Author’s name: Elizabeth Brown
Illustrator’s name: Melissa Castrillon
What is your upcoming book title? The World Entire: A True Story of an Extraordinary World War II Rescue
Other book titles: Like a Diamond in the Sky: Jane Taylor’s Beloved Poem of Wonder and the Stars (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, illustrated by Becca Stadtlander), Dancing Through Fields of Color: The Story of Helen Frankenthaler (Abrams Books for Young Readers, illustrated by Aimee Sicuro, also available in Spanish and Catalan), and The Right to Play: How Jane Addams Fought for America’s Playgrounds (Albert Whitman, illustrated by Olga Lee)
Date of release: September 2, 2025
Preorder or Order link: The World Entire | Chronicle Books
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Agent: Sean McCarthy
Agency: Sean McCarthy Literary Agency
Hometown: Evanston, Illinois
Social links: Instagram: @elizabethbrownbooks, Bluesky: @ebrownbooks.bsky.social
Website: www.elizabethbrownbooks.com
1. What is the premise/pitch for your book?
Everyone has heard of Schindler’s list-but few have heard of Aristides de Sousa Mendes-a Portuguese diplomat who saved the lives of thousands of fleeing refugees during World War II and whose story is only starting to be better known. This magnificently illustrated picture book biography tells the moving story that has profound resonance today.
2. What are 5 things you want people to know about your book?
Five things I want people to know about this book are:
When I first started working on this book, little was known about Sousa Mendes, and I am so happy more is known about him now.
He is truly such an important figure for everyone to know. When I think about how many lives he saved, generations of lives…with more generations to come, it amazes me.
It’s more than a story of an incredible rescue; it’s also a tale of family, hope, and doing what’s right.
I was able to brush up on my French while researching, as many research materials and sources were in French since he was stationed in France at the time of his heroic actions.
My hope for this book is that young readers will take away the idea that one person can make a huge difference in the world.
3. What helpful hints or tips can you offer fellow writers about writing, publishing, and promoting a book?
Patience is key. Books take a long time to craft and publish, but it is a wonderful moment to see your book come to life. Definitely, writers must work on developing their craft, seek feedback from critique groups, and be open to the revision process, before sales and after. I also feel that writers should take courses when they can, even as a published writer as there is always more to learn and discover. Keep growing as a writer and be open to change.
4. What are 5 fun/quirky facts about yourself as an adult or child?
I love roller coasters.
I am also a professional violinist.
I was once a street musician playing trios with college friends while we were in music school in the subways and on the street corners of Chicago.
As a child, I lived for a time in Vermont and learned to ski. Sometimes we skied down the hill to the bus stop on the way to school. Every Friday, we got out of school early to ski during wintertime.
My favorite food is definitely pizza.
5. What did you learn about yourself while on the journey to publishing this book?
I learned so much about writing and the process of publication and about researching and how to keep track of one’s sources. There was extensive research that I did for this book, so it was necessary to try to find a good way to deal with all the books, articles, documents, and interviews that I used. I also learned to trust my instinct about book ideas. Writing about something you are passionate about will yield great results!
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