that they did. They were brave and creative and hardworking and caring.
I appreciate that two photos of the actual toy duck (closed and open to show where papers could be hidden) are included in this book.
The author’s and illustrator’s notes are heartfelt and informative. There is also a short bibliography included.
5 full stars. Highly recommended for readers who like picture book biographies and/or Holocaust history.
February 23, 2024
Wow. Just… wow.
A beautifully illustrated picture book, about a brave teenager in the French Resistance and a little wooden toy duck. During WW2, the young girl and her duck saved many precious souls from the Nazis, at great risk.
I had never heard this story before, and it so moved me, as all stories of Resistance fighters do. Just to think, a simple wooden toy and sheer bravery, accomplished so much in such a dark time in history…
Now I really want to find a biography of Jacqueline Gauthier! And I will definitely use the link the author provided to look at artifacts preserved in the Yad Vashem Archives.
A beautifully illustrated picture book, about a brave teenager in the French Resistance and a little wooden toy duck. During WW2, the young girl and her duck saved many precious souls from the Nazis, at great risk.
I had never heard this story before, and it so moved me, as all stories of Resistance fighters do. Just to think, a simple wooden toy and sheer bravery, accomplished so much in such a dark time in history…
Now I really want to find a biography of Jacqueline Gauthier! And I will definitely use the link the author provided to look at artifacts preserved in the Yad Vashem Archives.
June 12, 2024
If you thought, "I don't need another World War II book," you may change your mind after reading this true story from the French Resistance about a young woman who helped Jews escape with a toy duck.
October 27, 2023
Had me tearing up at my desk as I processed it.
January 13, 2026
The shortest book I’m reading is called “Hidden Hope” by Elisa Boxer. This author is a Jewish journalist wrote this book because she lost so many family members in the Holocaust. She interviewed many other families have been torn apart. She also goes into greater detail about Jacqueline's real story, which is quite captivating and has stunning watercolour pictures for a children's book. This is the story of Jacqueline, a bright, brave, and determined French teenager who uses a duck toy to outwit Nazis and rescue many of other Jews. Elisa also shared that she felt obliged to hide her Jewish background due to numerous intimate and painful instances of antisemitism. She wrote with the intention of exposing injustice.
June 1, 2024
I read this book for the Charlie May Simon Award Committee and also as a volunteer adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. It is a bit too much for the Diamond, but perfect for the Simon award. I loved every single page of this book. From the story to the illustrations--perfection! The is the little know story of a young Jewish girl who joined the French Resistance to sneakily undermine the Nazi troops. The toy pictured on the front cover was used as a sneaky way to transport new "papers" to Jewish people in her city. The papers gave them "legal" proof that they were indeed not Jewish and didn't need to be rounded up for the camps. Such a cool story. I love how the end even showed a real picture of the toy which is currently housed in a museum in Israel.
September 26, 2023
Simple facts are provided with appropriate urgency, starting with, "Hide! Quick!" I like that this story is about a Jewish girl working in the Resistance.
Back matter includes the author's and illustrator's notes (each a full spread), pictures of the actual duck toy and Judith's "Jacqueline Gauthier" papers, and a Bibliography. This is not a biography, rather it is a story of a real girl's work during World War II Paris.
Back matter includes the author's and illustrator's notes (each a full spread), pictures of the actual duck toy and Judith's "Jacqueline Gauthier" papers, and a Bibliography. This is not a biography, rather it is a story of a real girl's work during World War II Paris.
March 20, 2024
When my 4th graders and I read Number the Stars, we always ask: who were the helpers?
This true story picture book celebrates the everyday heroism of Judith Gellar (Jacqueline Gauthier), a teenage girl working for the French Resistance who helped save over 200 lives with her bike and toy duck.
Back matter includes an author’s note and an artist’s note. Excellent picture book for middle grade readers!
This true story picture book celebrates the everyday heroism of Judith Gellar (Jacqueline Gauthier), a teenage girl working for the French Resistance who helped save over 200 lives with her bike and toy duck.
Back matter includes an author’s note and an artist’s note. Excellent picture book for middle grade readers!
