This is such a sweet story! I read it to my two youngest siblings last night, and while I was reading, several other family members gathered around to listen, too. A picture of hope in the middle of destruction, this book is a celebration of family, friendship, and literature. As a book lover, I appreciated the way books brought this community together and the way books helped them through a difficult time. The illustrations in this book were beautiful and bright, and I particularly enjoyed the notes at the end from the author and illustrator. Books like this are a great way to introduce children to other cultures and give them a bit of a glimpse into the trouble other children face at times (although done gently, this book does talk about bombed homes, lack of water, and food shortages). Highly recommended!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

A lovely picture book for older children. We have just had a group of refugees arrive at our school, and I will be reading this with 7 to 11 year old as a beautiful introduction into the topic of war, refugees and resilience.

I loved that Nour's Secret Library by Wafa' Tarnowska is based on true events but I especially loved the author's notes at the end that explained that the author had done the same thing when she was in a similar situation.
This book is not just about resilience during difficult times but also about the power of the written word and how they can bring so many different as well as opposing people together.
The illustrations were amazing and I loved the powerful message this book sends.
I would recommend this book to everyone.

This is a wonderful book on a topic which is so difficult to approach with children. But sadly, war is a reality and children do have questions, so I think this book can be used to allow those questions and discussions, as it offers such a good balance between heartache and hope. And how lovely is it that the author highlights the way in which reading and the magic of books can actually help people through difficult times and even transform their living experience (even more so as it's inspired by true events.)

I really appreciated how in a few pages the love for Syria and the showcase of the country's amazing culture was presented so wholly. The illustrations are brilliant and I loved the contrast between war and everyday life/happiness/hope, especially the chosen colour scheme for the later. War is not a few lines in a history book, there is so much lost and even though incredibly sad, showing the beauty of the country, people and culture makes the impact so much bigger, as the reader can really relate and appreciate what victims of war actually experience. But the fact that hope seeps through its pages I think makes the book suitable for young readers.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

Very good. Such an important story. I became more aware of the little things such as easy access to books that are such a privilege to me.

Bombs are crumbling the structures around Nour, but the power of books is about to rebuild souls in a fractured land.

This is a beautiful, enlightening story with stunning illustrations that float off the page and into your heart. It’s made even more poignant that it’s based on real life events. No matter how much the warmongers want to break the spirit of communities, there are always those who find ways to cling to something positive and life affirming. Wafa' Tarnowska and Vali Mintzi are part of that wave of positive action, educating younger readers about the world around them.

An uplifting book built on the protection of knowledge

A picture book that is both heart-breaking and heart-warming while being filled with wonderful art.

"The world of books is wonderful, Nour thought, looking at the pile of books around her. Like a galaxy full of stars. Some are shinier than others, but together they make the sky sparkle."

You could pull a beautiful quote from nearly every page in this children's book. But, I think the one above may be my favorite. It's a moment of hope and light in a story that feels quite sad.

Inspired by a true story, as well as the author's own experiences, this book introduces children to what kids around the world go through in times of war. The story however is not too heavy for kids and carries a message of prevailing hopefulness. This book would be a great addition to any family's library.

I didn't expect I would loving this book. I read it just because it has "library" on the title. But, I was wrong!
Nour's Secret Library is about the spirit of keep on reading and learning to fight back for the injustice. It doesn't have to be a grand movement. You can start by bringing one book to the community, ask them to go with you to the library, and talk about whatever they are reading.

This is also book contains of hope. Whenever Nour and friends face something bad (because of the war and attack), they can always run into the secret library. Hide in a "safest" place while still exploring the world through books.

I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and followers.

Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity!

A lot of people, including me, truly believe that books can help people during the tough times, including war. I have read a couple of stories (both fiction and non-fiction) of how books saved people during different wars. This was my first illustrated one and I think such a beautiful book that came to me thanks to NetGalley and Barefoot Books.

Nour’s Secret Library is a true story inspired by young people in Damascus who rescued books from being destroyed during the Syrian War. The story revolves aorund a girl named Nour and her cousin Amir, who start rescuing books from destroyed / abandoned homes during the war against their city and start alibrary in a basement. The library eventually becomes a space for people to come together, read and be a part of a community.

The story is so hopeful, especially when there are multiple wars going on around us even today. The illustrations by Vali Mintzi are gorgeous! They use vibrant and bright colours when talking about Nour, Amir and their activities which is in complete contrast with the grey illustrations that portray the war.

I think this is such a nice book to read for children (or if you are an adult who doesn’t scoff at children’s books) just to make them see the magic of books or any kind acts.

