One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II

by Lita Judge

When author/illustrator Lita Judge found hundreds of tracings of feet in her grandmother’s attic, she was intrigued and moved to share the story behind them.
One Thousand Tracings tells that story. In the aftermath of World War II a family in America established contact with a family in Germany and to help them sent them supplies, including shoes. The German family was extremely grateful and asked if their American friends would help others in Europe. Soon shoe tracings from all over the continent started pouring in to the modest Midwest farm. The network of families helping from the U.S. started to grow so that ultimately hundreds of people on both sides of the Atlantic were touched by this remarkable process.

Illustrated with a combination of paintings and collages of original photographs and foot tracings, this moving story is a granddaughter’s tender tribute to her grandparent’s who organized this relief effort. By sending hope and kindness they began healing the wounds of war. It is powerful reminder of the importance of humanitarianism during wartime.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Nonfiction, World War II, Childrens, War, Historical

40 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2007

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated picture book, based on experiences of the author’s own family.
On a search through the attic of her grandparent’s attic, Lita unearths a box of old letters , photographs, and tracings of shoes, of many different sizes. Turns out that her grandparents, her mother as a young child, and their community, stepped up in the years following WW2 to send relief packages to suffering people in Germany, and the box contained artifacts from that time.
A very moving story, about families in America who demonstrated in a difficult time in history what the meaning of, “Treat others the way you want to be treated” truly means.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If not for the photos, etc. I might have put this book on my historical fiction shelf, but I think the account is sufficiently accurate to have it belong on my non-fiction shelf. The author-illustrator dedicated this book to her mother and grandmother, which is fitting. Judge found a box of foot tracings and correspondence while cleaning out her grandmother’s attic. Her mother then told her their background. Her mother was a young girl in the years after WWII. Her grandparents were scientists and, when they found out the dire conditions in which German friends were living, they sent shoes and other necessities to them, and then to a long list of people they did not personally know. So, it’s very touching, yes. All German families, all suffering post war. And, generally, I love scientists and this relief effort was headed by American ornithologists. They sent care packages to many, many people. Very inspiring! And Judge’s mother corresponded with one of the other little girls. Very sweet.

But, I felt more than a bit uncomfortable, thinking of Jewish people who suffered and died during the war, and wondering what these poverty stricken families did during the war, especially when I got to the end and found out this family was friends with Konrad Lorenz, who was an Austrian, and a Nazi Party member, and not just for convenience or for safety, but because he was an ardent believer. Anyway, that really tinged my view of the book. But, I couldn’t help be touched about this ordinary family and their neighbors and other scientists doing all they could to help faraway families in need. From reading The Book Thief I certainly got a good sense of how everyday decent Germans suffered during the war and I know there was much suffering after the war too. Of course, relieving that suffering is a laudable activity.

So, this review is a bit of a mess because I feel so conflicted. As a story, without the author’s note at the end, but with the photos and other items from that era, it works wonderfully to show what people can do to help others, and children definitely participate in this, which is fabulous for kids to see.

And the actual items are fascinating, and the illustrations are wonderful; they’re beautiful, and many of them work well as paintings on their own as well as making important contributions to enhancing this true story.

So, I should probably reflect more about my feelings, but I’m comfortable with my star rating (I did really like this book) and I need to move on to other things/books, so I’m going to leave these musings in a bit of a mess.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleaning out her grandmother's attic one day, picture-book author/artist Lita Judge found a dusty old box full of hundreds of yellowing envelopes, addressed to her grandparents from all over Europe. Opening them, she discovered countless foot tracings, and a story that her grandmother had never shared, and her mother had largely forgotten: the tale of a private relief effort - one of many - which saw American citizens sending care packages to desperately needy families in post-World War II Europe. Told from the perspective of Judge's mother - three years old when her father went away to fight, six when the war ended - One Thousand Tracings follows the efforts of the Hamerstrom family, who begin by responding to a single plea for help, from an old friend (and fellow ornithologist) in Germany, and end by spearheading a campaign that sent aid to more than three thousand people in fifteen countries.

