Everyone knows Oskar Schindler and his famous list, but few have heard of Aristides de Sousa Mendes―a Portuguese diplomat who saved the lives of thousands in World War II. This magnificently illustrated picture book biography tells a moving story that resonates profoundly today.

“He who saves a single life, saves the world entire.” —The Talmud

Here is the true and powerful story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who, against his government’s commands, helped refugees flee France to escape the Nazis by granting visas that allowed them entry to Portugal.

In one of the greatest individual acts of rescue in World War II, Mendes saved many thousands of people, including the artist Salvador Dalí; H.A. and Margret Rey, the creators of Curious George; professors of medicine, biology, and physics who would go on to teach in America; and thousands of others whose lives are less known but no less precious. He and his family paid dearly for it, but Aristides never regretted his actions, believing to the very end of his life that every life is worth saving.

“An inspiring, well-earned salute.” — Kirkus 

★ — “Quietly propulsive narration... [and] sweeping compositions… convey the tide of events and the protagonist’s steadfast, heroic defiance.” — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
★ — “This thrilling picture-book biography shows how one man, armed with only a pen and a stamp pad, succeeded in saving the lives of thousands of refugees. A … wonderfully inspiring book.” — Booklist, Starred Review
A Publishers Weekly Best Picture Book of 2025
★ ─ Poignant and educational.” School Library Journal, Starred Review 

Elizabeth Brown is a children’s writer, film producer, and teacher with a passion for social justice. Her previous picture books include Dancing Through Fields of Color: The Story of Helen Frankenthaler, which was a New York Public Library Best Book of the Year, and Like A Diamond in the Sky: Jane Taylor’s Beloved Poem of Wonder and the Stars, which was Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year. She lives in Chicago, IL.

Melissa Castrillón is an English-Colombian illustrator based in the southeast of England. She has illustrated more than ten picture books, which have been translated into more than twenty languages around the world. Her book The Balcony was awarded the Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators and was selected as a New York Times Notable Picture Book.