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Three book covers are pictured: Breaking the Mode, Fallout, and Wayward Creatures.

Jewish American Heritage in the ELA Classroom

In celebration of this May, we’ve curated a selection of ĢTV award-winning books, book rationales, classroom resources and lesson plans, and journal articles to uplift Jewish American authors, history, culture, scholarship, and literature.

Books Recognized by ĢTV’s Children’s Book and Poetry Awards 

by Dana Alison Levy
2024 Orbis Pictus Award® for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Recommended Book
See the associated ĢTV book rationale (grades 4–7).

by Steve Sheinkin
2022 Orbis Pictus Award® for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Honor Book
See the associated ĢTV book rationale (grades 6–8).

by Dayna Lorentz
2023 Charlotte Huck Award® for Outstanding Fiction for Children Winner
See the associated ĢTV book rationale (grades 3–7).

Book Rationales

ĢTV’s book rationales are available to members only. Not a member? .

Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation by Anne Frank and Ari Folman; illustrated by David Polonsky (grades 9–12)

by Art Spiegelman (grades 9–12)

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews (grades 9–12)

When Aiden Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff (grades K–3)

Classroom Resources and Lesson Plans from


Resources include a classroom activity to help students understand how German leaders could wreak havoc on a segment of the German citizenry during the Holocaust without many others coming to their aid or rescue.

(grades 6–8)
This lesson educates students about the experience of European Jewish citizens during the Holocaust to prepare them to become concerned and active students.

See also  ĢTV Resources for Banned Books Week and Beyond

ĢTV Journal Articles

“” by Mara Lee Grayson
Published in College Composition and Communication

“” by Jennifer Kagan and Raia Gutman
Published in English Journal

“” by Heather J. Matthews
Published in English Journal