Bartali's Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy's Secret Hero

I read this book to my 5th graders when we learn about the holocaust. It's a great story!

I never heard of Bartali before I was asked to write a comprehension test for it. I was so glad he had a descendant who took the time to research his life and write it out for others to know. I'm sure there are many others still waiting to emerge from history's pages, and I'm sure none of them did their courageous and dangerous acts of compassion in order to be remembered as a hero. Bertali is definitely a hero, and his story deserves to be known. The artwork is also excellent and helps visualize the story of a time most of us don't know.

“Some medals are pinned to your soul, not your jacket”-Gino Bartali, BARTALI’S BICYCLE by Megan Hoyt, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno. If you haven’t read this picture book biography about the Tour de France winner who used his bicycle to save hundreds of lives during WWII, you need to. It's an amazing, inspiring story, beautifully detailed and researched by Hoyt with magnificent illustrations by Bruno. It is focused on how his cycling helped save lives, so the details aren't overwhelming. A hard topic for children handled thoughtfully with care. The book includes a timeline and a letter from the granddaughter of Gino Bartali. And as a cycling fan, I appreciate the end papers covered with colorful cycling jerseys. Every school library especially needs this book.

Bartali’s Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy’s Secret Hero, written by Megan Hoyt with illustrations by Iacopo Bruno, is such an incredible story. The line, “Some medals are pinned to your soul, not your jacket,” gave me goosebumps as I learned the story of this brave, humble and courageous soul.Megan Hoyt’s debut non-fiction biography of Bartali, is beautifully and powerfully written. I feel this book should be in every school, library and on every bookshelf.Bartali’s story shows that ordinary people can do extraordinary things; how one man made a difference by doing something about the horrors of World War Two. Inspiring, lyrical, moving and heartwarming. A memorable book.

This book is a triumph! The writing kept me riveted the entire time, on the edge of my seat. This story about a humble athlete quietly doing his best and endangering his own life to save others is about as inspirational as they come. The stunning illustrations heighten all the emotions, including a sense of dread and danger (at first) and joy and relief (at last). Great for teaching WWII curriculum and the hero's journey. Not to be missed!

The book arrived as promised in the condition stated. It will make an excellent addition to our library.

I love this book so much. My kids request it regularly. It deals with The Holocaust and WWII in a way that you can discuss with even very young kids. I cry every time I read this book with my family. And the art is STUNNING.

Gino Bartali thought of himself as an ordinary bicyclist in Italy in the 1930s. But he was far from ordinary.For eight years he trained along Italy's mountains and rugged paths. He won race after race, including the prestigious Tour de France in 1938.When World War II broke out, Gino refused to believe the lies that leaders were spreading about the Jews.He watched as Jews were rounded up and taken away on trucks. He wanted to help--but how?A priest contacted him and asked him to deliver secret identity papers to Jews who were trying to escape. Although he was afraid of getting caught, he decided to help. "Some medals are pinned to your soul, not your jacket," he said.He stuffed the fake identity papers into his hollow bicycle bars and delivered them to hundreds of families, he hid his friend's family in his cellar, and rescued prisoners.Gino was a humble man who didn't want to be recognized."Good is something you do, not something you talk about," he said.But stories trickled out. Children came forward.Grateful families remembered the remarkable Gino Bartali, the Tour de France winner, Italian sports hero, and...secret champion.