It Rained Warm Bread: Moishe Moskowitz’s Story of Hope

A powerful middle grade novel-in-verse about one boy's experience surviving the Holocaust.

Moishe Moskowitz was thirteen when the Nazis invaded Poland and his family learned the language of fear. The wolves loomed at every corner, yet Moishe still held on to the blessings of his mother's blueberry pierogis, of celebrating the Sabbath as a family, of a loyal friend. But each day the darkness weighed more heavily on Moishe as his family was broken, uprooted, and scattered across labor and concentration camps. Just as his last hopes began to dim, a simple act of kindness redeemed his faith that goodness could survive the trials of war: That was the day it rained warm bread.

Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet relates her father's triumphant Holocaust story through the words of award-winning poet Hope Anita Smith. Deftly articulated and beautifully illustrated by Lea Lyon, this is an essential addition to the ever-important collection of Holocaust testimonies.

Christy Ottaviano Books

Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet is the daughter of holocaust survivor Moishe Moskowitz.

Hope Anita Smith’s books include The Way a Door Closes and its sequel, Keeping the Night Watch. A professional story-teller, Hope teaches poetry-writing workshops to all grade levels. A native of Akron, Ohio, Ms. Smith now lives in Los Angeles, California.

Lea Lyon is an illustrator of children’s books. Recent titles include Say Something by Peggy Moss and Keep Your Ear on the Ball by Genevieve Petrillo.