Grades
2 - 12
The Best World War II Books for Students
These notable fiction and nonfiction books about World War II cover topics of grief, bravery, and human conflict.
The Second World War was a watershed moment in history, filled with tragedy and destruction. But amid the heartbreak were stories of hope and epic tales of heroism. These World War II books will teach your students about significant historical events, while inspiring them to build a better future. These books cover allied forces, modern warfare, the courage of extraordinary women, and the tragedies that occured during Nazi occupation.
World War II Books for Elementary Students
Nonfiction Book
Younger students can learn important historical events through the eyes of relatable characters, like Anne Frank. In Anne Frank: The Girl Heard Around the World, students will get a sobering account of how Anne and her family spent two years hiding in an attic from Nazis. The picture book sheds light on difficult subjects like war atrocities and the effects it had on ordinary people.
Historical Fiction Book
Exposing your students to different book genres with compelling stories will help them stay engaged when learning about complex topics like military history. In Magic Tree House - World at War, 1944, Jack and Annie transport to the year 1944 and witness one of the darkest hours of history. The brave sibling duo helps allied soldiers defeat Nazi Germany during one of the largest invasions in human history.
World War II Books for Middle School Students
Nonfiction Book
An impactful way for students to learn about the injustices of the German army in the Nazi concentration camps is through primary sources — like a diary. First discovered in an attic, the Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl — a National Book Award winner — is an unforgettable, true story about the grave peril the Frank family endured and the courage they cultivated throughout their time in hiding.
Historical Fiction Book
For students who gravitate towards action-packed narratives, the historical fiction I Survived series is both entertaining and educational. I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 follows 11-year-old Danny Crane, who finds himself in the midst of destruction and bombs on his favorite beach in Hawaii. This New York Times best-sellng book covers the events leading up to the use of nuclear weapons, the Pacific War, and atomic bombing.
Bring historic moments to life and shop these World War II books below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store.
Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank's remarkable diary has since become a world classic-a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit.
Seventy years later, the bombing of Pearl Harbor comes to life for a new generation of readers!
The battle of D-Day, one of history's most exciting and terrifying events, comes to life in this amazing story of survival.
A stunning thriller about a girl who must escape to freedom after the Berlin Wall divides her family between east and west.
When Charlie's brother, Joe, is called up to fight in World War II, he promises to write letters to ten-year-old Charlie as often as he can. It won't make up for not being there to help Charlie out with the neighborhood bullies, but it's all Joe can do.
This fascinating little-known piece of American history is told from the point of view of the American civilians who were captured and taken prisoner, along with the American and Japanese soldiers who fought in one of the bloodiest battles of hand-to-hand combat during the war.
It takes more than one person to bring about change and innovation. Readers will find out how key players influenced and interacted with each other during one of the world's most memorable periods.
Women are sometimes called the silent protagonists of history. But since before the founding of our nation until now, women have organized, marched, and inspired. They forced change and created opportunity.
Michael despises everything the Nazis stand for. But he joins in the Hitler Youth's horrific games and book burnings, playing the part so he can gain insider knowledge.
This series of engaging, in-depth books introduces readers to the men who have led our country since its very first days.
Ruth Gruener was a hidden child during the Holocaust. At the end of the war, she and her parents were overjoyed to be free. But their struggles as displaced people had just begun.
Sharon Cameron weaves a taut and affecting thriller ripe with intrigue and romance in this alternately chilling and poignant portrait of the personal betrayals, terrifying injustices, and deadly secrets that seethe beneath the surface in the aftermath of World War II.
After being taught in a boarding school run by whites that Navajo is a useless language, Ned Begay and other Navajo men are recruited by the Marines to become Code Talkers, sending messages during World War II in their native tongue.
Hardcover Book
Days of Infamy: How a Century of Bigotry Led to Japanese American Internment (Scholastic Focus)
Grades 7 - 12
Tracing the history of Japanese immigration to America and the growing fear whites had of losing power, Goldstone will raise deeply resonant questions of what makes an American an American, and what it means for the Supreme Court to stand as the "people's" branch of government.
Newbery Honor-winning author Kirby Larson delivers a heartwarming story of friendship, love, and courage, and the incredible contributions of Navajo Code-Talkers during WWII.
The most vicious leaders of the 20th century are exposed in these highly illustrated, gripping biographies.
In this adventure, Ranger heads to Normandy on the morning of the D-Day invasion and finds himself in the middle of one of the fiercest battles of World War II.
Walter Dean Myers brilliantly renders the realities of World War II.
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