March 17, 2023
gr adv 3-6
Great story about a Jewish girl who posed as a Christian social worker in France during the war and delivered documents with a wooden toy duck. Amy June Bates illustrations complement the free verse style. Really well done. Longer read-aloud for maybe fourth grade?
Great story about a Jewish girl who posed as a Christian social worker in France during the war and delivered documents with a wooden toy duck. Amy June Bates illustrations complement the free verse style. Really well done. Longer read-aloud for maybe fourth grade?
August 31, 2023
This is an incredible story. The artwork is some of the most stunning I've seen in a juvenile biography book. Judith and her simple toy duck that held a precious secret are simply remarkable. I loved that we get to see photos of the actual toy--which now resides in a museum--at the book's conclusion.
July 2, 2024
Incredible. Not surprised at all that this book is receiving honor after honor! Deeply moving story about a girl in the French resistance and how she helped save Jewish lives during WWII.
June 12, 2024
The book begins by setting the mood of fear and desperation experienced by Jews in Europe during World War II:
“Hearts pounding,
breath quickening,
feet scrambling,
Down into damp basements,
up into old attics,
crammed into dark closets.
During the Second World War,
the first priority for Jewish people
was staying out of sight.
Because during the Second World War,
the first priority for Nazis
was getting rid of Jewish people.”
Boxer informs readers how the Star of David, a symbol of Judaism, was turned into a tool of hate by the Nazis, who forced Jewish people to wear big yellow stars on their clothing in order to set them apart as subjects of derision [and possible capture and murder].
But hate, the author avers, “has a way of bringing out heroes.” Brave volunteers helped forge fake documents so that Jews could escape [that is, if they could find a country to take them, which they could not do, all too often].
The initial barrier, however, to this means of escape was getting the fake documents into the hands of those who needed them. Jacqueline Gauthier, a teenager during the war who worked for the French resistance, helped. She tucked forged documents into a hollow duck pull toy and delivered the toy to those who needed the papers.
Ironically, Jacqueline herself was a beneficiary of fake papers. Her real name was Judith Geller. She too was actually Jewish, although her papers identified her as a Christian social worker who worked with children. Thus the fact that she would carry around a wooden duck did not arouse suspicion. One day she even had her satchel searched by a Nazi soldier, but the only result was that he yelled at her for wasting his time when all she had was a toy.
Boxer tells us that Jacqueline and the toy duck saved more than two hundred lives.
An author’s note gives more background on the Holocaust and on Geller, and shows a picture of the actual toy duck used, revealing the secret chamber for hiding documents.
The author writes:
“To me, the duck is a symbol of shining a light on the truth of the war. . . . It sits alongside diaries, dolls, shoes, and suitcases that belonged to Jewish prisoners and others killed in concentration camps.”
She notes that after the war, Geller got married, moved to Israel, and had two children. “One of their toys was the duck that helped their mother become a hero, risking her life to save people she didn’t even know.” In spite of her efforts, the author writes, 32 members of Judith Geller’s own family were killed.
The book also features an illustrator’s note, and a bibliography with links to more information.
Illustrations by Amy June Bates were made with watercolor, gouache, and pencil. Bates reports that she gathered details from Judith Geller’s memoir. She also used the visual trope of colorizing the heroine and also the yellow duck toy against a background of mostly grey or sepia. [This technique was famously employed by cinematographer Janusz Kamiński for Steven Spielberg in the 1993 movie “Schindler’s List.” Spielberg explained: “. . . the Holocaust was life without light. For me the symbol of life is color. Only a young girl in a red coat remains as the last image of a long lost innocence."]
Evaluation: It is unlikely any readers will fail to be moved by this story of bravery and resistance. One message of this book is surely that in the face of injustice, the moral choice is the only choice. Children in the intended reading group of age eight and above will have much to reflect on: What did the Holocaust mean for those who lived under Nazi control? How do you know if something is wrong even if it is passed as law - especially in the present time when disinformation is so prevalent? If you did believe something was immoral and unjust, what would you do about it?
