THE WORLD ENTIRE: A TRUE STORY OF AN EXTRAORDINARY WORLD WAR II RESCUE, written by Elizabeth Brown and illustrated by Melissa Castrillion

Thank goodness for picture book biographies introducing me to historical figures I’ve never heard of. Elizabeth Brown writes the poignant story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes in THE WORLD ENTIRE: A TRUE STORY OF AN EXTRAORDINARY WORLD WAR II RESCUE. Melissa Castrillon illustrates the first several pages in bright sunny colors depicting the idyllic life of the Portuguese diplomat and the peaceful town in which he loves. Colors and story turn dark dramatically mid-page as “storm clouds were gathering on Bordeaux’s azure horizon, darker than any seen before.” Courageously Mendes signs passport to rescue thousands of people which “may have been the greatest individual act of rescue in all of World War II. Find a link to the book in the purchase button below.