Tales of World War II: Amazing True Stories from the War that Shook the World

Tales of Ancient Worlds

by Hattie Hearn, Margarida Esteves (Illustrations)

It’s the Second World War as you’ve never seen it before—discover the hidden stories of incredible human spirit during the world’s darkest hour.

Everyone knows what Adolf Hitler, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill were doing during World War II, but what about ordinary people? In this beautifully illustrated book, war historian Dr. Hattie Hearn reveals some of the most incredible true tales from the war, including:

• The Canadian cabin boy who avoided German U-boats crossing the Atlantic
• The Navajo soldiers who developed a secret code to outfox their enemies
• The African-American jazz singer who worked as a spy for the French Resistance

Beautifully illustrated by Margarida Esteves and featuring stories from all over the world, Tales of World War II also contains jaw-dropping tales including the dog used to find survivors in the London Blitz, the champion cyclist who carried secret messages to help Jews escape the Nazis, and the bear who was recruited by the Polish army!

Interspersed throughout the stories are pages explaining the key events of the war—from Pearl Harbor and Dunkirk to D-Day and the Holocaust.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, History, Historical

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2023

About the author

Dr. Hattie Hearn has a passion for World War II that was ignited by a childhood spent exploring the forgotten wartime airfields of her native East Anglia. Since those early years, she’s made a career out of researching and preserving the hidden histories of the world around her, from old country houses to long lost ancestors. She works as the curator of the RAF Radar Museum in Norfolk, UK. When she’s not exploring dusty archives, she’s spending time with her husband, rescue dog, and two naughty guinea pigs.

Reviews

[Shari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good overview, but not what I was expecting. I thought it would be short stories about lesser-known people that were involved in or affected by the war. There were some stories like this, but they sounded fictionalized (I don't know if they were or not). Most of it was very encyclopedic information about the many different battlefronts and countries involved. While it did a nice job of telling about some lesser known stories (Polish children who were sent to India during the war), I felt it glossed over the atrocities against Jewish people. I am aware this is a children's book, and there is no need to traumatize younger readers, but the narrative almost made the Hitler Youth sound like a fun camp adventure, and there was very little mention of the Holocaust.
For what it is, this is a great overview and I enjoyed learning tidbits of information I had not previously read about.

[Tom Jonesman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book read at bedtime with my son. I realised I've never formally studied the history of WWII so lots of this was not only interesting to me, but told in such an accessible and entertaining way that makes me want to go out and do some more thorough research.

[Deviant Quill Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.deviantquill.com/post/tal...

Tales of World War II is a gripping and informative audiobook about the Second World War for the younger generation.

This wonderful volume, though aimed at children and teenagers, will undoubtedly teach adults something new. The book is packed with information and illustrated in a way that makes complex topics digestible. Whether you're a history buff or looking to expand your knowledge, this book is a great resource.

The book consists of a series of short stories that focus on specific events and individuals from the war. Some of these individuals are not well-known to the general public. This format makes the book easy to read or listen to in short bursts. Additionally, it enables the author to elaborate on certain topics more deeply than would be possible in a traditional chronological narrative.

Ell Potter's narration of Tales of World War II is engaging and easy to follow, and the use of sound effects throughout the book adds a sense of realism and excitement to the story. However, some listeners might find the music in some parts to be too loud.

The book covers a wide range of topics, including the rise of the Nazi Party, the Holocaust, the major battles of the war, and the role of ordinary people in the war effort.

It is a good example of how complex historical concepts are explained in a manner that is easy to comprehend for younger readers.

As a whole, Tales of World War II is an excellent audiobook for anyone interested in learning more about this significant historical period. It is both informative and engaging, and it is sure to appeal to a wide range of listeners.

Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in learning more about this important period in history.