“Hearts pounding,
breath quickening,
feet scrambling,
Down into damp basements,
up into old attics,
crammed into dark closets.
During the Second World War,
the first priority for Jewish people
was staying out of sight.
Because during the Second World War,
the first priority for Nazis
was getting rid of Jewish people.”
Boxer informs readers how the Star of David, a symbol of Judaism, was turned into a tool of hate by the Nazis, who forced Jewish people to wear big yellow stars on their clothing in order to set them apart as subjects of derision [and possible capture and murder].
But hate, the author avers, “has a way of bringing out heroes.” Brave volunteers helped forge fake documents so that Jews could escape [that is, if they could find a country to take them, which they could not do, all too often].
The initial barrier, however, to this means of escape was getting the fake documents into the hands of those who needed them. Jacqueline Gauthier, a teenager during the war who worked for the French resistance, helped. She tucked forged documents into a hollow duck pull toy and delivered the toy to those who needed the papers.
Ironically, Jacqueline herself was a beneficiary of fake papers. Her real name was Judith Geller. She too was actually Jewish, although her papers identified her as a Christian social worker who worked with children. Thus the fact that she would carry around a wooden duck did not arouse suspicion. One day she even had her satchel searched by a Nazi soldier, but the only result was that he yelled at her for wasting his time when all she had was a toy.
Boxer tells us that Jacqueline and the toy duck saved more than two hundred lives.
An author’s note gives more background on the Holocaust and on Geller, and shows a picture of the actual toy duck used, revealing the secret chamber for hiding documents.
The author writes:
“To me, the duck is a symbol of shining a light on the truth of the war. . . . It sits alongside diaries, dolls, shoes, and suitcases that belonged to Jewish prisoners and others killed in concentration camps.”
She notes that after the war, Geller got married, moved to Israel, and had two children. “One of their toys was the duck that helped their mother become a hero, risking her life to save people she didn’t even know.” In spite of her efforts, the author writes, 32 members of Judith Geller’s own family were killed.
The book also features an illustrator’s note, and a bibliography with links to more information.
Illustrations by Amy June Bates were made with watercolor, gouache, and pencil. Bates reports that she gathered details from Judith Geller’s memoir. She also used the visual trope of colorizing the heroine and also the yellow duck toy against a background of mostly grey or sepia. [This technique was famously employed by cinematographer Janusz Kamiński for Steven Spielberg in the 1993 movie “Schindler’s List.” Spielberg explained: “. . . the Holocaust was life without light. For me the symbol of life is color. Only a young girl in a red coat remains as the last image of a long lost innocence."]
Evaluation: It is unlikely any readers will fail to be moved by this story of bravery and resistance. One message of this book is surely that in the face of injustice, the moral choice is the only choice. Children in the intended reading group of age eight and above will have much to reflect on: What did the Holocaust mean for those who lived under Nazi control? How do you know if something is wrong even if it is passed as law - especially in the present time when disinformation is so prevalent? If you did believe something was immoral and unjust, what would you do about it?
October 28, 2025
Jan. 27th is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which commemorates the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, on this date in 1945.
The further we get from the Holocaust, the more difficult it becomes to convey to our children the true depth of its horrors, particularly as so few who experienced them firsthand remain to tell their stories. And yet it remains crucial to do exactly that, particularly as antisemitism is precipitously on the rise again worldwide.
And it's so difficult to explain to kids that a nightmare of this magnitude could and did happen in the civilised modern world. "How is this possible?" they'll ask. "Why didn't the Jews fight back?"
So I think that when we read our children stories of this tragic time, one of the most important things we need to include is letting them know that people DID fight back, and not just armies, but regular people, even kids.
"Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust" (2024) is a beautiful example of this. It tells the true story of "Jacqueline Gauthier" (actually the Jewish Judith Geller), a teenager and member of the French Resistance who pretended to be a young Christian social worker, and with not much more than her bicycle and a toy duck ("for her clients' children") acted as a courier to deliver false ID papers to Jews right under the Nazis' noses.
A devastating 32 members of Geller's own family were murdered ... but Judith saved over 200 lives with her dangerous work, and lived to move to Israel and have children of her own.
