Ernie's Books
Ernie’s Books, an initiative from Liberation75, offers grade 6 teachers a unique opportunity to enhance their classrooms with valuable resources:
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FREE books for your classrooms (English and French).
- Lesson plans created by publishers and fellow educators.
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Challenging Stories Book Club events.
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Various educational opportunities throughout the year.
Featured Book for 2026/2027
To Hope and Back: The Journey of the St. Louis
By award-winning author, Kathy Kacer
In 2026/2027, we will be featuring To Hope and Back. The book tells the true story of the 1939 voyage of the MS St Louis, a ship filled with Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany that was refused entry into Cuba, the US, and Canada, through the eyes of two child survivors and the heroic captain of the ship.
Through the eyes of Sol and Lisa we see the injustice and heartbreak that were caused by the prejudice and hatred of so many.
Our educators have chosen this book for its ability to provide sensitive, age-appropriate historical context for the Ontario grade 6 social studies curriculum expectations related to the Holocaust and Jewish history in Canada.
To Hope and Back is published by our generous partner, Second Story Press and made possible by generous donors.
About the Author
Kathy Kacer has won many awards for her writing, including the Silver Birch, the Red Maple, the Hackmatack, and the Jewish Book Award. In 1999 she wrote her first book in Second Story Press' Holocaust Remembrance Series for Young Readers, The Secret of Gabi's Dresser. Since then she has penned over 25 other books for young readers.
A former psychologist, Kathy now travels the world speaking about her books and the need to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive. She also addresses adults about how to teach sensitive material to young children. Kathy Kacer lives in Toronto.
Free 24"x 36" illustrated poster when you apply for free copies of To Hope and Back: The Journey of the St. Louis
Ernie's Books was created to support the introduction of mandatory Holocaust education in elementary schools in Ontario. We are thrilled to have sent 56,000 books to every school board in Ontario during our pilot years 2023-2025.
Ernie’s books is named in loving memory of Ernie Weiss, Holocaust survivor and educator.
Thank you to our generous sponsors!
We are still actively seeking sponsors for this program.
Please contact marilyn@liberation75.org.