This a really nice book with beautiful illustrations about a person who did something quite incredible and helped children feel connected and valued through stories. There is hope and a way for future generations despite the heavy burden of the actions of the past.

This book makes an excellent read-aloud. The colors are soft and inviting and the story reminds the kids to use their imaginations. I love a great read-aloud picture book that gently eases my students into the rest of their busy day.

A beautiful story in which we follow Anneliese who stumbles upon an exhibition of children's books from all over the world, and finds hope in them after having lost her father in WWII. Especially Pipi, a girl who also has lost her parents but doesn't let that get her down too much, helps her. I like how there is some German included into the writing, and the hardships following the war are displayed well but still suitable for a very young audience. The illustrations aren't my favourite, but they definitely grew on me. In the back we are told the true story about the lady who set up this exhibition, Jella Lepman. She and her Jewish family returned to Germany after the war, and believing that children's books from around the world could create bridges of understanding she wrote letters to twenty different countries and eventually managed to get together 4000 books. Just all over an inspiring story.

I loved the illustrations, but the story was a bit choppy and unclear to me. I wanted a more cohesive story about how books can positively impact us during incredibly difficult times. I did appreciate that the story emphasized being brave and standing against injustice. I also enjoyed that Jella Lipman's contributions were explained at the end. She sounds like she was an amazing woman!

Thank you NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing this ARC.

This is a heartwarming biography book about a girl name Jella who loves books so much. I'd like to assume that in those hard situation books was her best friend. Something that is powerful.
Young kids may not be able to grasp the whole story or the deep meaning behind this story. But I think it's a book that you can grow up with :)
One thing that let me down is that I wish the story continued until the "Book Castle" moment. I mean I know you get to read what happened next in the little section at the back but I think it would be more lovely to have it illustrated til the end.
Well, at the end of the day, I learned something new today, about a lady name Jella, and I think her story is really inspiring and make me want to hug my books even tighter :)

This book is beautifully written. The pastel blue, grey, light color dreamy tones of illustrations were amazing. My kids are bit too young to understand what Jella went thru but it doesn’t take away the story of her accomplishments. Highly recommend this as teaching tool in 3rd - 5th graders. Thank you NetGalley & Kids Can Press for this free e-book. This is honest book review of my own.

This book has lovely illustrations, but it is a bit sad. I love the historical information at the end and find that I enjoyed the story more after reading about its reference. This would be a great book for a library.

One day, Anneliese and her little brother wander from the rubble-filled streets of postwar Germany to a magic building full of books.

I'm speechless, but let me try.
This book is based on real events I never heard about despite being German, having been educated in the German school system, and being a bookish one. A woman, nicknamed the Lady with the books, decided that German's children needed a new start and asked various countries for book donations. Despite being told they won't help the enemy, she succeeded, and built a travelling exhibition fo books and read to children.

The story in this picture book is that of two children who are both bored and frightened and hungry on tops of things, who never knew about this exhibition, either, and stumble upon it by chance.

The illustrations in this book are a wonderful mix of grey and dismal and phantastic where the stories from the books poke through to reality and help to ease things on.
After the story, there is a section with a small introduction to ibby, the international board of books for young readers, and I'm sure I will do a dive into this because I want to know more.

I feel strangely connected to this book.
It's a piece of history.

I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This lovely picture book relates the true story of Jella Lepman, a German woman forced to flee Germany during World War 2. After the war ended, Jella returned to Germany with an idea to create an exhibition of books for children. 20 countries sent books for the exhibition. The author creates two fictional children, a brother and sister, who visit the exhibition and are encouraged by the books in the collection. Depicting the extreme poverty endured by Germans after the war, this book tells of the hope that the book exhibition provided for those in need. In the epilogue, the author recounts the story of the book exhibition, providing information about the formation of the International Board on Books for Young People, which Jella Lepman helped to found. This inspiring and uplifting true story is worthy of inclusion in any children's library collection.

The Lady With The Books by Kathy Stinson.
Publication Date: October 6, 2020

Description from NetGalley...
“Inspired by true events, a fictionalized retelling of how one woman brought a world of books to children in Germany after World War II, and changed their lives forever.

Anneliese and Peter will never be the same after the war that took their father's life. One day, while wandering the ruined streets of Munich, the children follow a line of people entering a building, thinking there may be free food inside. Instead, they are delighted to discover a great hall filled with children's books --- more books than Anneliese can count.

