Hana's Suitcase / Karen Levine / 111 pages

This is the true story of one young woman's determined effort to educate young Japanese on the horrors perpetrated by Nazi Germany and the courage of survivors.  Fumiko Ishioka wanted to establish an exhibit at a children's holocaust museum in Tokyo.   She requested artifacts to be sent from other museums.  She received a suitcase - empty.  On the outside in white paint, were the words:  "Hana Brady, May 16, 1931, Waisenkind" - the German word for orphan.  When children saw the suitcase on display, they wanted to know Hana's story.  Fumiko searched for clues across Europe and back seventy  years.  She uncovers Hana's story;  the Czech town turned upside down; Nazi invasion and cruelty; and Hana's heritage.  Fumiko developed a traveling exhibition "The Holocaust Seen Through Children's Eyes".  Viewed by over 60,000 children, it teaches tolerance, respect, and compassion.  Fumiko was able to locate Hana's brother.