Lisbon, Oct. 13, 2025 (Lusa) - The story of Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes is recounted in a new illustrated children's book because it can help children understand "some of the current issues facing the world," one of the authors, Elizabeth Brown, told Lusa.
‘The Inspiring Story of Aristides - A Hero of the Whole World’ was written by American author Elizabeth Brown and illustrated by Anglo-Colombian Melissa Castrillón. It was published in English in September by Chronicle Books and will be released on the 20th October in the Portuguese market by Penguin Random House, under the Liliput imprint.
The illustrated book focuses on a specific period in the life of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, for which he is still remembered today: when the Portuguese consul, disobeying the Portuguese dictatorial regime of Salazar, granted visas to thousands of refugees, particularly Jews, in the 1940s during the Second World War.
"It is an important story for today's younger readers because it is an important figure and event that can still help to understand some of the current issues facing the world," the writer emphasised.
For Elizabeth Brown, who made her debut in writing for young people with this book, the story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes proves "how one person can make a difference in the lives of others".
In the book, the authors recall the philanthropic character of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who "opened his home kitchen to the children of the local village" in Portugal - Casa do Passal, in Carregal do Sal - and his generosity at the consulate in Bordeaux (France), where he welcomed and granted visas to entire families, as many as he could.
"The more ink came out of his pen, the more lives he could save. He shortened his signature to Mendes, hoping to make the ink last long enough to save everyone," wrote Elizabeth Brown.
The authors also recall that the Portuguese consul was eventually arrested, accused of disobeying Salazar, prevented from working and ended up depending on solidarity to support himself and his family.
In this story of solidarity and empathy, Elizabeth Brown added an informative biographical summary and a chronology of the life of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, including posthumous honours and the efforts of his descendants to gain international recognition for the Portuguese diplomat.
Elizabeth Brown explained to Lusa that she is interested in history related to the Second World War and was doing research to publish a non-fiction book for children when she learned about the story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, at a time when the family was preparing to restore the Casa do Passal, now transformed into a House Museum.
Regarding the research work for the book, the author said that she interviewed descendants of refugees saved by the Portuguese diplomat, consulted interviews, press clippings and bibliography on the Holocaust and World War II, with the support of the Aristides de Sousa Mendes Foundation.
In 2007, the cartoonist José Ruy launched the comic book ‘Aristides de Sousa Mendes: Hero of the Holocaust’ about the Portuguese diplomat, and in 2015, José Jorge Letria wrote and Alex Gozlbau illustrated ‘Aristides de Sousa Mendes: A Man of Courage’.
These two books are recommended by the Portuguese National Reading Plan.
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