A beautiful and important story of true bravery in the face of evil.
The further we get from the Holocaust, the more difficult it becomes to convey to our children the true depth of its horrors, particularly as so few who experienced them firsthand remain to tell their stories. And yet it remains crucial to do exactly that, particularly as antisemitism is precipitously on the rise again worldwide.
And it's so difficult to explain to kids that a nightmare of this magnitude could and did happen in the civilised modern world. "How is this possible?" they'll ask. "Why didn't the Jews fight back?"
So I think that when we read our children stories of this tragic time, one of the most important things we need to include is letting them know that people DID fight back, and not just armies, but regular people, even kids.
"Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust" (2024) is a beautiful example of this. It tells the true story of "Jacqueline Gauthier" (actually the Jewish Judith Geller), a teenager and member of the French Resistance who pretended to be a young Christian social worker, and with not much more than her bicycle and a toy duck ("for her clients' children") acted as a courier to deliver false ID papers to Jews right under the Nazis' noses.
A devastating 32 members of Geller's own family were murdered ... but Judith saved over 200 lives with her dangerous work, and lived to move to Israel and have children of her own.
A beautiful and important story of true bravery in the face of evil.
March 27, 2024
Respectful, you-are-there text combined with dramatic images, including the one on the opening page of this picture book, keep readers on the edge of their seats as they meet one of the individuals who resisted the Nazis during the Holocaust. Judith Geller used false papers and a wooden duck that concealed other false papers that allowed other Jews to survive or gave them time to flee. She helped save the lives of 200 individuals, risking her own life as she rode her bicycle through the Paris streets. The text has a breathtaking element since Judith used a pseudonym as she went about her labors, and her resistance efforts were in addition to her job in Nazi factories and finding food for her family members who were in hiding. As the author reminds readers, time is running out to collect stories from those who survived the Holocaust, making this unique, inspiring story all the more precious. Created with watercolor, gouache, and pencil, the handsome artwork consists of a balance of dark, somber shades balanced with bright pinks, giving the pages an intensity, representing the Nazis, and warmth, representing individuals such as Judith who dared to take action. Despite her efforts, thirty-two members of her family died during that time. The Author's Note and Artist's Note provide additional interesting information and personal connections. This is a wonderfully relatable addition to the Holocaust canon.
March 23, 2023
5 stars
How does a toy duck save lives? Well, if you're a social worker named Jacqueline Gauthier living in France during the Nazi occupation, the toy duck is more than just a simple toy. Inside its secret compartment, you will stow forged identity documents that you will smuggle to Jewish families in order for them to escape occupied France. The Nazis likely won't think twice about a young female social worker carrying a children's toy on her way to visit families. But the toy duck isn't the only secret Jacqueline has, and the other secrets make the toy duck even more significant.
This is such a great story about one very brave woman who followed her moral compass to save others, even when doing so put her own life in peril. It is yet another story of the unique methods resistance workers used to save lives and fight against the horrors of Nazism. Jacqueline's other secrets make her resistance work even more important. The illustrations are also well done, and the author's notes providing more facts at the end of the book provide readers with extra context for the story. Recommended for readers who want a true story of bravery, heroism, and standing up for what is right even if you could get in trouble.
~ Miss Anna
How does a toy duck save lives? Well, if you're a social worker named Jacqueline Gauthier living in France during the Nazi occupation, the toy duck is more than just a simple toy. Inside its secret compartment, you will stow forged identity documents that you will smuggle to Jewish families in order for them to escape occupied France. The Nazis likely won't think twice about a young female social worker carrying a children's toy on her way to visit families. But the toy duck isn't the only secret Jacqueline has, and the other secrets make the toy duck even more significant.
This is such a great story about one very brave woman who followed her moral compass to save others, even when doing so put her own life in peril. It is yet another story of the unique methods resistance workers used to save lives and fight against the horrors of Nazism. Jacqueline's other secrets make her resistance work even more important. The illustrations are also well done, and the author's notes providing more facts at the end of the book provide readers with extra context for the story. Recommended for readers who want a true story of bravery, heroism, and standing up for what is right even if you could get in trouble.
