The Lady with the Books: A Story Inspired by the Remarkable Work of Jella Lepman
The Lady with the Books: A Story Inspired by the Remarkable Work of Jella Lepman
Inside the great hall were books! More books than Anneliese could count! She felt her heart lift, then a sudden pang.
Papa used to take her to the library. When he read her Pu de Bär at bedtime, he used a different voice for every character: the donkey, the kangaroo, the piglet and, best of all, Pu himself.
Now the library was gone. And Papa was gone, too.
Across the room, a lady was pulling books from a shelf and talking excitedly to a group of adults. Anneliese caught the word hope just as Peter began tugging on her sleeve.
“Read me this?”
The Lady with the Books is an inspiring picture book that offers an introduction to Jella Lepman, founder of The International Board on Books for Young People, and her mission to connect children with the power of stories.
In 1946 Munich, Anneliese and her family are struggling in the aftermath of World War II. The girl and her younger sibling wander streets filled with debris and pass by bombed-out buildings. Anneliese solemnly reflects: “the “library was gone. And Papa was gone, too.” Food is scarce, and when Anneliese spots an orange peel on the ground, she wipes off the dirt and, even though her stomach growls, she gives it to her little brother. Noticing a long line of people gathering nearby, she takes Peter’s hand, and they join the queue in the hopes that someone is giving out food.
Inside the great hall, the children find nourishment for their mind and soul. Rows of books bring back memories of happier times, and Anneliese and Peter are so immersed in words and pictures, they are the last to leave. They return the next day just in time to hear “the lady with the books” read The Story of Ferdinand, with parts of it translated into German. This book, banned when Hitler was in power, resonates deeply with the young listeners: “That bull is just like me. He likes flowers, and he doesn’t like fighting.”
Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award-winner Marie Lafrance’s affecting graphite and mixed-media illustrations capture the stark, everyday realities of the time with details like a somber “Free Soup” sign hanging above a doorway. An indomitable spirit also emanates from the pages. Inside Lepman’s Travelling Book Exhibit, children’s imaginations are allowed to flourish, and whimsical characters come to life: a deer peeks out from an opened storybook; an elephant’s trunk swishes above a display; and potted greenery is a colourful perch for curious creatures.
The text and illustrations poignantly explore how flowers can still grow amidst the rubble. Buoyed by the experience of visiting Jella Lepman’s exhibit, the children begin to have hope for the future. Anneliese decides to help sweep the street around the damaged library so maybe someday it could be restored. Books allow a world of possibilities to be considered, and Anneliese starts to dream, “like Ferdinand in his field of flowers.”
Back matter includes information and photographs about Jella Lepman and the important work she did for German children whose lives had been traumatized by war. This mission was based on her guiding beliefs that, “as much as food, books were what the children needed”; and good children’s literature from around the world could create “bridges of understanding” between people.
The Lady with the Books is a notable reminder of the potent healing abilities of literature. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to IBBY’s Children in Crisis Fund.
Linda Ludke is a librarian in London, Ontario.