Wow, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when this book started, but I'm sure glad I gave it a chance. This book was incredible. So was the story behind the book. This story well written, the illustrations were engaging, and the end matter was truly illuminating. For anyone who loves books and believes in their power, this is a book you should definitely read. I will certainly be adding this to my library both at home and at work as soon as it comes out. What an outstanding book about an outstanding person. Extraordinary!

This is poignant and so beautifully illustrated. It's the perfect way to introduce the little ones to finding hope in the dark times, and to the power of words. Kathy Stinson's illustration style perfectly complements this wonderful but oft-forgotten nugget of history.

This book actually gives us two stories. The first is the gentle and heavily illustrated story for young readers of two people who get irredeemably drawn to a selection of children's books, even though they're living off scraps of orange peel, and pigeon stew if they're really lucky. The second, the appendix that's more for the person reading this aloud or using it as an educational tool, is about the real woman who put the selection together – the wonderful-sounding Jella Lepman, who had the idea that children could be shown a positive future if they could see the best of the world's books for their age range. The institutions and movements she formed in the ashes of Nazi Germany immediately post-WW2 are still going strong, and will be funded by (and most probably be gifted copies of) this volume. I'm just not sure, even if both sides of the book are quite good in their own way, it makes the right balance. Children if they only get the really attractive first half, will probably not be asking themselves 'who got those books together, and where did this woman's ideas come from', but the second half that answers that won't speak to the kids, even if they had asked those questions. I'm now a lot more aware of this fabulous enterprise, but I'm an adult checking out these books for young people. I think said young people could easily have coped with a story for them about Lepman, but when they put this down they'll like as not have only seen the effect she had, which is not the full story.

3.5 Stars for a story of hope in wartime.

Lady with the Books is actually about a girl and her brother discovering the power of books, in a time of war, or recovery from war, more than the lady who holds (and reads) the books in this story. The lady is the girl, after she is grown, but that isn't going to be clear to a young reader. It appears to be the librarian, instead of the girl.

This reading not a feel good book at first glance. What it is about is hope that rides on the coattails of books, the beauty of the gift of story when the world seems without hope, the saving power of books. And it's about a girl who (apparently, via the few clues in the story) grows up to be a savior of books. This is based on a true story. The meaning of the title seems at first glance to refer to the book reading lady, but after understanding the historical framing, it is truly about the girl, after she is grown (yet in this book, she is simply a girl in a time of war).

The art is beautiful, an old fashioned battered world conveyed quite well.

The storyline runs from walking the bombed streets to visiting a working library, and discovering the wonder of story to help heal

The end is a bit rushed The triumph of books to save mental outlook, to rescue hope, to literally save souls is glossed over in a single paragraph. This is a story of triumph through heartbreak. We feel the heartbreak page after page, and then the resolution is meted out in a single small sip. The knot in our stomach we feel at hearing of bombs and war and imagining a bleak life is not healed by such a short resolution. So I'd call the ending a fail.

Yet after the last illustrative page, there is adult-level text telling the historical story events, so it is possible an adult could read those added pages and then embellish the child's story to give it more heart, when reading to a child, especially to a sensitive child.

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I consider giving it 3 stars for failing at presentation, yet the story is important, demonstrating the power of books and story and free speech, the importance of the written word and of libraries.

I'll give it 3.5 stars. Approximately 50-60 words per page with illustration.

Recommended with reservation. Too bad this one did not receive more edit counsel, or more therapeutic counsel. It could have been grand.

Wow! What an amazing book. I always love a story about the impact of books on children (and everyone) but this one feels extra special. The best part of the book for me was the history of the lady who inspired this story. What a remarkable woman Jella was. She brought the magic of books to so many children in need.
5 stars for this wonderful story