A Picture Book of Anne Frank, my first picture book, was the first time the Holocaust was illustrated in picture book form, giving teachers an opportunity to discuss the horrors of war without the horrors of the historical photographs. It gave younger children a way to know about Anne Frank and the importance of her childhood before they were old enough to read her biography. It was successful enough that David Adler asked to have me illustrate his next three books on the Holocaust even though we have never met.

Ellis Island so fascinated me that I signed a contract to illustrate it before it was even written. My relatives came through what was then Castle Garden in their trip from Ireland to America in 1873.
A picture Book of Anne Frank
Picture Book of Anne Frank
written by David A. Adler
illustrated by Karen Ritz
Holiday House (1994);
paper ISBN 0823410781;
Scholastic paper 0439072271
Ages 4-8
Picture book biography traces the life of the young Jewish girl whose diaries chronicle the years she and her family hid from the Nazis in an Amsterdam attic. Watercolor and pencil illustrations.
Notable Children's Trade Book in Social Studies, 1993
Nominated for the 1993 Minnesota Book Award
Hilde and Eli
Hilde and Eli: Children of the Holocaust
written by David A. Adler
illustrated by Karen Ritz
Holiday House (1994); ISBN 0823410919
Ages 9-12
Hilde and Eli were children during the early years of Nazi rule in Germany and were among the one-and-a-half million Jewish children who were victims of the Holocaust. Watercolor illustrations.
Notable Children's Trade Book in Social Studies, 1995
Selected for the 1995 Society of Illustrator's Show
Child of the Warsaw Ghetto
Child of the Warsaw Ghetto
written by David A. Adler
illustrated by Karen Ritz
Holiday House (1995); ISBN 0823411605
Ages 9-12
Story of the Warsaw Ghetto told through the eyes of young Froim Baum. He manages to survive until being liberated by the American soldiers in Dachau. Pencil and colored pencil illustrations.
Notable Children's Trade Book in Social Studies, 1994
Nominated for the 1994 Minnesota Book Award
Hidling from the Nazis Hiding From the Nazis
written by David A. Adler
illustrated by Karen Ritz
Holiday House (1997); ISBN 0823412881
Ages 4-8

The true story of Lore Baer, a four-year-old Jewish child, who was placed with a Christian family in the Dutch farm country to avoid persecution by the Nazis during WWII. Watercolor illustration.
Ellis Island
Ellis Island: Doorway to Freedom
written by Steven Kroll
illustrated by Karen Ritz
Holiday House (1995); ISBN 0823411923
Ages 9-12
Reading Guide available from Minnesota Storytime
Describes how the immigration station on Ellis Island served as a gateway into the United States more than sixteen million immigrants between 1892 and 1954. Watercolor illustrations. Watercolor illustrations.
Winner of the 1995 Minnesota Book Award
back to Books menu
home

Copyright © 2005-2008 Karen Ritz. All rights reserved.
If you'd like permission to use something on this website, please contact the author. Site designed by Winding Oak.