Polish Heritage 

This is a web page I created for a college course (Children's Literature).  It is a compilation of picture books, fairy/folk tales, novels, and articles that might help one learn a little more about Polish heritage and history.  The material was originally geared toward about grades 5-7, however I believe these materials can be read by even older students, or by those just wanting to learn about Polish heritage.  Myself, as well as many of my friends, being of Polish decent, I thought I would take this opportunity to learn more about my own heritage, since I never learned about Poland and its history and people.  I hope through these books you can learn about the Polish as well.
 
 

       

Articles

Husarska, Anna.  "Warsaw Diarist."  New Republic  219.18  (2 Nov. 1998): 42.

Anna Husarska voices her concern with the growing anti-Semitism in Poland.  Although she has feelings of not belonging to one group (Jewish) or the other (Poland), Anna conveys pride in her mixed-blood heritage.
 
 

Nieuwazny, Andrzej. "Napoleon and Polish Identity."  History Today  48.5  (May 1998): 50-55.

What role did Napoleon really play in the rise of an independent Poland?  How revered should he be by the Polish?  Was he the key player in the fight, or did others lend a hand?  Are the Polish proud of their accomplishments?  You will find the answers to these questions about Poland’s history and its struggle to overcome foreign invasion in this article.

       

Biographies

Collins, David R. Casimir Pulaski: Soldier on Horseback.

A novel recreating the life of Casimir Pulaski from childhood, to Polish soldier, to Revolutionary War hero.  Exiled from Poland, the news reaches George Washington, who recruits Pulaski to lead a calvary in order to help with America's war against Britain.  A nice way to find out why we celebrate Pulaski Day in America.
 
 

Dineen, Jacqueline. Frederic Chopin.

Part of the "Tell Me About" series, this is a to-the-point, short picture book about the life of Frederic Chopin.  It relays how Chopin loved music as well as his travels and studies.  The story is accompanied by wonderful real-life photographs and illustrations of Chopin and his environment. 

       

Novels

Korczak, Janusz.  King Matt the First.

This is not a book about Poland or its history, rather it is a book written by a Polish author.  Janusz models his writing after several authors, such as the well-known C. S. Lewis (who wrote The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe), making his material easy to read, focusing on the way children speak and read.  This is the story of the very young boy who's father, the Kind, died, leaving Matt to grow and learn how to rule his country on his own.  Battling in a war as a boy is hard enough, but trying to run your country with the Ministry always wanting to make the decisions makes his job even more difficult.  A political fable following the struggles of a young king.
 
 
 

Armstrong, Jennifer.  Theodore Roosevelt: Letters from a Young Coal Miner.

After taking on the responsibility of working in the coal mines at age eight after his father's injury, Polish immigrant Frank Kovaks (now age 15) decides to write to Theodore Roosevelt during his presidency beginning in 1901.  Corresponding back and forth, Frank describes his life in the mines while the President expresses concern, comparing Frank to one of his own sons the same age.  Part of the "Dear Mr. President" series.
 

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell.  A Coal Miner's Bride: the Diary of Anetka Kaminska.

The diary of Anetka during her time of immigration to America in 1896.  Betrothed, by her father, to a coal miner in Pennsylvania, thirteen-year-old Anetka gives descriptive accounts of her life experiences, writing in the forbidden (by the Russian Czar) language of Polish (although the book is not printed in this language).  Dive into the hardships of an immigrant life at a young age.
 

Opdyke, Irene Gut.  In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer.

A true, personal account of the author as a young, Polish girl in Nazi Germany.  Read as Opdyke's home is invaded by the Germans, follow her growing up to help the helpless Jews, dangerously hiding them in order to escape the Nazis. 

Rudolf, Frank and Steffans Klaus.  No Hero for the Kaiser.

Fourteen-year-old Jan Kubitzky is scared he might die.  He hides among his empty Polish town, listening to the bullets and cannons charge by from the fighting between the Russians and the Germans.  When the Germans come to rest in his town and find him, they quickly adopt him as one of their own.  Glad to be of some importance and out of his abusive uncle's hands, Jan helps the German soldiers out of many sticky situations along their travels, including showing them the way around the country.  When the Germans want to reward Jan with German citizenship, Jan quietly disappears, knowing that this would not be an honor.

