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Kathy Kacer is to be commended for writing books in different genres including historical fiction, non-fiction and picture books, and for different audiences including upper elementary, middle years and young adult readers. The real-life experiences of her mother prompted Kacer to publish her first historical fiction title The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser. Gabi recounts her experiences as a young Jewish girl who lived on a family farm in Eastern Europe during the Second World War. When the Nazi’s conducted house searches for Jewish children, Gabi successfully hid in the dining room dresser (which is now in the author’s home).

Award-winning author Kathy Kacer has written numerous fiction and non-fiction books for children about the Holocaust. With a master’s degree in psychology, she worked with troubled teens before turning to writing full time in 1998. Growing up listening to her parents’ stories of their experiences during the Holocaust, her writing is a very personal labour of love. Her work has been translated into many languages and rights have been sold around the world. Kathy spends much of her time speaking at schools, libraries and conferences. In the following interview Kathy tells us about the importance of speaking to this generation about the Holocaust, her favourite Jewish custom, books she has collaborated on and much more.

Making Art Together Saturday, May 26; Creative learning through art, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (for ages 3-5); $15 (adult and child), $5 each additional person; Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener; 519-579-5860 Family Sundays Sunday, June 3; Interative activities, stories, drama games, 2 to 5 p.m.; free admission; Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener; 519-579-5860 Making Art Together Saturday, June 16; Creative learning through art, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (for ages 3-5); $15 (adult and child), $5 each additional person; Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener; 519-579-5860

Making Art Together Saturday, May 26; Creative learning through art, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (for ages 3-5); $15 (adult and child), $5 each additional person; Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener; 519-579-5860 Family Sundays Sunday, June 3; Interative activities, stories, drama games, 2 to 5 p.m.; free admission; Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener; 519-579-5860 Making Art Together Saturday, June 16; Creative learning through art, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (for ages 3-5); $15 (adult and child), $5 each additional person; Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener; 519-579-5860

The Secret of Gabi's Dresser is based on an award-winning book by North York author Kathy Kacer. Kacer's book details the life of her mother, who hid in the dresser while Nazi soldiers searched her house looking for her. After hiding in the dresser until the Nazi soldiers left her home, 13-year-old Gabi went into hiding to avoid being put to work in a labour camp. While The Secret of Gabi's Dresser offers a retelling of some of the horrors of the Holocaust, it is geared at children as young as eight. : Mirror photo/IRVIN MINTZ / Author Kathy Kacer, centre, holds her book, 'The Secret of Gabi's Dresser', that will be brought to life as a play by actress Jill Morrison and director Mark Cassidy. The furniture in the foreground is the dresser that helped Gabi, Kacer's mother, survive the Holocaust and whose story is told in the book.

Kathy Kacer has adapted her award-winning children's Holocaust book The Secret of Gabi's Dresser into a play which opens this week at Toronto's Al Green Theatre of the Miles Nadal JCC. While [Gabi]'s family and friends flesh out the play, \"the focal point is the girl,\" Kacer says, \"because children relate to children.\" Other page-to-stage revisions included expanding character roles. The boy who joined the Nazi Youth movement in the book becomes Gabi's ex-boyfriend in the play, Kacer says. Also, the bold Stephan who hides Gabi's family on his farm shifts from bit player to supporting actor, which Kacer believes is necessary for someone \"with a good heart who protects a family despite the risks involved.\"

[Kathy Kacer] has a master's degree in psychology and worked for many years in the field of children's mental health. She has also been a children's entertainer, writing her own songs and performing at children's schools and parties. Her two children, Jake and [Gabi], are teenagers attending performing arts schools in Toronto.

Clara's War follows The Secret of Gabi's Dresser, released in 1999. It is based on the real-life experience of [Kathy Kacer]'s mother Gabi, who hid in a dresser during the Holocaust while Nazi soldiers searched her home. Kacer has a diversified background that includes work as a children's entertainer and a psychologist with troubled teens, but she said she has always dreamed about being an author. Photo: Wayne Creighton, Special to The Standard / Kathy Kacer, author of Clara's War, winner of the Ontario Library Association 2002 Red Maple Award, was in Welland at Eastdale Secondary School Tuesday morning to speak to students about the book.

Take time to enjoy a good book tomorrow and drop by the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (750 Spadina...