A BOOK BY ME

Deb is willing to come to your church, synagogue, club or classroom either live or via Skype. 

A published author, Deb encourages young authors to tell the stories of the Holocaust through A Book By Me.

She has presented many Young Author programs in various schools and  has taught at University of Illinois "YOUniversity" College for Kids program.  She speaks at synagoges, churches, Rotary clubs, etc.  She gives talks and workshops at schools, libraries, and museums throughout the Midwest.

She also gives programs for teachers, librarians, writers, and other adult groups.

Her fee is negotiable but mileage is a factor for any speaking presentation over 60 miles from her home in Aledo, Illinois.  

                                                        Deb Bowen     

                                                      Athens, Greece 2008

Deb Bowen of Aledo, Illinois, began a Holocaust writing project in the Quad Cities in 2002. A vision born after meeting three Jewish survivors from her area – each named Esther. To keep their stories alive, she collaborated with the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities and area teachers. Survivors shared their story in local schools and students were asked to write and illustrate their stories in a simple children’s storybook form.

Along with Jewish stories, books have been written about Christians who risked their lives (Righteous Gentiles) and prison camp liberators. Twelve books have been written to make the series called “A TRUE STORY BY ME”; six of those books were printed and distributed to local schools.

 Bowen encourages ordinary children to tell

extraordinary stories of World War II

                                               Eva Schloss and Deb Bowen

                                                     Moline, Illinois2008

Deb has befriended Eva Schloss whose mother married Otto Frank after surviving Auschwitz. Per Eva’s advice, Bowen contacted a professional curriculum writer. Teaching aides are currently being developed to compliment each book. In Illinois, and many other states, Holocaust Education is mandated to teach in public schools starting at elementary level. There is no better way to teach children about the Holocaust than sharing stories of survivors who live or lived in their midst.

A young lady from Burlington, IA is currently writing a children’s book for the series about Anne Frank’s pre-war pen pal from Iowa. There are letters in Anne’s own writing describing her discovery of Burlington, Iowa on a USA map. It will intrigue children of America's Heartland to know this part of Anne’s story. We believe they will be encouraged to learn more about this period of history as they continue their education.