The Best Berlin Books for Kids

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 2015

A Night Divided

By Jennifer A. Nielsen

A girl risks everything to escape East Berlin and reunite her divided family.

352 pages· 71,577 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 49,452 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In a city split by the Berlin Wall, Gerta's family is torn apart. Trapped in East Berlin, she discovers a daring plan to tunnel to freedom. With soldiers watching and trust scarce, Gerta and her brother Fritz must decide if they can risk everything for a chance to reunite their family. Will they succeed, or will the wall claim another victim? This gripping tale of courage and hope unfolds in a world where every move could be their last.

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$1697

Picture Book · Ages 7–9 · 2002

Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot

By Margot Theis Raven, Gijsbert Van Frankenhuyzen (Illustrator)

A pilot's candy drop brings hope to children in blockaded Berlin.

48 pages· 2,364 words· Est. 19 min read-aloud

5.5/7 Bookroo·4.4/5 Goodreads · 794 ratings

$17.95Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In 1948, West Berlin faces starvation under Stalin's blockade. Amidst this crisis, American pilot Lt. Gail Halvorsen becomes a beacon of hope, dropping candy to children below. Seven-year-old Mercedes witnesses this act of kindness, sparking a bond that transcends borders. Discover how one man's generosity during the Berlin Airlift inspires a city and forges a lasting friendship. Will these small acts of sweetness change the course of despair?

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2010

Candy Bomber

By Michael O. Tunnell

A pilot drops candy to lift spirits in blockaded Berlin.

Orbis Pictus Honor (2011)

110 pages· 10,307 words· Est. 1 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 2,731 ratings

$18.95Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In post-WWII Berlin, US Air Force Lieutenant Gail Halvorsen faces a city in ruins and children in despair. With the city blockaded, he devises a daring plan to bring hope: dropping candy from his plane. As "Uncle Wiggly Wings," he becomes a beacon of joy, but can one man's kindness truly make a difference in a city torn by war? Discover the heartwarming tale of courage and compassion that transcends borders and lifts spirits.

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

Over and Out

By Jenni L. Walsh

A young girl must spy for the secret police or risk losing her family, but dreams of escape.

352 pages

4.2/5 Goodreads · 486 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In Cold War East Berlin, young Sophie is trapped behind the Wall, forced to spy for the Stasi to protect her disabled mother. When she discovers family in the West, Sophie sees a chance for freedom. Can she invent a way out and defy the oppressive regime? Her journey is fraught with danger, as she navigates a world of secrets and betrayal. Will her ingenuity be enough to escape and change her destiny? This gripping tale of courage and resilience explores the lengths one will go to for freedom and the power of hope in the darkest times.

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2016

Projekt 1065

By Alan Gratz

A young spy in the Hitler Youth must uncover a secret mission, risking everything, even his life.

320 pages· 62,253 words· Est. 7 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 23,766 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In 1943 Berlin, thirteen-year-old Michael O'Shaunessey, son of the Irish ambassador, secretly spies for the British. As a member of the Hitler Youth, he loathes their brutal ways but plays along to gather intelligence. When he discovers Projekt 1065, a covert Nazi operation, the stakes skyrocket. Michael must navigate a perilous path, balancing his undercover role with the threat to his family and his own life. Can he sabotage the mission without losing everything? Dive into a gripping tale of courage and deception in the heart of World War II.

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

What Was the Berlin Wall?

By Nico Medina, Who HQ, Stephen Marchesi (Illustrator) · What Was . . . ? series

The Berlin Wall was built to separate East and West Berlin during the Cold War, and its construction and impact are explored in this book.

112 pages· 7,963 words· Est. 1 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 451 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In 1961, a concrete barrier split Berlin, symbolizing Cold War tensions. Explore the lives of those trapped in Communist East Berlin, their desperate escape attempts, and the global political chess game. What drove one man to zipline to freedom? Uncover the dramatic stories and the wall's lasting impact on history.

Sale price

$2089

Picture Book · Ages 5–+ · 2013

Christmas from Heaven

By Tom Brokaw, Robert T. Barrett (Illustrator)

A pilot's candy drops bring hope to children in blockaded Berlin.

32 pages· 1,481 words· Est. 12 min read-aloud

4.4/5 Goodreads · 509 ratings

$21.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: During the Berlin Airlift, young pilot Gail Halvorsen notices children by the airbase fence. Moved by their plight, he begins dropping candy from his plane, signaling with wiggling wings. Known as 'Uncle Wiggly Wings,' his sweet mission spreads hope across a war-torn city. As donations pour in, Halvorsen's small gesture becomes a powerful symbol of freedom and compassion, touching countless lives in a divided world. Discover how one man's kindness transformed despair into joy, inspiring a generation.

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 6–9 · 2018

Irving Berlin

By Nancy Churnin, James Rey Sanchez (Illustrator)

A refugee transforms American music with unforgettable tunes.

32 pages

4.3/5 Goodreads · 170 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Fleeing Tsarist Russia, a young refugee finds solace in the vibrant rhythms of New York's streets. Inspired by jazz and blues, he crafts iconic songs that define a nation. From his first hit to the patriotic anthem "God Bless America," his music captures the spirit of his adopted homeland. How does a boy from a destroyed village become the voice of a country? Discover the journey of a composer who turned adversity into melody, creating a legacy that resonates through generations.

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2024

Max in the House of Spies

By Adam Gidwitz · Operation Kinderspion series

A boy must become a spy to reunite with his family in wartime Europe.

320 pages· 58,636 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 2,738 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Max Bretzfeld, uprooted to London, discovers magical companions on his shoulders. As danger looms for Jewish families in Germany, Max devises a daring plan: become a British spy to return home. Can he navigate espionage and magic to reunite with his parents? Dive into a thrilling World War II adventure filled with suspense and heart.

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2014

The Watcher

By Joan Hiatt Harlow · Shadows on the Sea series

Kidnapped in WWII Germany, Wendy's survival hinges on a mysterious dog and hidden allies.

304 pages· 61,328 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 507 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In 1942 Berlin, Wendy is thrust into a world of danger after being kidnapped and betrayed by her mother, a Nazi spy. Struggling with a new identity and language, she must navigate a perilous path with only a German shepherd puppy by her side. As she searches for hidden allies among enemies, Wendy's life hangs in the balance. Can she uncover the truth and find the family she never knew existed before it's too late?

The Best Berlin Books for Kids

Our 10 Favorite Books About Berlin

A Night Divided

Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot

Candy Bomber

Over and Out

Projekt 1065

What Was the Berlin Wall?

Christmas from Heaven

Irving Berlin

Max in the House of Spies

The Watcher

Great books, picked for their age.

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