More than just a tale of generosity, on the part of people who had little to spare themselves - Judge's mother recalls that all the local children went without shoes one summer, in order to send their used footwear to people who had none at all - this is a story of putting aside animosity, after a terrible and violent struggle, and seeking to rebuild the human and intercultural relationships that war violates. I assume, from the fact that Judge's grandmother could read German (taught by her own grandmother, the young narrator tells us), that this was a family with ties of some sort to that part of the world. Given that this was so, one might imagine that - war or no - they could be expected to have some sympathy with the German families who were (initially) pleading for their help. But what about the many other community members who - as the narrative makes clear - contributed to the Hamerstroms' efforts? How many had lost loved ones, in the recent fighting? How many were hurting themselves?

These and other similar questions occurred to me, as I read this story, which seemed all the more inspiring as a result. The accompanying illustrations - a mixture of beautiful paintings, reproductions of real letters and foot tracings, and images of actual 1940s food products that would have been sent in care packages - were appealing, and felt completely authentic. All in all, an excellent book, one I would recommend to anyone looking to explore, with children, what one does after a war or other conflict ends - how one goes about building peace.

[Carolynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

After WWII the author's grandparents sent a "Care Package" to friends in Germany. The German friends sent them names of many others who were suffering from lack of food and clothing, especially shoes. They sent tracings of their feet. While this farm family was just scraping by themselves, they found that used shoes still were welcomed by the German strangers whom they helped. Eventually, with the help of others who had no more money than they did, they helped a thousand people to get by until the European economy could recover. This is beautifully illustrated, and the endpapers are particularly striking, with reproductions of the original letters, tracings, and photos. This is a new twist on a familiar genre, the World War II memoir.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, based-on-truth story about a girl and her family who send much-needed items to people in post-World War II Europe. I like the way the author included collages of the actual letters, photos, and foot tracings in the endpapers, and her explanatory note at the end. Combine it with Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming and Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot by Margot Theis Raven for a lesson on post-World War II European life. Highly recommended!

[Toby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Addams Children's Book Award Honor Book/ The Jane Addams Book Award is a lesser-known award, although it has been presented annually since 1953 by the Women's International league for Peace and Freedom and the Jane Addams Peace Association. Criteria include a child audience ages 2 through 12, fiction, poetry or nonfiction and a theme that promotes social justice, diversity and compassion.
One Thousand Tracings meets the above criteria AND answers the Jane Addams question: How can young people participate in creative solutions to the problems of war, past or present?. Told in the child's voice of the author's grandmother, the story details a family's efforts to help German friends after World War II, friends who had written that they had no food, clothing or shoes. When these items were sent from America, the parcel was gratefully received with the note 'Please send no more to me. Help others.' And so a relief effort by American scientists 'helped heal the wounds of war with kindness' by sending care packages to more than 3000 people in 15 European countries.
Jane Addams guidelines do not require illustrations but this book is beautifully illustrated. The end papers show a collage of old photos, tissue and newspaper tracings of shoes, lists of clothes and household items, and postcards and envelopes, addressed in old-fashioned handwriting. Each two page spread includes simple text, dated like a diary entry, and usually a photograph of the kinds of items that were sent overseas as they looked in the 1940's: cocoa, Ivory soap, and of course, shoes. On the page facing the text are lovely watercolors that show the child narrator and her mother, fighting their own battle to keep families alive after the war was over.
World War II is now in the past but conflict is neverending. Like Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming, this book will inspire children. Teachers and librarians should be ready by visiting www.operationiraqichildren.org for information on how to participate in a service project that sends school supplies to Iraqi children.

