As a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania in the 1940s, Chiune Sugihara had a chance to help thousands of Jews escape the Holocaust through Japan, but it was against his government's orders. When his five-year-old son Hiroki asked, "If we don't help them, won't they die?" Sugihara decided to assist the refugees.
Based on Hiroki Sugihara's own words, Passage to Freedom is the first fully illustrated children's book to tell Sugihara's heroic story, highlighting his courageous humanity, and the importance of a child's opinion in his father's decision.
Awards
"Choices"
Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
"Editor's Choice"
San Francisco Chronicle
ALA Notable Children's Book
American Library Association (ALA)
Books to Read Aloud to Children of All Ages
Bank Street College
Teacher's Choices
International Reading Association (IRA)
Interest Level
Grades 1 - 6
Reading Level
Grades 2 - 3
Themes
Asian/Asian American Interest, Fathers, Heroism, Historical Interest, Jewish Interest, War
Accelerated Reader
Level: 4.1
Points: .5
Dom Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea, and received his MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. With his unique style of art combining techniques of painting and scratching details in encaustic wax, Lee has illustrated many award-winning picture books for children for LEE & LOW (see full list to the right). He lives with his wife and children in Demarest, New Jersey. To find out more about Dom Lee, visit www.domandk.com
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