Review copy provided by Macmillan @ NetGalley

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically a summary of the war from many angles, with brief stories of different people interspersed to bring parts of the story more to life. The writer chose some interesting people from different places, including Brazil and Africa, and illuminated parts of the war or stories from the war that would hold kids' interest, like the bouncing bombs and the explosive chocolate. I thought overall it was a good summary, but not quite what I was expecting; I was expecting a series of stories of people involved in the war in some capacity, probably children. Neither of those was the case, as most of the covered subjects were adults, but in the format of the book, that made sense. What totally didn't work for me applies only to the audiobook. It had a soundtrack that was so loud and distracting I often found it hard to hear or focus on the reader. I think the soundtrack is either completely unnecessary, or should be at a much lower volume (there's no way to tinker with different audio tracks as a listener, at least in the apps I use). Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Hattie Hearn’s Tales of World War II is a well-curated collection of stories from around the world. It is suitable for children ages 8-10 and beyond.

I have other books in my collection from the “Tales Of” series and they are beautifully illustrated. Tales of World War II was my first exposure to a “Tales Of” audiobook and it was incredibly well done. The definitions, explanations, and descriptions of key figures/players in the war were woven into the audiobook to provide context to the stories. The sound design added interest and drama to the individual storylines. Ell Potter’s narration was absolutely perfect.

I highly recommend Tales of World War II as a way to introduce this period in history to young children and/or provide an avenue for deeper discussions about World War II.

Kind thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of this title.

Tales of World War II by Dr. Hattie Hearn releases October 3, 2023.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for granting me a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Tales of World War II: Amazing True Stories from the War that Shook the World is a riveting, comprehensive overview of World War II for anyone looking for a place to start learning about this monumental chapter in history. While billed as a children's book, Tales of World War II is mature enough that adults will also be able to find much to enjoy here. Complete with a rousing orchestral score and interspersed with real-life stories and anecdotes that help bring the war to life, this is the type of audiobook that families can enjoy on long car rides together. If anything, the only drawback is that occasionally the music becomes a bit overpowering, drowning out the speaker's voice.

[Hannah S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good! Great, bite sized information about WWII that is perfect for upper elementary/middle schoolers who are interested in an overview of WWII. It hops around a lot from theater to theater sharing stories that even adults may not know about the war. You hear the stories of American, British, Japanese, and German soldiers, conscientious objectors, civilians, codebreakers, children and more.

The audiobook is a bit wild with a soundtrack that includes music and sound effects. Distracting at times and very intense at others.

Things I want to learn more about:
- Finnish Ski Troops
-Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
- The Night Witches
- Weixian Internment Camp
- The angels of the Kokoda Trail

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tales of World War II is geared toward younger readers, with an emphasis on sharing smaller stories that we may not have heard before. I listened to this one with my 14-year-old son who is an avid WWII fan. While we enjoyed the stories, and the history that was shared, the music was very distracting, and at times, took away from what the author was trying to say.

Good listen, but would prefer the music to be a bit more muted, so as to really shine through the stories and history that is being shared.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced audio copy for a review. All thoughts are my own.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was made available to me through Libro.fm's free educator audiobooks. Due to the short summaries provided as the format of the book, it packed engagement. As a school librarian this book will be added to our school collection. The format will be appealing to my reluctant or struggling readers. The book also provides a great picture of the events that encompassed WWII.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was able to listen to an ALC of this book thanks to @libro.fm. It was just okay for me. There were some sound effects that were really annoying to listen to. I think some of my students would like to read these stories, but I think many of them are covered in other books about World War II.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically done. It tells the stories of World War II from all over the world, and how adults children and even animals were involved and gave both sad stories, as well as uplifting and funny stories. Will definitely recommend.

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing as it takes the focus away from some of the main people involved in WWII and shows everything from other more ordinary peoples perspectives. I would love to use this book in my classroom as a resource for students.

[Fernanda van Biljon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book and beautiful illustrations!

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Shanley Nii · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect study along book for our homeschool WWII unit study! Enjoyable for children and families. We learned so much about the sung, and unsung heroes of WWII. It’s a keeper!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read for kids about interesting stories from WWII. I enjoyed listening to the stories and can see how my students would like the bite size history!