The Big Lie

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HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR AND ACCLAIMED AUTHOR ISABELLA LEITNER TELLS HER STORY TO CHILDREN

As a young woman, Isabella Leitner's life changed drastically. She, along with the other Jews in Kisvarda, Hungary, were forbidden from walking the streets after 7p.m. and attending school. Laws became progressively harsh until thousands of Jews were evicted from their homes andlike cattle-- shipped to Auschwitz, a notorious death camp.

In her first children's book, THE BIG LIE: A TRUE STORY (September 1,1992; $13.95; Ages 8-11), IsabelIa Leitner relates to readers the tragic experiences that she and her family endured during WWII. Upon arrival at Auschwitz, Isabella's mother and youngest sister, Potyo--to whom THE BIG LIE: A TRUE STORY is dedicated-were immediately sent by Dr. Mengele to the gas chamber. Her mother's last words to her children were those of encouragement: "Be strong, l love you."

With their mother's words etched in their hearts, Isabella and her sisters struggled to survive. During roll call, Chicha, one of Isabella's sisters, was forced by a Nazi officer to hold two rocks high in the air for hours, or she would be shot. She did not drop them. " It was a small victory, but still a victory. Chicha had stayed alive, and that gave all who saw her the courage to carry on.

Isabella Leitner is the author of two highly acclaimed adult books, FRAGMENTS OF ISABELLA: A MEMOIR OF AUSCHWITZ (Crowell) and SAVING THE FRAGMENTS FROM AUSCHWITZ TO NEW YORK (NAL Books). FRAGMENTS OF ISABELLA was submitted for the Pulitzer Prize, voted onto The American Library Association's "Best Books For Young Adult's List," and adapted for a theatrical presentation and a soon to be released motion picture.

Isabella Leitner's story is one of universal tragedy. In sharing it with a younger audience, she is not only educating them about a dark part of history, but also instilling in them a sense of courage and determination. "Because children are the makers of the future, I want to inspire them to live full and productive lives and work for a brand new way of life where human beings do not nurture hatred and destroy other human beings."

Isabella lost her mother and two sisters to the Holocaust. The three remaining sisters were reunited in America on May 8,1945 with their father, who had been trying to secure immigration papers for his family. Later on, the sisters learned that their brother, Philip, had also survived the war.

Currently a board member of the juvenile Diabetes Foundation and a finalist of the Wonder Woman Foundation, Isabella Leitner is married, has two grown sons and lives in New York City. She is often a guest speaker on the Holocaust at schools, colleges, universities, churches, temples and other important gatherings.