The Children's Tree of Terezin

By Dede Harris (Author), Sara Akerlund (Illustrator)

A woman with a bold idea, a group of children with brave hearts, and a small maple tree sapling…these elements shape the story of The Children’s Tree of Terezin. During the worst days of the Holocaust, hope still found ways to thrive, even in the horror of a concentration camp. A council of Jewish prisoners at Theresienstadt Concentration Camp, known as Terezin, were determined to share their knowledge and their faith with the children of the camp. One teacher, Irma Lauscher, found a special way to bring hope to the camp through a little cutting of a maple tree.
In The Children’s Tree of Terezin, discover a true story of bravery, determination, perseverance, and sacrifice. Discover a story that has inspired people throughout the world. Discover a story that you, too, will want to celebrate and share.

Writer Dede Harris and her husband Sam, a child survivor of the Holocaust, are deeply involved with the work of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. An artist, author, and former teacher, Dede engaged with the painful story of the Holocaust through narrative sculpture before being inspired to write The Children’s Tree of Terezin.

Illistrator Sara Akerlund serves as a docent at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education center. Her lifelong interest in history led her to study the Holocaust and to conduct interviews that record and preserve the histories of Holocaust survivors. A former teacher, she enjoys painting for expression and enjoyment.