The Virginia State Literacy Association just released its annual list of the best books for students. 2025-2026 boasts some amazing titles that highlight different genres and themes. One of my favorite Virginia Readers’ Choice books from the elementary list is Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust by Elisa Boxer.
In this post, I’ll explain why you must share this incredible true story with your upper elementary students and how to use it to teach the SOLs.
**This post contains affiliate links.**
CLICK HERE to grab a free resource for teaching Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust.
What are Virginia Readers’ Choice Books?
Since 1981, the Virginia State Literacy Association has selected contemporary books each year that students across Virginia are encouraged to read. Known as the Virginia Readers’ Choice books, these books are intended–
“To encourage young readers to become better acquainted with contemporary books with outstanding literary appeal, to broaden students’ awareness of literature as a life-long pleasure, to encourage reading aloud in classrooms as a means of introducing reading for pleasure, and to honor favorite books and their author.” (Virginia State Literacy Association website)
The winning Virginia Readers’ Choice books are usually announced in the spring.
What are the 2025-2026 Virginia Readers’ Choice Books?
Ten Virginia Readers’ Choice books are selected annually for Primary (K-2), Elementary (3-5), Middle School, and High School.
The 2025-2026 Virginia Readers’ Choice books for elementary are:
- Bea and the New Deal Horse by L.M. Elliott
- Because of You, John Lewis by Andrea Davis Pinkney
- Chupacarter by George Lopez & Ryan Calejo
- Dogtown by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko
- Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust by Elisa Boxer
- Hoops: A Graphic Novel by Matt Tavares
- The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
- The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix
- The Secret Battle of Evan Pao by Wendy Wan-Long Shang
- The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale by Jon Klassen
Most of the books on this list highlight diversity and overcoming obstacles.
I have always loved books that teach little-known historical events or figures in an interesting way. One book on this year’s list does this exceptionally well– Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust by Elisa Boxer.
About Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust by Elisa Boxer
Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust by Elisa Boxer is based on the true story of a teenage, Parisian social worker during World War II. While the Nazis are rounding up Jews to send to concentration camps, the social worker carries false identity papers inside a toy duck to hidden families. Her bravery helps many Jews escape from France and to safety.
One unique aspect of this book compared to the other 25-26 Virginia Readers’ Choice books on the elementary list is that it is a picture book. If you’ve ever checked out my blog, you know that I love reading picture books aloud to upper elementary students.
Unique Discussions with Hidden Hope
Kids of all ages love picture books, and Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust provides some great discussion points as you read aloud.
- The author uses the illustrations to further the Jewish people’s story during World War II. The illustrations often show those in hiding with muted colors, whereas the characters not in hiding are in color. Consider completing a picture walk before reading the text to discuss what story is told through the pictures.
- The author also uses the text’s style to highlight specific parts of the story. For example, some text is large or bold, and some pages present the text in a unique way. Discuss why the author made these text choices and how the text emphasizes important parts of the story.
- Hidden Hope is a story about a young person who courageously helps others. Encourage students to discuss ways they can help others in their school and community.
Teaching the Social Studies SOLs with Hidden Hope
I don’t know about you, but I rarely have enough time to teach social studies. With more importance placed on the ELA, math, and science SOL tests, it seems time to teach history keeps getting shortened. One way I get more social studies into my day is by combining it with ELA.
As part of the new 2023 History and Social Science SOLs, students are expected to identify information related to World War II (SOL VS.10).
While the SOL emphasizes World War II from the viewpoint of Americans, specifically Virginians, Hidden Hope provides an opportunity to show the war from another perspective. When reading this Virginia Readers’ Choice book, compare and contrast Virginians’ roles in World War II with those of the people in the story.
Teaching the ELA SOLs with Hidden Hope
There are many ways to highlight SOL-related reading skills as you read Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust.
Setting: Discuss the significance of the setting of this story. The world experienced World War II in different ways. How is this story unique to France? Could the same story have been told in the United States?
Character: Encourage students to identify the words that describe the main character. Students can also use a thesaurus to look up synonyms and antonyms for selected words.
Compare and Contrast: As previously discussed in this post, use Hidden Hope to compare and contrast the American (or Virginian) experience in World War II to the Jewish experience.
Context Clues/Inferences: The text uses figurative language and some French words, which requires critical thinking as students read. Discuss the meanings of unknown words and phrases as they appear. My free Hidden Hope packet also includes a worksheet that you can use to help students make inferences and decode information.
Fact and Opinion: Because this is historical fiction, opinions are mixed with facts throughout the story. Direct students to identify examples of each when reading.
More Virginia Readers’ Choice Resources
Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust is just one of 40 Virginia Readers’ Choice books selected for 2025-2026. Some of my Virginia teacher friends have also written blog posts highlighting other Virginia Readers’ Choice Books for primary and upper elementary and ways you can use them in your classroom. Click on each of the images below to read their blog posts.
Also, don’t forget to download my free Hidden Hope Activity Pack to find five vocabulary and comprehension worksheets you can use with the book.
You can learn more about past and present Virginia Readers’ Choice books on the Virginia State Literacy Association website.
Have you heard of the Virginia Teacher Club®? The Virginia Teacher Club® is a one-of-a-kind program for upper elementary teachers in Virginia. Members receive instant access to a curriculum library of SOL-aligned math, science, social studies, and ELA resources. There are lesson plans, games, assessments, passages, digital activities, and more for EVERY SOL. By using the Virginia Teacher Club®, our members save hours of planning time every month and have access to high-quality, SOL-aligned resources that students love.
CLICK HERE to join the waitlist and be the first to know when the Virginia Teacher Club® reopens for new members.