~ Miss Anna
January 3, 2024
In the face of hatred and hopelessness, heroes arise. Author Elisa Boxer offers young readers a fast-paced and gripping biography that shines a light on a little=known young woman who saved hundreds of Jewish lives and generations of people. The opening of the book provides Littles with digestible and compelling context for WW2 and the invasion of the Nazis that helps them understand the stakes in a sensitive and developmentally-appropriate way. When French resistance fighter Jacqueline enters the text, readers, already on the edge of their seats, are energized and inspired by how much and how many ways this teen helps family, friends, neighbors–and complete strangers. It’s so important to present children with a body of literature that shows the multitude of people at work overthrowing tyranny. Children will love seeing Jacqueline fight the enemy with a very special toy, a wooden duck-hiding forged documents, which will ultimately provide safe passage to fleeing Jews–and how the duck one day took its place with Jacqueline’s own children. The back matter, including the author and artist's note, is fascinating, and provides educators with many opportunities to expand their lessons. The somber and poignant illustrations enhance the mood, tone, and theme.
January 9, 2024
I’m always glad to see new books about the Holocaust, even though the stories are reminders of terrible pain and suffering. These books ensure that no generation forgets what happened. HIDDEN HOPE begins in fear, with a black, gray, and brown color palette, reminding us that Jewish people were literally hiding in the dark of basements and closets as the Nazis occupied France. But even in the darkest moments in the book, readers can find glimpses of the red beret worn by Judith Geller (aka Jacqueline Gauthier), a teenager who posed as a Christian social worker in order to deliver fake identity papers for other Jewish people. The wooden toy duck she used to hide the papers was an ingenious way for Judith to carry out her acts of resistance, and the yellow duck provides another hint of hopeful color in the illustrations. HIDDEN HOPE allows us to remember Judith Geller’s bravery and to wonder how many other stories like Judith’s remain to be discovered. At the end of HIDDEN HOPE, it’s the Nazis who are in hiding. “Where there was hiding, now there was hope,” is one of my favorite lines from the story. I hope this book finds a place in many school libraries, classrooms, and homes to keep alive the memory of those who died and those, like Judith, who bravely defied.
July 1, 2024
As a teenager living in occupied Paris, Judith Geller, under the guise of Jacqueline Gauthier, worked for the French Resistance. Judith posed as a Christian citizen to protect her family in hiding. She worked with a network of other Resistance fighters to create forged documents for Jewish citizens who were at risk of being arrested by the Nazis and sent to concentration camps. Part of Judith assumed identity was a job as a social worker for children. She carried a toy duck with her at all times, but it was a hollowed-out duck that allowed her to transport the forged documents without raising any suspicions. Her work helped save at least 200 Jews from perishing at the hands of the Nazis.
We learn new details about life during WWII almost every day and there seems to be a new book about the countless heroes of the resistance published every year. I would never say this is a bad book, nor would I say keeping the memories of those affected by the Holocaust is a bad thing, but do we really need a Holocaust book every year? My worry is people will stop paying attention because it will just become so commonplace to have another book about the Holocaust.
We learn new details about life during WWII almost every day and there seems to be a new book about the countless heroes of the resistance published every year. I would never say this is a bad book, nor would I say keeping the memories of those affected by the Holocaust is a bad thing, but do we really need a Holocaust book every year? My worry is people will stop paying attention because it will just become so commonplace to have another book about the Holocaust.
May 24, 2023
First sentence: "Hide! Quick!"
Hearts pounding,
breath quickening,
feet scrambling.
Down into damp basements,
up into old attics,
crammed into dark closets.
Premise/plot: Nonfiction title for upper elementary on up. This picture book for older readers is set in France during the Second World War. The focus is on a young girl--a young woman--who smuggles false identity papers to Jews by using a TOY DUCK. (Yes, a toy duck). Her name is Jacqueline Gauthier. This is her story of how she (and the duck) helped save two hundred lives. It is written in verse.
