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

Hoyt relays the extraordinary actions of Gino Bartali, an Italian cyclist who won the 1938 Tour de France and went on to save around 800 Jewish people and 50 English soldiers during the Nazi occupation of Italy. Several of Bartoli’s pivotal efforts are illuminated, including his delivering fake identity packets to families across Italy and using his cycling fame to shield people as they boarded trains to freedom. Hoyt’s prose is atmospheric (“Gino pedaled up steep mountains dotted with alpine villages”), and Bruno’s bold, poster-style illustrations, rendered in pencil with digital color, prove thoroughly immersive. An engrossing look at a humble man whose efforts benefited many. Back matter includes a timeline, a note from Bartali’s granddaughter, an author’s note, and a bibliography. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)