Publisher Description

Miep Gies, who as a girl was a refugee during World War I, recognized that Europe again became a dark place under the Nazis. With bravery and loyalty, Miep helped to shelter Anne Frank's family, preserving the great legacy of Anne's diary.

Author Biography

Barbara Lowell is the author of several books for children, including Sparky & Spike: Charles Schulz and the Wildest, Smartest Dog Ever. Barbara lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Valentina Toro is a graphic designer and children's book illustrator, with an MA in Creative Writing. Valentina has written several children's books in Colombia and has worked with authors from all over the world. She lives in Colombia.

Review

"A historically accurate but relatively gentle introduction to the Holocaust for elementary-age readers." -- Miriam Aronin, Booklist-- (8/5/2020 12:00:00 AM)
"A solid, additional title that can serve as an introduction to Holocaust literature." - Kathleen Isaacs, Children's -Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD-- (9/1/2020 12:00:00 AM)
"Author and illus-tra-tor do not deny Miep Gies's extra-or-di-nary hero-ism but frame it as a nat-ur-al response to the events of her life and the depth of her emo-tion-al involve-ment in her Jew-ish com-pa-tri-ots' tragedy." -- Emily Schneider, Jewish Book Council-- (10/19/2020 12:00:00 AM)
"The book focuses in particular on Miep Gies, the gentile woman who helped them and then found the diary, and some of the details about her childhood are startling." -- Kirkus Reviews-- (6/30/2020 12:00:00 AM)
"The illustration sometimes complements the text with greater nuance, often using a muted palette vis-à-vis the red of the Nazi flags. This book about Miep Gies joins those about Irena Sendler and Janusz Korczak in helping youngsters understand the acts of rescuers and their difficult decisions." -- Barbara Krasner, former member, Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, Somerset, NJ, AJL-- (9/16/2020 12:00:00 AM)
"The story of their relationship (and the impending danger to the family in hiding) unfolds in this unique perspective of Anne Frank's widely known story." -- James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review-- (1/18/2021 12:00:00 AM)
Best suited for those already familiar with Frank's story; includes an author's note, bibliography, and further reading." -- Publishers Weekly-- (8/9/2020 12:00:00 AM)

Review Quote

"While young readers may already be familiar with the iconic story of Anne Frank and her diary, they may not know much about the woman who saved the diary and cared for the Frank family in hiding -- Miep Gies, who escaped World War I Vienna on a Kindertransport to the Netherlands. A foster family with other children took her in and they moved to Amsterdam. Miep eventually became an employee of Otto Frank and grew close to his family. As the days of Nazi occupation and war closed in on the Dutch people, and Dutch Jews in particular, Miep helped the Franks find their hiding place behind the bookcase in Frank's place of business. Lowell's straightforward prose and Valentina Toro's illustrations highlight the difficulties Miep and the Frank family faced. Lowell's useful author's note anticipates reader questions such as whether Miep ever saw her family again (she did). The illustration sometimes complements the text with greater nuance, often using a muted palette vis-

Feature

Beautiful art by Colombian illustrator Valentina Toro At a time of heightened interest in the refugee experience, this book addresses how both Miep and Anne came to be refugees under different circumstances, inspiring compassion

Details