Jella Lepman and Her Library of Dreams: The Woman Who Rescued a Generation of Children and Founded the World’s Largest Children’s Library

The inspiring true story of how one visionary woman used children’s books to help heal a generation of Germany’s children after WWII and went on to set up the International Youth Library and International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). Written by Katherine Paterson, the beloved and award-winning author of Bridge to Terabithia and many other children’s favorites.

Jella Lepman was a woman who stood her ground, challenged convention, and worked fiercely to transform her biggest dreams into reality.

In 1945, when Jella was tasked with what seemed like an insurmountable challenge―to create a haven of imagination and joy for the children of a Germany scarred by war—she turned to a steadfast companion: books. As a Jewish woman who had fled from the Nazis, Jella was determined to restore a sense of childhood to the young people who had only known conflict and violence. Despite constant obstacles, Jella persevered, and with the help of publishers and children from around the world, she amassed an extraordinary collection of 4,000 children’s books in pursuit of her mission to promote peace. The roving literary collection would eventually find a home as the International Youth Library in Munich, now with over 600,000 items, the largest collection of children’s books and materials in the world.

Jella Lepman and Her Library of Dreams is a thrilling and heartfelt exploration of one woman’s extraordinary belief in the power of books to transform young lives. Perfect for readers who enjoy biography, true adventure nonfiction, and empowering stories of women in history, this makes an outstanding addition to classroom and home libraries.

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Release date

Audiobook: February 4, 2025