A compelling novel that brings vivid history back. It's heartwarming and perfect for education or just reading about the love of friendship during a harsh time and how love can survive evil and death.

This is children's book about Miep Gies who is the person the helped the Franks family. I read the Anne Frank dairy several times and I loved it. I listened to this book on audiobook, and I am really glad that there is a children's book that is about Anne Frank and Miep Gies. I think this book was written very well. I will be buying this book to put in the Elementary school library that I volunteer at. I think the kids will enjoy this book. I enjoyed the audiobook on this book and the narrator was great and talk so the kids could understand the book. I was kindly provided an e-audiobook of this book by the publisher (Kar-Ben Publishing) or author (Barbara Lowell) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

At ten minutes long, I was not expecting much from this audiobook, but I did learn one thing: I did not know Miep Gies and her husband (who was part of the Dutch Resistance, had spent one night in the secret annex at Anne's insistence.

I was expecting the book to be more about Mipe Gies because the book's subtitle lists her name first, but it was mostly about the Frank family. My only other criticism is that the ending is too abrupt.

This was a great version of Anne Frank from a different perspective. Hearing the story from Miep Gies and how she discovered Anne's diary after Anne and her family were discovered was new to me. It was interesting to hear how Miep's family helped Anne's and how she discovered the diary and returned it to Anne's father after the war.

I liked this book and its narrator. The information on Miep Gies was new to me and added a nice bit to Anne Frank's story that seemed new. My library doens't typically buy such short audiobooks, but I do think it's a worthy edition to larger library collections.

Lerner Audiobooks/#NetGalley
Narrator unknown (author?)

A very brief summary of how Miep Gies came to live in the Netherlands and worked to save the Frank family during WWII. After the family is taken to the concentration camps, Miep hid Anne's diary and gave it to Mr. Frank, the only member of the family to survive the camps. The straightforward narration works well, but this story is best for listeners already familiar with Anne Frank's story. Print edition and illustrations unseen.

Behind the Bookcase: Miep Gies, Anne Frank, and the Hiding Place provides a brief summary of what happened to the Frank family and the Jews in the Netherlands under the Nazi occupation during WWII. It is a very short book. The audiobook is 10 minutes long. Though it was pretty short, I think this could be a good starter to help educate children about this important part in history. This book also provides information about Miep Gies that I haven't read in Anne's diary, and helps us get to know her more, who was one of the people who helped the Frank family. I enjoyed listening to this. The information provided are consistent with what I have read on Anne Frank's diary. I would recommend this for children, especially as a starter to help them be educated on this topic.

I didn't know when I started listening that this book was a children's picture book recording. So at first, it was just annoying. Then I realized what it was, and listened with a different, open-ended ear. The story was very interesting, the facts were there, but it came across somewhat condescendingly, which disappointed me. It had so much potential. Perhaps if I had the picture book to look at while listening it would have worked better. But I still gave it three stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, and for offering audiobook versions!

#BehindtheBookcase #NetGalley

Probably more a 2.5-star rating; I've read a lot of books on WWII, including kids books, and this one is fine but doesn't stand out to me. I was expecting more--something to capture my mind or heart, but it reads more like a list of facts than a story.

About Miep Gies, for Children

Audiobook Review:
If you've read The Diary of Anne Frank, then you know some about Miep Gies, who helped hide the Frank family, bringing them food and other necessities and befriending Anne. She is the one who saved Anne Frank's diary after the Germans took the family; she returned it to Mr. Frank, the family’s sole survivor after the Holocaust and WWII. This book is told more like a simple nonfiction book, not a story. In it, we learn about Miep’s early life. She was an immigrant to Holland. The book transitions smoothly into her time with the Franks. She worked for Mr. Frank. When he asked her to help hide his family, she agreed. For two years, she helped provide for the family and keep them safe. If you have a child who knows the story of Anne Frank, whether or not they've read the diary, she or he may appreciate learning a little more about Miep Gies, who sustained the family as best she could and whose foresight allowed for one of the most famous diaries to survive and be brought to the world.

This is a very small version of the story.
I listened with my daughter and it gave is a lot to talk about. In this pandemic times it is important to remember there were people who really suffered and was really isolated, it is helpful to be thankful. I would like to listen a longer version.

Behind the Bookcase is a wonderfully age-appropriate way to introduce young children to the plight of Jews during World War II. The main character, Miep Gies, is instrumental in helping Anne Frank's family stay hidden during the early part of the war.

The author paints the very bleak picture of world events that prompted Anne's family to go into hiding and includes information about how Anne's diary was saved and eventually shared with the world. Deeply moving testimony to the courage and fortitude of so many people during the war. I highly recommend this book as a stand alone resource or as an introduction to the reading of The Diary of Anne Frank.

Disclaimer: I received a digital audiobook of Behind the Bookcase for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

Wonderful children's book. This children's book is the perfect introduction for children to Anne Frank and the Holocaust. The book gives the reader just enough information to want to learn more.

This was such a great audiobook. Meep is part of a Dutch family that helped Jewish people during the Holocaust. It takes you through the friendship Anne Frank and Meep had while also showcasing the absolute devastation.

4 out of 5 - If you ask, I'll tell you to read it.

I listened to the audiobook. The narrator was very good. I didn't give it 5 stars, because an illustrated book isn't quite the same in an audiobook format.

Miep Gies was an employee of Otto Frank. She agreed to hide them. Miep kept the family up to date with news and information. Miep wanted to be there for Anne as a young girl on the verge of womanhood.

Miep is the reason we have access to Anne's diary, Kitty. She found it, kept it, and gave it to Otto after the war.

I can't wait to see the physical copy and see the illustrations. This is a great way to start teaching children about Anne Frank before they are able to read her diary.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Audiobooks for this advanced copy.

Behind the Bookcase by Barbara Lowell is the story of how Miep Gies helped put the Frank family into hiding during World War II. It also dives a bit into the Frank family's life.

This story is very straight forward and easy to understand. I think it is so interesting as a children’s book that it could actually be a bit longer with some more history.

The narration was well done, and she had an easy voice to listen to.

If you are wanting to get your kids interested in history, I think this book would be worth a read or listen.

I received an advanced audiobook copy from Lerner Audiobooks through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

A wonderful short story for children of a brief history of Anne Frank. The reader was very good but I think I would prefer to have this in a visual book so one can see what was going on.

Behind the Bookcase is a wonderful children's book that further explains the at a child's level the life of Anne Frank. It gives a different perspective on what others went through to help keep her family hidden and what happened despite this being successful for a long time. A hard but necessary subject for children but this story does a great job of covering the facts in a fashion that children can understand the severity age appropriately. I would feel comfortable listening to this book with all of my children ages 5-11. It would bring up conversation about the Holocaust and about the occupation not only in Germany but how it spread into other areas of Europe and even into Africa. The author does a great job with facts but also isn't heavy on relying on only facts but also tells the story well.

The narrator does a lovely job reading this audio book and has a pleasant voice to listen to while learning and enjoying this tale.

I remember learning about Anne Frank in school but I don't remember Miep Gies or probably simply forgot about her. I listened to the audiobook version of this book. It's a very straightforward story for children and the narrator has a very soothing voice, easy to listen to.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
This is an interesting addition to Anne Frank's story. It is a short children's work of historical fiction based on the true story of Miep Gies. It was well done and thought provoking.