Liesl’s Ocean Rescue by Barbara Krasner

Liesl’s Ocean Rescue by noted children’s author Barbara Krasner, recounts the story of Liesl Joseph, a 10 year old girl aboard the ill-fated MS St. Louis. On May 13, 1939, together with her parents and 937 other Jewish refugees they left Germany on the MS. St Louis attempting to seek temporary asylum in Cuba. 

Accomplished artist Avi Katz has beautifully illustrated this age- appropriate, yet historically accurate story. 

Liesl’s Ocean Rescue is a worthy and strong addition to Holocaust literature and curriculum at the elementary school level. An excellent bibliography of supplemental resources will facilitate teaching of a difficult but necessary subject. The poignant and uplifting account should encourage our children to stand up for what they believe is right and to make a positive difference in the livers of those less fortunate”. 
—- Dr. Margaret Lincoln, the District Librarian for Lakeview Schools in Battle Creek, Michigan, has served as a Teacher Fellow with the United States Holocaust Museum 

“Liesl’s Ocean Rescue offers a glimpse of a sweet and poignant interlude in one of the most shameful episodes in the history of the 20th Century. The book is suitable - and necessary - reading both for children and their parents.” 
— Martin Goldsmith, author of Alex’s Wake: A Voyage of Betrayal and a Journey of Remembrance 


Review

Liesl's Ocean Rescue is a excellent child's book about a very difficult time in our history. Liesl's is a young Jewish girl in Germany during WWII.  This was a very sad and difficult time for anyone of the Jewish faith. The story tells of her experiences and fear while living in Germany.  The struggles her family endured to ensure they would be safe and free. How the journey aboard the MS St. Louis changed her life forever.

I read the book to Davey & Isa.  The book was a great opportunity for me to explain the sorrows of the Jewish faith during WWII. It also opened up conversation on the importance of the right to religion and the importance of our democrat system.

I give this book Five Stars. I found it a very positive way to approach a very difficult time in our history.

If you want to be one of the first to read Liesl's Ocean Rescue check out AMAZON - the book is only $3.99 on AMAZON. 

About the Author

Barbara Krasner is a historian and professor of creative writing. She publishes the popular blog, The Whole Megillah: The Writer's Resource for Jewish-Themed Story. She runs workshops and conferences for Jewish writers at the Highlights Foundation and in conjunction with the Association of Jewish Libraries. Barbara has a B.A. in German from Douglass College, an M.B.A. in Marketing from the Rutgers Business School and an M.F.A. in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is a candidate for the M.A. in Applied Historical Studies at William Paterson University.

Illustrator Avi Katz was born in Philadelphia where he studied in the Schechter and Akiba schools as well as the Fleischer Art Memorial. After three years at U.C. Berkeley he moved to Israel at age 20, where he graduated in Fine Arts from the Bezalel Art Academy. He was the staff artist of the Jerusalem Report Magazine from its first issue in 1990 until 2012, and is active in the international Cartooning for Peace program. He has illustrated over 160 books in Israel and the U.S. including the National Jewish Book Award winning JPS Illustrated Children's Bible. His books have also won the IBBY Hans Christian Andersen Honors four times and Israel's Zeev Prize six times. His art has been exhibited in Israel, America and Europe.