This is an important book that will (hopefully) inspire a child’s love of reading. The gentle, pleasing illustrations amplify the author’s voice—a perfect complement to the well-told story.

Two children folllow a line into a building, thinking food is available. Instead, they encounter the wonderful world children’s books. Here is a story that offers hope for a brighter future after tragedy.

Although the story is “inspired by the remarkable work of Julia Lepman,” the horrors of World War II, the Nazi rise to power, and the tragedy of the Holocaust are downplayed in this work. The book does mention the child’s father being shot for disobeying an order. The book opens with Germany recovering and in rubble. Understandably, this is not the forum to discuss what really happened. However, this book could be a starting point for Holocaust education for children, at least older ones. And more information about the life of Jella Lepman could be provided in a classroom setting.

The Lady with the Books is a story of the woman who eventually leads an incredible book organization. The illustrations are gorgeous.

If its about books, there is every chance that I will love it. This is extra special because it shares the books with everyone possible and shows the power of written words especially in the lives of children.
The title cover is of a pet horse. An imaginary image that I have is of a pet dinosaur whom I say hi to through a window from a secind floor. Reading makes optimists like the one Digging for ponies from Thanks for feedback. The science and art of receiving feedback well by Sheila Heen & Doug Stone. The kids rememberred the word hope from the library of Jella Lepman. Now kids want to know if Anneliese and her brother were real kids.
We have picked up some stories to read too from this book. The little brother recognises himself with Ferdinand the Bull, enjoying flowers and disliking fighting. After that page, everypage with the brother has beautiful, flowers all over the page.
Very well done illustrations. I could engage with little details like the drawings in the library stacks.

This beautifully told and illustrated historical picture book shows how Jella Lepman's book exhibit (showcasing children's books from around the world) brought hope and light to the children of Germany following the close of World War 2. Her work eventually grew into the IBBY organizations seeking to bring books and children together.

This book resonated with me and I've recommended it to my public and high school libraries.

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 :)

A unique look at history through the eyes of a child. Very sad but hopeful.
Touches on many topics such as death, loss of a parent, execution, the holocaust and war.
Many children may not pick up on the small references of these topics if they are not already familiar with the horrors of WWII.

As special as the story of the children is at the beginning of the book, it is more amazing to read about Jella and her amazing work bringing stories to the children of Germany. I can't wait to share her story.

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.

I loved this children’s book! Even more as it was based off Jella ‘The Lady with the Books’. She was someone who believed books were just as important as food after surviving the horrors of the Holocaust. Kathy does an amazing job of bringing this story to life! It would be my honor to share this book with any future children I have.

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.