[Lyndsey Jones]

This story follows one little girl through what her life was like after World War II. It explains how she and her mother were able to help provide families in Europe with food, clothing, and shoes throughout the period after World War II. It is really interesting to see how the story shows how other peoples lives also unfolded after the war and what things they were in need of because of the aftermath of WWII. It is also cool that most of the pictures of items in the book were found in the attic of the actual woman who did these things for the people in need. I would consider this book an informational text because it provides the reader with information from the WWII time period and is based on true stories. This text could be used in grades 3-5. I would probably use this text in my future classroom as a read aloud, especially in third grade, in order to be able to walk through it with students and explain things that they don't understand, as well as discuss what went on in WWII and give them more background information about why the people in these families in Europe were in need. In addition, I could see myself using this in my future classroom as an introduction to a social studies lesson about World War II. It would really engage the students in the material because they would see that even young children were able to help heal the wounds and aftermath of the war for other families. Also, I would consider using it as a read aloud, and then have student practice writing by writing letters back to "Eliza" from the letters she sent the main character in the story. I chose this as one of my WOW books because I really love history, learning about history, connecting it to my own life, and learning about ways that young kids contributed to history because I can use things like this in my future classroom to demonstrate to students that they can be agents of change even though they are young, just like the young girl in this book was.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Source: IRA Children’s and Young Adult’s Book Award for Primary–Fiction (2008)
One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II is a historical fiction picture book that tells the story of how a little girl and her family in the United States help families in Europe after World War II. The family sends care packages overseas to families in need of shoes, clothing, and other things. The young girl describes how she helps her mom get care packages together by knitting socks and finding shoes to match the tracings.

Lita Judge, the author, explains in the Author's Note that she based this story on her grandparents who had headed a relief effort to help people throughout Europe who were in need. In addition to watercolor illustrations that capture the character’s emotions, there are also photographs and some of the foot tracings that were sent by families in Germany throughout the text and in the endpapers.

The theme of helping others is a theme that is significant to both the past and the present. The setting is brought to life and explained through the characters’ actions and letters that are exchanged. Examples of this include a family owning only one pair of shoes and taking turns wearing them and not having soap for two years. This is a great text to show students the aftermath of the war and devastation that families experienced and would be appropriate for students in grades 2-4.

[Emily St.Germain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book about a little girl and her family that help their friends in Germany during World War 2. They send food, clothes, and shoes to their friends and others that are suffering. To make sure they send the right size shoes, the people in Germany trace their feet and send the tracings back to this family. There ends up being one thousand tracings for the shoes that the people in Germany need over the course of time. This is the story of the author's grandparents who organized this relief effort.

Teachers could use this book in their classrooms to teach the history about World War 2 and what things were like for the people on the outside of the war. The book is written in a journal like format. Students could learn how to write their own journal entries.

What wow'd me about this books was the illustrations. The author is also the illustrator and used copies of real letters that were sent back and forth from her grandparents and the people in Germany. She also include photographs. The pictures in the book look like oil paintings, which are just beautiful.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lita Judge's grandparents, Fran and Frederick Hamerstrom, sent relief to people suffering the aftermath of World War II. Using their network of American Ornithologists, they asked fellow scientists to help by sending care packages to more than three thousand people in Europe.

One of the greatest needs was shoes. People overseas would send tracings of their feet to help insure shoes that would fit would be sent to them. While cleaning out her grandparents' attic, Lita found foot tracings of every size. While her grandmother never talked about her relief efforts, Lita's mother's memories came rushing back when she saw the box of mementos.

This beautifully illustrated picture book and series of poems shows just how powerful force of good can be. While the memories of World War II are generally tragic, Judge's book is an awesome reminder that good can overcome evil.

[Karen Witzler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about a group of people who collected shoes for needy German and Austrian families after World War II. The illustrations are lovely and a kind young American girl tells the story of the tracings which represent the unshod feet of post-war Europeans. Letters flow back and forth between families. This is a fine tale for an historical read-aloud for this period, but the author's note at the end reveals that many of the families to whom the shoes were delivered were active participants in the Nazi Party. The pre-war friendship that initiates the exchange is with the family of Konrad Lorenz. Any parent or educator who uses this as a read-aloud or teaching tool should familiarize themselves with this context. I believe the author's reference to "healing the wounds" should have included a fuller, if muted for children, explanation of the origin and depth of these wounds.

[April Helms · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word: "Wonderful!" The author takes the memories of her own mother and grandmother to shape this illustrated tale of how everyday Americans helped those in Europe recover after World War II. It was an interesting and moving history lesson (I had never heard this side of the story, especially about the foot tracings those in Europe would send so they could get better, used shoes sent to them). Judge has even incoprorated the letters and pictures sent to her family during that time by those requesting assistance. These are intermingled with her lovely watercolor renderings.