Lobel, Anita.  No Pretty Pictures: a Child of War.

Normally known as a picture book illustrator, Caldecott Honor recipient Anita Lobel writes about her childhood as a Polish Jew during World War II.  Her life of flight, capture, ghettos, and concentrations camps is hauntingly retold.  Spanning from age five to age 16, Anita's life story moves from Nazi-occupied Poland to Sweden, where she recovered from Tuberculosis and the war, to her move to America.

         

Picture Books

Leighton, Maxinne. An Ellis Island Christmas.  Illustrated by Dennis Nolan.

Follow a young girl's journey from Poland with her family to meet her father in New York.  Experience her hopes and fears as she wonders what America will be like, the check-in point process at Ellis Island, and the people she meets along the way.  Will she be turned away once she reaches America?  Will she see her father again? 

Adler, David A.  Child of the Warsaw Ghetto.  Illustrated by Karen Ritz.

A very to-the-point, nothing for show story of Froim Baum, a survivor of the Holocaust.  His experience with the Nazis, being taken away from his parents, and being herded into the walled-off, overcrowded ghetto, where people had to fight for a place to sleep.  Out of chance, Froim is taken in by Janusz Korczak, a kind man who established his own orphanage.  Many descriptions of how the Holocaust really was and what Hitler did with the Jews.

         

Folk Tales
 

Pellowski, Anne. The Nine Crying Dolls: a Story from Poland.  Illustrated by Charles Mikolaycak.

A picture book depicting a Polish folk tale about a desparate mother trying to quiet her screaming baby.  Advice from an old woman helps her situation temporarily.  Making nine dolls out of clothing rags and passing them on to others only makes those women with babies make more dolls, which end up back to the original woman, leaving her with the problem with which she started.  The moral: what goes around, comes around, and deal with your problems, do not just pass them on to others.
 
 

Adler, David A.  The Children of Chelm.

A folk tale about Chelm, a city full of smart people, at least that's what they think.  Several funny stories are told in this picture book, including how the adults solved the problem of the fussy children of Chelm not wanting to take their weekly baths.  Just make the children take enough short baths all at once to get it over with for the whole year!
 
 

Prose, Francine.  The Angel's Mistake: a Story from Chelm.  Illustrated by Mark H. Podwal.

Another funny Chelm folk tale.  An angel carrying the bag of not so clever souls snags the bag on a jagged peak.  The souls, who were supposed to be dispersed evenly around the world with the intelligent souls, tumble down to the bottom.  They form a town of their own, called Chelm.  Find out from this picture book how the not so clever people end up dispersing after all.
 
 

Haviland, Virginia. Favorite Fairy Tales Told in Poland.  Illustrated by Joel Cook.

Have you heard about the jolly tailor who climbed a ladder to the sky and sewed the clouds shut to stop the rain? Or the Flamebird, with wings as bright as the sun, who stole a golden apple from the king? Or the wicked goblin who haunted a house in the woods until a simple couple and their animals frightened him out of his wits? Intriguing characters and surprising turns fill this easy-to-read collection of tales from Old Poland.  (summary courtesy of barnesandnoble.com) 

         

Informational

Zamojska-Hutchins, Danuta.  Cooking the Polish Way.

A detailed cookbook of common and traditional Polish dishes and desserts.  The author gives a background of the Polish culture in the beginning before the recipes, and color photographs of some of the food are provided. 

 
  Otfinoski, Steven.  Poland.

Part of the "Nations in Transition" series, Steven Otfinoski puts together a well-organized book about the history, politics, and culture of Poland.  Very in depth observations and stats.  Includes map diagrams.  A very good source for information on Poland.  Also focuses on Poland's transition from a communist to a free nation.

Hintz, Martin.  Poland: Enchantment of the World.

Another informational book about Poland, however I recommend this book only because it has many beautiful photographs of  Poland's colorful landscape.