One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II

I just found this powerful new picture book at Cover to Cover. ONE THOUSAND TRACINGS by Lita Judge is based on a family story. Following World War II, this American family helped families in Germany who were suffering after the war. Many families sent tracings of their feet with letters asking for help finding shoes for family members. They organized others to help too and were able to help hundreds of families during this difficult time.

The illustrations are amazing--beautiful paintings with actual artifacts from the author/illustrator's grandparents' attic. Real photos, letters asking for help, tracings of feet on a variety of paper are all part of the illustrations and end pages. The author's note adds a bit more information.

Although this book is powerful, I think it can be read to young children too. Often, books like this are too much for young children. But this book focuses on the good that one family did and how their help made such an impact on others. It is told from a child's voice which also makes it appropriate for children of all ages. I am adding it to my stack of books about people who have made a difference in the world.