Description
Irena Sendler, born in 1910 to a Polish Catholic family, was raised to respect all people regardless of their race or religion. As an adult she became a social worker, and after the Germans occupied Poland during World War II, Irena knew she had to help the Jews who were packed into the Warsaw Ghetto. She began by smuggling food, clothing, and medicine into the ghetto, then turned to smuggling children out of the ghetto. Using false papers and creative means of escape, Irena risked her own life to rescue Jewish children and hide them safely in orphanages, convents, and foster homes. Hoping to reunite the families after the war, Irena kept secret lists of the children’s identities, which were buried in jars under an apple tree.
Motivated by her humanity and armed with compassion and a belief in human dignity, Irena Sendler proved to the world that an ordinary person can accomplish extraordinary deeds. This new chapter book format includes illustrations as well as sidebars on related subjects, a timeline, a glossary, and recommended reading.
Check out the other titles in this series: THE STORY OF ALL-STAR ATHLETE JIM THORPE • THE STORY OF BANKER OF THE PEOPLE MUHAMMAD YUNUS • THE STORY OF CAR ENGINEER SOICHIRO HONDA • THE STORY OF CIVIL RIGHTS HERO JOHN LEWIS • THE STORY OF MOVIE STAR ANNA MAY WONG • THE STORY OF OLYMPIC SWIMMER DUKE KAHANAMOKU • THE STORY OF CIVIL WAR HERO ROBERT SMALLS • THE STORY OF OLYMPIC DIVER SAMMY LEE • THE STORY OF TENNIS CHAMPION ARTHUR ASHE • THE STORY OF TRAILBLAZING ACTOR IRA ALDRIDGE • THE STORY OF ENVIRONMENTALIST WANGARI MAATHAI • THE STORY OF WORLD WAR II HERO IRENA SENDLER
