Cher Ami

Based on the World War I

Legend of the Fearless Pigeon

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Christy Ottaviano Books

(Little, Brown and Company)

(pub.5.31.22) 40 pages

Author: Mélisande Potter

Illustrator: Giselle Potter

Character: Cher Ami, a pigeon

Overview:

" In October 1918, during World War I, nearly seven hundred American soldiers were trapped behind enemy lines with no prospect of rescue. Allied troops did not have access to their location, and every attempt at communication provoked more casualties. Their only hope—to dispatch a trained messenger pigeon to reach help miles away.

This unforgettable story celebrates courage and determination in its most vulnerable form. Cher Ami was shot down during her mission yet managed to save many lives, proving her fearless flight was a remarkable one."

Tantalizing taste:

" Off she flew in the middle of bursting bombs and blinding flashes of light. Cher Ami struggled to fly above the range of fire, determined to succeed. Her eyes hurt from the clouds of smoke, and it was difficult to breath. With great courage, she raced at top speed until she reached her home loft.

The soldiers greeted her with cheers - and her dinner too. A day-old baguette had never tasted so good!"

And something more: Mélisande Potter, in A Note from the Author explains that "This telling of Cher Ami's story is a blend of truth and legend. Some facts remain unclear, but what is certain is that Cher Ami was a courageous pigeon [ who received many awards, including] in 2019 the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery."

The author and illustrator are a mother-daughter pair, and illustrator Giselle Potter dedicated the book: "For Mom".

Hidden Hope

How a Toy and a Hero Saved

Lives During the Holocaust

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Abrams Books

(pub.3.14.2023) 48 pages

Ages 4-8

Author: Elisa Boxer

Illustrator: Amy June Bates

Character: Judith Geller (pseudonym Jacqueline Gauthier)

Overview:

" During 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."

Tantalizing taste:

"And then came the day

Allied soldiers streamed into the streets.

People were cheering and crying and running to the tanks

to hug the heroes who'd brought candy and gum and

FREEDOM.

Where there was hiding,

now there was hope.

People could once again live

and learn

and play

and pray

safe from capture."``

And something more: Elisa Boxer, in the Author's Note writes that "To me, the duck is a symbol of shining a light on the truth of the war. Surrounded by memories that the Nazis couldn't destroy, it's in a museum [Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel] that showcases the suffering and strength of the Jewish people who once lived. It's on display with artifacts ... that belonged to Jewish prisoners and others killed in concentration camps. From a war that sent so many in hiding, during a time of such utter darkness, these artifacts are now out in the open and online - for the world to see...

I held the memory of the victims close as I wrote this book. I hope this serves as a tribute to the lives that were lost and a reminder of the suffering as well as a celebration of the lives that were saved and a recognition of the heroism."

Never Give Up

Dr. Kati Karikó and the Race

for the Future of Vaccines

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Millbrook Press

(Lerner Publishing)

(pub.3.7.2023) 40 pages

ages 5-10

Author: Debbie Dadey

Illustrator: Juliana Oakley

Character: Dr. Kati Karikó

Overview:

" Growing up in a small Hungarian town, Kati Karikó was curious about everything.

As an adult, she channeled her curiosity into her work as a scientist. An mRNA vaccine had never been made before, and she faced frequent criticism and was told by other scientists she would never succeed. After many years of hard work and dedication, she figured out how to use mRNA to make a vaccine―and when a deadly virus called COVID-19 started infecting millions of people, Kati’s invention turned out to be exactly what the world needed."

Tantalizing taste:

" That evening, Kati told her family she wanted to be a scientist. Apuka was a butcher, and Anyuka, Kati's mother, did the bookkeeping at a nearby bottle factory. They believed that with hard work and perseverance, their children could do anything.

Anyuka said, 'I look forward to you earning the Noble Prize.'

Kati loved a challenge. Could she really win the biggest honor possible for a scientist?"

And something more: Debbie Dadey, in the Author's Note writes about choosing to write this book: "Dr. Katalin Karikó's pioneering work with mRNA inspired me and I wanted other people to know what she achieved. Her curiosity and tenacity saved many lives during the COVID-19 pandemic...I am thankful to scientists like Kati who want to make the world better and don't give up even when times are hard."

In the Acknowledgments section listing numerous awards she has won, the book includes this quote: "A cofounder of Moderna, Derrick Rossi, said, 'Katalin Karikó deserves the Nobel Prize.'"