The Brave Cyclist

Once a skinny and weak child, Gino Bartali rose to become a Tour de France champion and one of cycling's greatest stars. But all that seemed unimportant when his country came under the grip of a brutal dictator and entered World War II on the side of Nazi Germany. Bartali might have appeared a mere bystander to the harassment and hatred directed toward Italy's Jewish people, but secretly he accepted a role in a dangerous plan to help them. Putting his own life at risk, Bartali used his speed and endurance on a bike to deliver documents Jewish people needed to escape harm. His inspiring story reveals how one person could make a difference against violence and prejudice during the time of the Holocaust.

For ages: 9-12

Author Bio: 

Amalia Hoffman is an author, illustrator, and storyteller. Her board book Dreidel Day was selected as a PJ Library book and received the PJ Library Author Incentive Award. Two board books, Astro Pea and All Colors, followed in 2019. Her other books include The Klezmer Bunch and Purim Goodies. Amalia designed and illustrated Rose Bud, an oversized book with pop-up elements, for Israel’s children’s theater, The Train. Her article “Queen Esther and I” was published in Highlights Magazine for Children in March 2016. Amalia grew up in Jerusalem, Israel, and now resides in Westchester, New York. She frequently presents her books in schools, libraries, bookstores, and community centers.

Illustrator Bio: 

Chiara Fedele attended art school in Milan, Italy, completing a degree in illustration at La Scuola del Fumetto. A freelance illustrator since 2004, she has created art for several children’s books and has provided illustrations for use in movies, advertising, and magazines. She also teaches at the International Schools of Comics in the Italian cities of Padova, Brescia, and Genova. Born in Milan, she now lives with her family in a small village about 50 kilometers from that city.