The Importance of Books

Historical non-fiction picture books breathe life into what can be a dry and dull topic for children. In Kathy Stinson and Marie Lafrance’s new picture book biography The Lady With the Books: A Story Inspired by the Remarkable Work of Jella Lepman we learn about an amazing woman who, in a post-war world, inspired children and brought books from all over the world right to their fingertips.

Jella Lepman is a founding member of IBBY, International Board on Books for Young People. In post-war Germany she knew that children needed books just as much as food and shelter and sought to bring stories from all over the world to the children of Germany to foster unity and understanding. In this story we meet Jella through the eyes of Anneliese, a child in Germany struggling, along with her family, from the devastation of the war. She takes her brother Peter to an exhibition by Jella Lepman and there they discover the world of Winnie-the-Pooh, Ferdinand and Babar. The stories shared by Jella Lepman inspire the storyteller in Anneliese as she begins to tell Peter stories at bedtime and creates a feeling of hope inside her that things will improve in Germany.

Truly an inspirational story for the moment we find ourselves, in the midst of a global pandemic, where the furthest we can travel is through our imaginations. It’s stories and books that will continue to keep us inspired and help us though this time at home.

The illustrations by Marie Lafrance are so dreamy, with many hidden treasures throughout the pages. I love how she celebrates the joys of reading by creating sneaky little images in the background of the pages where Jella, Anneliese and Peter are enjoying books and stories. It truly emphasizes the way reading opens your mind and invites hope.