Books for Children of the World

In 1945, Jella Lepman wasasked by the United States Army to serve as a cultural and educational advisorfor her native country. While being driven around war-ravaged Germany in a U.S.Army jeep, Jella noticed how hungry the German children were for books sincetheir schools and libraries had been destroyed.Jella wrote letters topublishers all over the world and asked for donations. These donations became anexhibition of childrenis books that traveled throughout Germany. Seeing how muchchildren wanted a book of their own to touch and to keep, Jella personallytranslated The Story of Ferdinand , the story about a bull who wouldrather smell the flowers than fight, into German and persuaded a newspaper toprint 30,000 copies so she could distribute them.Jella then asked theRockefeller Foundation in the United States for money to build a library, and in1949, the International Youth Library opened in Munich. The research collectiontoday contains 500,000 childrenis books in more than 130 languages. Bookscontinue to be donated by various countries, forever honoring the spirit of Jella Lepman and her belief that books truly can make the world a better place.About the AuthorSydellePearlis previous book with Pelican, Elijahis Tears: Stories for the JewishHolidays , received a Storytelling World Honor Award in 1997 and waslisted on the Bank Street College of Education Best Books List for the Year in1998. She has been a storyteller at libraries, schools, museums, day-carecenters, and festivals since 1991. A writer of folk songs for adults andchildren, she is also fond of incorporating songs into her stories. She lives inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania.About the Illustrator Danlyn Iantorno is agraphic designer and artist with her own studio. She has worked as a marketingmanager and a promotional products account executive. She is a member of theColorado Alliance of Illustrators and the Society of Childrenis Book Writers andIllustrators. She enjoys knitting, dancing, yoga, flower arranging, and drum andbugle competition. She lives outside Denver, Colorado.Pearl, Sydelle is the author of 'Books for Children of the World ', published 2007 under ISBN 9781589804388 and ISBN 1589804384.