The Whispering Town

Book Title:  The Whispering Town

Book Author:  Jennifer Elvgren

Book Illustrator:  Fabio Santomauro

This book addresses:  Nazi occupation during WWII, Anti-semitism

Nazis and WWII is a heavy topic. Although this lesson plan is designed to better introduce heavy topics to students, we must still take into account when some topics should be introduced to students. Be mindful of your student’s age. Although this is a picture book, it is better suited for older elementary students who may already be familiar with the topic. 

Potentially Tricky Vocabulary:  

Bulging: swelling or over-full

Harbor: a sheltered part of a body of water where ships can anchor

Trembling: shaking involuntarily

Questions to ask the student before reading: 

• What do you know about the Nazis?

• What happened to Jewish people living in Nazi-occupied countrues during WWII?

Historical context to give before reading:  

During WWII, as the Nazis expanded into various countries in Europe, they persecuted (harrased and punished) people in those countries that they thought were lesser than themselves. Some of these people were the Jewish, gypsies, and many more. However, this was wrong and many people knew it. So they created secret rebellions and resistances that rose up against this to smuggle people to safety and work against the Nazis. This is one of those stories

(The questions to ask the student and historical content above are interconnected. The historical context is typically going to be a supplement to what your student might not know. Some students may already be knowledgeable about a subject, others may not know much yet. Pay attention to what your student already knows and share the historical context accordingly.)

While reading: 

After Anett goes to the library, prompt your student to think about how different people in the town are all working together. 

After reading: 

• How did the town work together in this book?

• When did Anett show courage?

• Read the author’s note (this story is based on true events!)

Follow up activity (time permitting):  

Have your student think of a time that they were courageous or that they had to work together in a group to accomplish something. They may choose between illustrating it with a short caption or describing the experience in a journal entry. 

All definitions were adapted by Karina Connolly from the Merriam Webster online dictionary.