This moving picture book, written by beloved and award-winning author Kathy Stinson, is based on the real-life work of Jella Lepman, founder of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) and the International Youth Library. Lepman's collection of children's books from around the world traveled throughout Germany after World War II in the hope of building “bridges of understanding” between countries. Brought to life by highly acclaimed illustrator Marie Lafrance, this book carries an important message about international cooperation that still resonates with world events today.

This story of the children who survived the war offers a unique and often unexplored perspective for history lessons. It also makes an excellent choice for character education lessons on resilience. A portion of the author's royalties will be donated to IBBY's Children in Crisis Fund.”

Thank you to @NetGalley, @kidscanpress for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.

My thoughts...
Don’t miss this book. I was pleasantly surprised what I read in opened these pages. Note, read the description well. The story itself is about a brother and a sister. Their story is well written with engaging illustrations. Then, the story is followed by a little bit of history lesson about Jella Lepman and the reason why she started the library after the war. This book is a more mature read. It talks about serious and challenging issues. Adults should read the book first and be prepared to expand on the theme. This book is powerful and inspirational.

The message is beautiful and an important one. Opens the door for kids to ask questions to help them understand this time in history. I loved the illustrations. My 7 year old daughter's critique was that the book wasn’t really about a “lady with the books.” I have to agree, but the sorry was well received.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I love picture book biographies so I was very excited for a chance to read The Lady with the Books. The illustrations were lovely. I found the story to be wordy and a bit long, but overall pretty good. My favorite part is all the information at the end of the book. I love when I can share this information with my kids and help them better understand the time and place of the historical period.

I am so happy to have recieved this advanced copy of 'The Lady with the Books'. It is the first time I have heard about Jella Lepman. She is a very inspiring woman, and I can just imagine the hope and joy she brought to children whose lives were devastating by the war. I particularly enjoyed the information about her life included in the book

It’s a lovely illustrated story about an inspiring women. Tho the story felt a bit choppy at times, the message is beautiful.

This is a beautiful fictionalization of actual events. It takes place in Germany after World War II. There is a lot of uncertainty in the community, but a woman named Jella comes to town with a traveling museum of children's books in many languages. She changes the lives of two children in particular in this story, but in real life she changed the life of millions of people. I had no idea that there was a castle full of children's books in Germany (that was all Jella), She truly believed that children need good books just as much as they need food, and her work can still be seen today.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is a children's book. Well this is a tough one! I loved the graphics and the idea so so much 5 stars!! But I was slightly disappointed that we didn't learn more about the lady with the books. Maybe it needs a different title? Th he story is cute and engaging just a little disappointing. 4 stars

Amidst the destruction from the war, Annaliese and Peter find hope and escape in books. Even though I didn’t experience the aspects of war, I did a lot of escaping in books throughout my childhood. The words along with the illustrations were precious. I especially enjoyed the references to other classic children’s stories.

I thought the book was going to be more about The Lady with the Books. You do see her a bit but not very much. I very much enjoyed the afterward that told more about The Lady with the Books, Jella Lepman. I do see though how the story of the siblings show the type of impact her work had and folks rebuilding after a war. But perhaps the title should be adjusted to shift the focus, or better yet, I would've liked if some of her story was intertwined into the book. It's a decent book. I just felt a bit misled from the title and wanted to know more about Jella.

Jella Lepman was born in Germany and fled the country in the early years of WWII. During the war, the Nazis had burned any books contrary to their ideology. After WWII, Jella felt that “good children’s books from around the world could create ‘bridges of understanding’” between people who were enemies during the war. She said, “Let us set this upside-down world right again by starting with the children. They will show the grown-ups the way to go.”

Thousands of children’s books, written in different countries, were sent to Germany where Jella set up a special library. There was Pinocchio which was written in Italy, Heidi which was written in Switzerland, Babar from France, Ferdinand from the United States of America and Pippi from Sweden.

Jella was right, the children loved the books and it was a way to build a bridge and bring some healing.

If you are purchasing this book for children, please be aware that two children in the book lose their father during the war. It mentions that he was shot. This might be a difficult and sensitive topic you may want to address beforehand. However, don’t let this be a reason not to purchase this book. It is a beautiful story of healing and rebuilding after the tragedy of war. I love the quote about the children showing the way towards healing. It’s so true.

I would definitely recommend this book be added to a school or classroom library. It’s always good to recognize that beauty can come from pain.

I received an ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A lovely story about post-war Germany in the 1940's. Beautiful illustrations and a sweet story about how books offer comfort.