The Trapp Family Book

Twenty-five years ago, the release of The Trapp Family Book – written and illustrated by Hans Wilhelm – was celebrated at the famous Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont. Maria von Trapp as well as some of her children and grandchildren were part of the celebration. “The Trapp Family Book was one of my first children’s books,” says Wilhelm. “I have always been an admirer of the original story of this remarkable family – which is much richer and more interesting than the Sound of Music version. Maria von Trapp had written several books on her own. These autobiographies describe her childhood days as an unruly novice in a convent, her meeting with the Baron von Trapp and his seven children, her singing lessons for the family and their escape from Austria after the Nazi takeover. My book is especially for younger readers. It retells the story with humorous pictures, covering the family history up to their settlement in Vermont.” Wilhelm’s book also includes a powerful part of their story that mo