The terrible postwar shortages in Europe after World War II led many people in the United States to send care packages of food and clothing overseas. One such effort to provide relief was spearheaded by noted ornithologists (and longtime Wisconsin residents) Frances and Frederick Hamerstrom. It was a letter from friends of the Hamerstroms in Germany that alerted them to the difficult circumstances of people in that country and across Europe. This lovely, compelling volume details an extraordinary outpouring of support from the perspective of the Hamerstroms’ young daughter, who describes her parents’ work to assist an ever-expanding number of families. Letters from Europe arrived and out would fall the tracings, or outlines, of feet. People needed shoes to get through winter, or to get to work each day. The Hamerstroms spread the word among their colleagues and donations—of shoes, of clothes, of food—poured into their home. Author/illustrator Lita Judge is the Hamerstroms’ granddaughter. Her spare, restrained narrative beautifully captures the voice of a young child (her mother) who doesn’t fully comprehend the reasons behind the need, but who does understand, with the help of her mother, the need for caring and compassion. Judge’s stunning illustrations incorporate letters, photographs, and the actual tracings sent to her grandparents, all of which she found in her grandmother’s attic. An author’s note provides more information on the Hamerstroms’ efforts, and on the Kramer family, their German friends whose letter inspired their efforts. (Ages 6–10)

Two families—one in the United States and another in Germany—de scribe through their correspondence how difficult it is to return to “normal” after six years of war. The narrator’s mother begins a campaign to send shoes to strangers who only weeks earlier had been the enemy. Letters about miss ing relatives, unemployment, but especially the scarcity of food, clothing, and even soap clearly reveal the aftereffects of war. Watercolor illustrations accompany photographs, shoe tracings, letters, and other memorabilia. An author’s note explains the inspiration for this civilian relief effort. Candace Fleming’s Boxes for Katje (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003) provides informa tion about other post–World War II assistance endeavors. lmp

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./DIV DIV
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.