Sydelle Pearl, illustrated by Danlyn Iantorno,
Books for Children of the World: The Story of Jella Lepman
Pelican Publishing, 2007

Ages 7-10

In this, her second book, storyteller, songwriter, and children’s librarian Sydelle Pearl celebrates the life of International Youth Library founder Jella Lepman, a compassionate and courageous woman who believed in the power of books to change the world.

A native of Stuttgart, Lepman, who was Jewish, and her two children fled Nazi Germany for London during World War II.  Lepman worked as a reporter there for both British and American news and, after the war, was hired by the U.S. Army as a cultural and educational advisor on matters relating to the plight of children in post-war Germany.

Traveling around the ruins of the country that had once been her home, Lepman was touched by the hunger, cold, and ill-fitting clothing of Germany’s children: but when she looked at their faces, she also saw a longing for books.  She knew that the children of Germany, whose libraries had been devastated by the war, needed books almost as much as they needed homes, food, and warm clothing.  She also knew that securing support for this cause was unlikely. 

Lepman obtained permission, but no money, to create an exhibition of international children’s literature to travel through Germany.  Despite the warning that few countries would be willing to help Germany so soon after the war, Lepman sought book donations from publishers all over the world in the belief that “the first messengers of … peace [would] be these children’s books.”  Many publishers agreed and the year after the war ended Lepman launched the International Exhibition of Children’s Books in Berlin.

She was delighted by the children’s response, but sad to see their faces when they learned they could not take the magical books home.  Ever resourceful, Lepman soon came up with a way to provide a single book - and one with a peaceful message - to children visiting the exhibition.  Her enthusiasm and dedication led to the creation of the International Youth Library in Munich in 1949. Books for Children of the World ends with the opening of the IYL, but a brief biographical note tells us that Lepman went on to found IBBY in 1953 and lived to see both organizations flourish before her death in 1970.

Lepman believed that each book shared across languages and cultures builds “a bridge of peace” for future generations.  She is not alone in this belief and her legacy continues to inspire a love of peace and a love of reading in children all over the world.

Abigail Sawyer
November 2007