The Tower of Life
By Chana Stiefel
The Story
A girl named Yaffa grows up in a Polish town full of family and light, learning photography in her grandmother's studio — until Nazi soldiers destroy her community, and she spends her life recovering the town's lost photographs to build a lasting tribute.
Why It's Special
For families ready to talk about the Holocaust through one woman's determination to make sure her town was remembered, not erased.
- Big idea: Memory is its own kind of resistance — gathering faces and stories can restore what violence tries to erase.
- Vibes: Tender, somber, and ultimately hopeful — grief transformed into tribute.
Perfect For Kids Who
- are ready to learn about the Holocaust in an age-appropriate way
- respond well to stories rooted in real history
- are curious about family, photography, and memory
- benefit from seeing loss met with purpose and hope
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & history: What did Yaffa do to make sure her town of Eishyshok would never be forgotten?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Yaffa felt looking at old photographs of the family and friends she lost?
- Real-life connection: Do you have photographs of your family that help you remember special moments?
- Imagination: If you were building a tower to remember someone special, whose photos would you want to include?
- Big ideas: Why do you think it mattered so much to Yaffa to collect photographs from all over the world?