[Luann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a touching, true story! I'm not sure I would be able to read this one aloud to a class without some tears. I love the photos of real items throughout the book and the letters, tracings, and photos on the endpapers. The author's note adds a lot to the story. Very nice!

[Emily McKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary/Personal Response: One Thousand Tracing is a picture book, told from the young daughter's perspective. about an American family who comes to the aid of many German families. Based off of a true story, the family gets in contact with a German family who tells them of their need. The family sends back a Christmas package with supplies and shoes. The family requests more of their help for other families, and the American family begins collecting supplies and shoes that match tracing sent by the German family.
Another exploration of WWII, there is a lot of hope portrayed in this book. This little girl’s words tell the story of a hopeful and generous family doing all they can to help those in need. Down to the tracing of people’s feet to help portray shoe sizes, illustrates how desperately in need the German families were in this time. While lots of stories are learned about WWII in Germany, many of them surround the Holocaust, Hitler, and the Nazis, portraying a very evil place. It is important to teach students the pain and struggles the people of Germany were experiencing outside of Hitler and his propaganda. The connection of an American family and a German family I think would spark the ultimate interest for a child of America.

[Kylee Wiyrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

When looking at the cover of this book, I had no idea that it was going to be about World War II and the hardships that came with it. This book is based on a true story about a box that the author found in her grandparent’s attic and the items that she found inside it. On each page there is a combination of original pictures and illustrations that work together to create an emotional connection with the reader. Even more, each page contains a letter that was sent during the times of World War II, giving readers insight to the struggles that people lived through. I found this book to be very interesting because it is outside the genre that I usually read, although I actually enjoyed it. The original pictures but the letters into perspective for me and the author’s note immediately hooked me into the story. One thing that I am hesitant about however, is the format of the book itself. Each page begins with a different month from the year of 1947, and it was difficult for me to determine if I was reading letters, or an individual story.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book about a family helping to send European citizens necessities (shoes, clothing, soap, food) right after World War II. The history books often leave out the tremendous poverty and desolation after a war has torn through a city, country, etc. I really enjoyed this book and think it’d bring out some great community involvement projects with students.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this for a 2nd Grade Reading Group. We were looking at the Five Mindset Stances: Empathy, Flexibility, Resilience, Persistence and Optimism. This week was Empathy - feel how another person is feeling and imagining what it would be like to be in their shoes. You have empathy when you feel someone else's feelings in your own heart.

[Karri Hoopes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful true story showing the help many people in the USA gave to those who were in war torn Europe at the end of WWII. It was heart warming, well written, the pictures were touching and the pictures on the end papers that were originals from her grandmother were wonderful. I cried as I read this, it was so touching.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars might be a little extreme but I love everything about this book I love that it's true story I love it it's a true story about the authors family I love the illustrations I love the story. and the only thing I can hope is that I could help people in a similar manner

[Samantha Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down one of the best books I have read about Americans helping out European families during World War II. This is a wonderful book to show to students, that by spreading kindness to people you might not even know will light up their life during the darkest times.

[Cala · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK story about American families helping the many families in need in Europe after WWII. I like that the pictures in the book are from real foot tracings and notes that the author found in the attic. That's the coolest part of the story. The text itself is not that engaging though.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a unique story related to the Holocaust. I do think that this is an age appropriate book for young students to give them a point of view of what WWII was like. Thankful for books like these

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved that it is based on true people and events, it reminded me a lot of Boxes for Katje. A good message of post war humanity and those who are around us quietly serving others, never looking for praise or something in return.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A geat historical picture book.
2/19/17 Read with Naomi.

[Shyanna C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book but needs more information

[Linda B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great historical fiction book that is based on a true event.
Illustrates "Caring" value so well!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing true story!

[Cassandra Clyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring and phenomenal story that exemplifies how everyone can do something, and even if that something seems small, it can make a big difference!

[Melissa Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with some of my middle elementary students for a social-emotional lesson. We had great discussions about how empathy leads to service. I love the history behind the storyline.

[Cindy & Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!!!!