"Maus I: A Survivor's Tale" by Art Spiegelman

Art Spiegelman interviews his dad, Vladek, to try to piece together his father's experiences with the Holocaust during World War II. Vladek recalls how he and his wife were constantly either on the run, or in hiding, in order to avoid getting arrested by the Germans for being Jewish. Many Jews were sent to concentration camps, and few managed to escape the horrors of these camps, and were murdered while in captivity. Spiegelman illustrates his father's past, alongside his modern existence in New York State. The Nazis are drawn as cats, and the Jews mice. This story captures the tragedy of the Holocaust, not only for the survivors, but also for the families of those who experienced the terror of war. Spiegelman won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for this masterpiece.

"The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain" by Peter Sis

Illustrator Peter Sis grew up behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War. Communists take control of the whole country, telling people what they can learn in school, and limiting freedom of speech, including art! Peter draws in secret, and is inspired by Western imagery (the Beatles, blue jeans, Coca-Cola). He dreams of a day where he can draw in freedom. Caldecott Honor Book 2008. Recommended for 6th grade and up. Great for school projects.