A beautiful story, based on real life which makes it all the more special and will be a great addition to the classroom. Based on true events during the Syrian Civil war in 2011, Noor and her cousin Amir rescue books they find on the streets after their hometown of Damascus is constantly bombed. During the day, they go out to rescue abandoned books, shelves and cushions and set up an underground library for people to borrow books, for medical people to learn how to help people and for an escape into the world of books. Books give people hope and the library brings people together during a turbulent and upsetting time. A wonderful story and the illustrations are beautiful.

This is a wonderful story! I love that it is based on a true story. Great book for young ones to see a little part of history from a younger voice. I did feel like some parts were slow - this is not a fast paced book, so if you like a slower paced children’s book this would be for you

Based on a true story, this book beautifully illustrates the ability of stories to transport us, to protect us, and to save our sanity in difficult circumstances.

After the Syrian war begins, Nour and her cousin take the courageous step of preserving books in a secret underground library. By doing so, they provide a much needed resource to an embattled community struggling to survive under siege.

While the topic is a serious one, this story does provide an age-appropriate introduction to children for what it is like to be living in a war torn country. The illustrations fit the story well.

All in all, this book does a good job of writing about a tough topic whilst providing inspiration on how small acts can make a big difference.

Based on a true event during the Syrian war and also from the author's own life during the Lebanese civil war, author Wafa' Tarnowska tells a story about the vital role a library played in the life of her young main character Nour.

Nour and Amir decide to form a secret society for them and their friends, but on the day of their first meeting, war breaks out and everyone is forced to hide underground for safety. During supply runs, people begin bringing back books to the shelter, with the hope of alleviating boredom and giving comfort.

The library they created stays open everyday till dark, and people not only got a respite from their troubles, but learn things such as how to treat wounds. The library remains a secret for years, and becomes a beacon of hope.

This beautifully illustrated story is wonderful, as it shows how books and libraries can give people a refuge and a place to learn in dark times.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Barefoot Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

This book was really sad and really touching. While I appreciated the meaning, I don’t think I would feel comfortable reading this to my 6 year old, but maybe to an older child. I love the message of books bringing everyone comfort and bringing them together.

Wow! I believe that this book is destined to be one of the best children’s book of 2024.

Inspired by young people living southwest of Damascus. At the beginning of the Syrian civil war, the government cut off water, electricity and food supplies. Most people fled, but about 8,000 people stayed. Young people saved about 15,000 books and created a library in the basement of an abandoned building.

Written by Wafa’ Tarnowska, beautifully illustrated by Cali Mintzi.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Barefoot Books for approving my request to read the advance read copy of Nour’s Secret Library in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the idea behind this, how it showed a positive light in the darkness of war, demonstrating how a seemingly small act can snowball and come to mean so much. Sometimes I felt the writing was slightly ‘corny’ or tried to hard possibly. All in all a very good book for sharing and raising discussion points.

What a lovely story about a community in Damascus holding on to hope during the war through the love of books. The illustrations truly drew me in.

I seem to have rediscovered a love for children’s literature. I wonder if it’s because kids’ books these days have so much more substance than when I was growing up? I was a voracious reader from a very young age, but because of mundane topics, I often found myself reading books way beyond my age bracket. Note: BOOKS beyond my age-bracket, not TOPICS.

Topics like war are not inappropriate for kids. But the way in which they are written, make a big difference, which is why I wish that my first introductions to injustice had come from books written for what was then my age group. I think I might have been less overwhelmed by the world, then. I feel that Nour’s Secret Library is written with enough sensitivity for a young reader’s developing mind, without making light of the very real experiences of their peers in war-torn countries (in this case, Syria).

Important themes include friendship, family, safety during war, and the comfort of books.

I adore the illustration style - there is something about the slightly-limited palette that fits perfectly.

Nour’s Secret Library does not simply tell a story: the end of the book includes useful information about Syria, the history of libraries in the ancient world (and their destruction), the inspiration for the book, and a note about the author’s own lived experiences in Lebanon.

This book offers a good, if unresolved, introduction to the very real battles faced by youngsters around the world, and will foster creativity and empathy in young readers.

What a little gem this book is. It brings the reality of war but also the element of hope through both the words and the colour choice for the illustrations. I loved the comparison of books being like people. It illustrates the importance of the written word as a source of comfort for both adults and children. Thank you for the information section at the end too.

A lovely, magical book with beautiful illustrations. But it's tinged with sadness at how real it all is, wars that are fought all the time.
I liked that there is some information at the end of the book, describing all the wonderful things about Syria and showing there is much more to it than just a war zone.