In this moving and deeply personal episode 39 of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with graphic designer, educator, and author Ellen M. Shapiro to explore the true family story behind her middle-grade novel The Secret Buttons—a tale of courage, creativity, and quiet resistance during the Holocaust.

Ellen shares how her mother, a Viennese medical student forced to flee Nazi-occupied Austria, secretly crocheted diamonds into sweater buttons so Jewish refugees could smuggle their wealth to safety. What began as a mysterious childhood memory became the heart of a novel where young girls aren’t just victims of history—they’re the heroes who solve the impossible. You’ll hear how The Secret Buttons was crafted specifically for middle-grade readers who wanted to understand the Holocaust in a way that centers hope, agency, and resilience, and how Ellen wove authentic historical research with stunning illustrations to make the book both beautiful and emotionally accessible.

The conversation also dives into:

• How identity was systematically stripped from Jewish families—names changed, passports stamped, parks suddenly “forbidden”—and how these small humiliations led to catastrophic loss

• Why today’s children need stories that show them standing up for themselves, becoming early feminists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers

• Striking parallels between the refugee crisis of WWII and modern attitudes toward immigrants around the world

• Ellen’s belief that design is not decoration; it’s communication with soul, something no machine can replace

This is an episode about honoring the gifts immigrants bring, teaching young readers that they can choose who they want to be, and remembering that sometimes the smallest acts—like knitting a button—can change the course of a family’s future.

🎧 Tune in for an unforgettable story of love, loss, creativity, and the power of telling history through the eyes of children. The etsy shop mentioned in this episode is TheAlphagramshop.etsy.com The specific URL of the personalized editions of the book (hardcover and premium softcover) is https://www.etsy.com/listing/1818656257/the-secret-buttons-illustrated-wwii?sr_prefetch=1&pf_from=shop_home&ref=shop_home_active_12&sts=1&logging_key=b15cf9eae3edb8ecaaf321be4a5c6a706829d5bc%3A1818656257