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.

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