“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
Fred Rogers

In December 1938 a young Englishman went to Prague to help hundreds of Jewish children escape from the Nazis. He raised money, found foster families in England, arranged travel and visas. He risked his own life to save theirs. Nicholas Winton organised the transportation of almost 700 children to safety. He never told a soul. He did not tell anyone what he did. It was only discovered when his wife found records he had kept of the children. Fifty years later!!

Nicky & Vera tells the story of Nicholas Winton and one of the children her saved, Vera Gissing.

This is an incredibly powerful, hugely moving true story of a quiet hero of the Holocaust. The story of Nicky & Vera has really affected me. Esther and I have been reading a lot of Holocaust stories recently. I read one about a little girl who was due to leave Prague, on the last kindertransport, the same as Vera’s cousins, but it was stopped by the Nazis.

Vera was 10 when thanks to Nicholas Winton she escaped Prague and the Nazi regime on a train with 75 other children. The children left everything behind and had no idea what may lie ahead. After three days and nights they arrived in London. Vera stands alone on the platform waiting for her foster family to collect her and the stunning illustrations shows her silhouette filled with memories of family and home.

Nicky served in the war as an ambulance driver, never telling anyone what he had done. He continued saving lives.

Vera wrote in a diary everyday. Her father had told her to write down her memories until she could return home and see them again.

Vera did return to Prague briefly after the war but everyone was gone. Her mother, father and cousins all died during the war.

Nicky loved quietly but always with honour and kindness. He helped to open a school, he got married and he founded an old people’s home. He never told anyone about the children.

When Nicky was an old man. His wife discovered the records of the children he had kept hidden for fifty years.

In 1988 Nicholas Winton appeared on That’s Life and the wonderful thing he had done was brought to light. And he was reunited with Vera and many of the other children, now grown, who owed him their lives.

What an awe inspiring human being! He saved those children from untold horror and cruelty, from almost certain death. And he never told a soul. He did it because he knew it was right and because he could.

This story has really really got under my skin. I have loved learning about Nicky and Vera. I am so glad that Nicky’s wife found his scrapbook and shared his story.

“669 children would not have survived
If not for Nicky, who went to Prague and saved their lives.

I was not a hero, Nicky said.
I did not face any danger, as real heroes do.
I only saw what needed to be done. “

Well, now we see you Nicholas Winton
We see you for the humble huge hearted hero that you are and I am so grateful to Peter Sis for sharing your story in such an emotive and beautiful book.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It is wonderfully written and every illustration is stunning. Not an easy topic for a children’s book but this is sensitive and just very very well done.