The Little Riders: A Moving Chapter Book About Protecting Holland During World War II for Kids (Ages 8-12)

The Little Riders is a believable tale of the experience of one ten-year-old American girl caught up in World War II when blitzkrieg comes to the Netherlands while she is visiting her Dutch grandparents. The novella offers drama and excitement for young readers. As the reader follows the story of the small acts of resistance against the Nazi occupiers, the imagining of the trials and despair of the war become possible, yet the brutality is kept at a level that allows even a ten-year-old to read the book and emotionally cope. This is an excellent book for introducing World War II studies and for cultivating the understanding that courage is often shown by ordinary people in times of adversity, that creativity and standing together can defeat an enemy. I recommend this book for initial studies of World War II as well as for personal adventure reading.

We read this for school assignment and my son was engaged and wanted to keep reading. It taught history in a very engaging story and was a great read for a 3rd grader and most chapters were a good length so we would break up into two reading sessions or to find out what happen he would want to keep reading. Great book!

My only wish for it would be for it to be longer. I read this to my active 8 and 10 yr old sons three nights in a row for a bedtime story. They were sad too when we finished it. Such a sweet story. Wished it could go on.

I read this book when I was 7 years old in about 1963 and I loved it. I have given at least 10 copies to people who also loved it. It is the story of a brave little girl who befriends a German soldier who has taken over her house during the war.

Excellent book..I even loved it and the school wanted it to put in their library! thank you

Johanna is visiting Holland at the point World War II starts. Her father and mother are away overseas on a trip, and Johanna stays with her grandparents. Johanna's job is to hide the "Little Ridders' - metal statues that represented young riders who left to the Holy Land and never returned. They symbolized bravery to the people of the town. Finally the liberators land France and come into Holland from the north and the south. After five years of Johanna's stay in Holland, her father who was in the Canadian army, surprised her. I liked the book because it is about history. I also like that Johanna was brave.

Kids enjoyed this book

thanks, it was great, this book is a part of our Battle of the Book series this year, thanks again

Arrived promptly. Read it some 15 years ago to my year 2 class and looking forward to reading it with my grandchildren