My thoughts: I loved this one so much. I absolutely love hearing new stories. I love continuing to learn about the war, about the Holocaust, about these experiences. Every voice matters. Every story is worthy of an audience. I'd never heard of this story! And it was such a great story! I loved learning about this young woman and the creative way a TOY DUCK was used to smuggle papers. I loved the gumption and bravery.
The narrative and illustrations are SO good. Definitely recommend it.
Hearts pounding,
breath quickening,
feet scrambling.
Down into damp basements,
up into old attics,
crammed into dark closets.
Premise/plot: Nonfiction title for upper elementary on up. This picture book for older readers is set in France during the Second World War. The focus is on a young girl--a young woman--who smuggles false identity papers to Jews by using a TOY DUCK. (Yes, a toy duck). Her name is Jacqueline Gauthier. This is her story of how she (and the duck) helped save two hundred lives. It is written in verse.
My thoughts: I loved this one so much. I absolutely love hearing new stories. I love continuing to learn about the war, about the Holocaust, about these experiences. Every voice matters. Every story is worthy of an audience. I'd never heard of this story! And it was such a great story! I loved learning about this young woman and the creative way a TOY DUCK was used to smuggle papers. I loved the gumption and bravery.
The narrative and illustrations are SO good. Definitely recommend it.
September 26, 2023
This book did a brilliant job of portraying the horrors of the Holocaust in an approachable way while conveying the strength, morals, and courage of a remarkable teenage girl – Judith Geller. With so much to cover about that part of history in a short picture book, I love that the author, Elisa Boxer, chose to focus on Judith Geller's ingenuity, secrets, and rebellious spirit. She used a toy wooden duck as a way to transport life-saving documents to people who needed them, and she used false documents as a Christian social worker helping children as a way to access and transport these documents to others. Her contributions and sacrifices were such an inspiration. The illustrator, Amy June Bates, work blew me away too. The limited palette and loose painting techniques capture that time and mood in history well. The illustrations are honest depictions of dark times without being graphic or violent. Lastly, the toy duck is a beautiful analogy for hope and I love that they included a picture of the real wooden duck in the author and illustrator's note.
December 19, 2023
During World War II, families all across Europe huddled together in basements, attics, and closets as Nazi soldiers rounded up anyone Jewish. The Star of David, a symbol of faith and pride, became a tool of hate when the Nazis forced Jewish people to carry papers stamped with that star, so that it was clear who to capture. But many brave souls dared to help them. Jewish teenager Jacqueline Gauthier, a member of the French Resistance who had to conceal her identity, was one who risked her life in secret workshops, forging papers with new names and without stars in order to help others escape. But how to get these life-saving papers to families in hiding? An ordinary wooden toy duck held the answer, a hidden compartment: hope in a hollow. Written by award-winning journalist Elisa Boxer and movingly illustrated by the acclaimed Amy June Bates, Hope in a Hollow celebrates the triumph of freedom and the human spirit, a story of everyday heroism, resilience, and finding hope in unexpected places."--
May 10, 2023
HIDDEN HOPE is the moving and powerful story of how one person can make a difference. As the subject, Judith Geller, is quoted at the end of the book, "At that time, everything, every little rebellion was important." Judith risked her life under a false name to pose as a child aid worker, smuggling forged identity documents to families inside a hollow toy duck. Elisa Boxer's prose and Amy June Bates' illustrations work together to paint a picture of that bleak time and convey a strong sense of the bravery and courage that it took for Judith to act, especially as a Jewish person, herself. The compelling back matter tells a little more of Judith's fascinating story.
Sadly, anti-Semitism somehow not only lives on but seems to have grown stronger. Like Judith's own acts of resistance, this book and others like it is one piece of the effort to fight against that hatred by helping children access, process, and remember this part of history.
Sadly, anti-Semitism somehow not only lives on but seems to have grown stronger. Like Judith's own acts of resistance, this book and others like it is one piece of the effort to fight against that hatred by helping children access, process, and remember this part of history.
