This week, students at Sanislo Elementary had a priceless chance to connect with the people at the heart of a true story that has captured hearts and educated millions. “Hana’s Suitcase” is a best-selling book and also the production that just opened at Seattle Children’s Theater. It tells the story of a family caught up in the Holocaust, through a Japanese museum curator’s quest decades later to find out more about them. That curator, Fumiko Ishioka, came to Sanislo on Wednesday along with Hana’s brother George Brady and his daughter Lara Hana Brady:

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With them, at left in the photo above, is Sanislo’s ever-creative librarian Craig Seasholes, who hosted a Google Hangout live connection so other schools could share in the conversation with Fumiko, George, and Lara, visiting Seattle for the production’s opening week. Here’s the video of the event – which also included “Hana’s Suitcase” playwright Emil Sher:

The suitcase itself has been to more than 1,000 schools over the past 16 years as Hana’s story is told and retold and explored.

“Hana’s Suitcase” will be at SCT through February 7th.