June 10, 2023
The ability to approachably and appropriately describe the horrors of WWII, especially the Holocaust, is always tricky the younger a book's audience is. This one does an admirable job. The story itself is one that I hadn't personally known about, but I don't consider myself a scholar on the subject. The illustrations are well-suited to the topic, with rich, dark hues, aside from the bright yellow toy duck.
There's no way a picture book biography/history is expected to fully teach a subject as broad as WWII and the Holocaust, but even with the extensive back matter, I felt that a young reader unfamiliar with terms such as "Nazis" and "Resistance" would be a bit lost without some sort of explanation as to what those words mean. For that reason, I don't think it's a five-star, but a very solid 4. To be used along with other materials that would give a fuller understanding of that time in history to an elementary aged student.
There's no way a picture book biography/history is expected to fully teach a subject as broad as WWII and the Holocaust, but even with the extensive back matter, I felt that a young reader unfamiliar with terms such as "Nazis" and "Resistance" would be a bit lost without some sort of explanation as to what those words mean. For that reason, I don't think it's a five-star, but a very solid 4. To be used along with other materials that would give a fuller understanding of that time in history to an elementary aged student.
June 28, 2023
This is a story about true bravery that is great to share. The setting is occupied France in World war 2. It is here in a dangerous and troubled place that we meet a teenage girl named Jacqueline Gauthier who is working as a social worker, riding around Paris on her bike visiting families with small children. Among the possessions she carries - a wooden toy duck. However, all is not quite what it seems; Jacqueline is not her name, nor is she a social worker, and that wooden toy duck? It has a secret compartment which contains passes and papers made by the French resistance in their efforts to sneak Jewish citizens in hiding to escape the Nazis.
This is a picture book that is appropriate for many ages and grade levels. The story is both riveting and suspenseful and most importantly - true. Despite the impending danger and peril, the author, Elisa Boxer focuses on the heroism and great risk Jacqueline and others in the French Resistance faced, and allows more specifics about the Holocaust and French Resistance in the end notes. in addition, the artwork by Amy June Bates is detailed and expressive. A story that shows how everyday citizens can stand up to hatred and brutality; sacrificing their own safety in the service of helping others always teaches a good lesson in character and this one is a great example that can be read again and again.
This is a picture book that is appropriate for many ages and grade levels. The story is both riveting and suspenseful and most importantly - true. Despite the impending danger and peril, the author, Elisa Boxer focuses on the heroism and great risk Jacqueline and others in the French Resistance faced, and allows more specifics about the Holocaust and French Resistance in the end notes. in addition, the artwork by Amy June Bates is detailed and expressive. A story that shows how everyday citizens can stand up to hatred and brutality; sacrificing their own safety in the service of helping others always teaches a good lesson in character and this one is a great example that can be read again and again.
August 19, 2023
"During the Second World War, the first priority for Jewish people was staying out of sight. Because during the Second World War, the first priority for Nazis was getting rid of Jewish people."
Anyone the Nazis identified as Jewish would be taken away. So new identities were needed. And inconspicuous methods of conveying this information had to be created. This story is about a toy duck that carried hope with the help of Jacqueline Gauthier.
"But hate has a way of bringing out heroes." Jacqueline, a teenager, worked with the French Resistance was one such hero. Though her real name was not Jacqueline - it was Judith. And she was Jewish herself - living with a false identity and bringing freedom to over 200 people with her toy duck.
You can spot her throughout the story by looking for her bright red beret!
There is an Author's Note and an Illustrator's Note at the end along with a short bibliography.
Anyone the Nazis identified as Jewish would be taken away. So new identities were needed. And inconspicuous methods of conveying this information had to be created. This story is about a toy duck that carried hope with the help of Jacqueline Gauthier.
"But hate has a way of bringing out heroes." Jacqueline, a teenager, worked with the French Resistance was one such hero. Though her real name was not Jacqueline - it was Judith. And she was Jewish herself - living with a false identity and bringing freedom to over 200 people with her toy duck.
You can spot her throughout the story by looking for her bright red beret!
There is an Author's Note and an Illustrator's Note at the end along with a short bibliography.
June 25, 2025
A true story about a young woman saving Jewish people in France during WWII during the occupation. She was a social worker for children, so she was going into kids homes. They were forging papers and giving Jewish people French names to save them from harm. She used the duck to smuggle the papers.
The story is another example of one person doing amazing things to save people. Such heroics.
The thing about this is the artwork. I love how it was told, using panels to divide up everything. What a harrowing time. To think those times are back, I never thought I'd live to see that hate back and here it is. She used watercolor, pencil and gouache. The color pallet is so limited. It's mostly browns and greys with some pink and then yellow for this duck. It's desolate and scary, as it should be.
Children should read this to see how even one person can make a difference with enough courage.
The story is another example of one person doing amazing things to save people. Such heroics.
The thing about this is the artwork. I love how it was told, using panels to divide up everything. What a harrowing time. To think those times are back, I never thought I'd live to see that hate back and here it is. She used watercolor, pencil and gouache. The color pallet is so limited. It's mostly browns and greys with some pink and then yellow for this duck. It's desolate and scary, as it should be.
Children should read this to see how even one person can make a difference with enough courage.
June 7, 2023
WWII is a tricky topic for young readers. It’s the ultimate good vs evil on a world stage and endlessly fascinating to kids, but finding age appropriate books can be difficult, especially if you’re looking for picture books. Hidden Hope by @boxerelisa and @amyjunebates is a beautiful new release that captures part of the drama, but presents it in a way that is totally appropriate for young readers. The book tells the story of Jacqueline Gauthier (née Judith Geller), a French resistance fighter who used a toy duck to smuggle false papers to hidden Jews during the war. My readers related to the young heroine and loved seeing toys used in such an ingenious, life-saving way. Meticulously researched and full of beautiful language (“Hate has a way of bringing out heroes.”), this one is a must read. #holocaust #holocausteducation
September 12, 2023
This is a really fantastic WWII children's book! The story and illustrations were both beautiful and really handled such a hard topic delicately. I was crying by the end and it led to many good conversations with a couple of my older kids (9 and 7). We read around a dozen children's books back to back and they both picked this book as their favorite. The storytelling was moving and they really liked the cleverness of utilizing the toy to hide papers that saved lives. While the Holocaust was awful beyond words, Elisa's ability to highlight the heroism and sacrifice of one of the individuals who fought the evil regime and pack it into an engaging children's book is simply masterful. I highly recommend this book and the author even donates some of the royalties to the Holocaust Rememberance Center in Israel. ❤️
October 16, 2023
A powerful and moving story about a brave teenager, Judith Geller, who delivered forged identity papers to Jewish families during WWII. I love how Elisa Boxer skillfully sets the scene and pulls the reader into the story, so kids can understand the danger facing Jewish people, including Judith herself, who went undercover as a social worker, hiding the papers in a toy duck. The illustrations are exquisite and add to the emotion of the story. The eye naturally follows the bright yellow and orange duck plus Judith's red beret in each scene.
The backmatter is really interesting as well, with both an author's note and illustrator's note that share more information about Judith as well as photos of the actual toy duck and Judith's fake identification papers.
I highly recommend this exceptional book.
The backmatter is really interesting as well, with both an author's note and illustrator's note that share more information about Judith as well as photos of the actual toy duck and Judith's fake identification papers.
I highly recommend this exceptional book.
February 29, 2024
How people resisted during the war continues to fascinate readers and in part because often the history went unshared, but this is one such story that was inspired by the artifact. A wooden toy duck that Jacqueline used in her resistance. Pretending to be a Catholic social worker rather than the Jewish resister that she was, she moved in and out of peoples homes providing new identity papers hidden inside the toy duck. Because she was a social worker and worked with kids, they always assumed that she was bringing the toys for the kids and had several close calls. Her bike was her chariot bringing her all over to save as many people as she could.
Harrowing story beautifully told in a picture book that both is a powerful reminder of those that fought back but also that these stories continue to slip away if survivors don't share their stories or catalog them so that we all remember.
Harrowing story beautifully told in a picture book that both is a powerful reminder of those that fought back but also that these stories continue to slip away if survivors don't share their stories or catalog them so that we all remember.
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