First look at the trailer for The Book Thief, starring Australia's Geoffrey Rush

THE Book Thief trailer has finally debuted ... get the Kleenex out. It's every bit as sad and heart-warming as you thought it would be.

THE Book Thief trailer has finally debuted ... get the Kleenex out.

The family drama based on Markus Zusak's best-selling novel has been described as one of the saddest and most heartwarming books you could ever read.

The film, which stars our own Geoffrey Rush, is set in Nazi Germany and follows a married couple who take in 9-year-old Liesel (Sophie Nélisse) during the World War II-era.

Rush's character and Leisel bond as he teaches her how to read and write.

But when they rescue a young Jewish man who is fleeing the Nazis and hide him in their basement, life changes quickly for Liesel.

The clip has been described as the "trailer that will shame you into reading a book".

Responding to the emotional experience of watching the trailer to his novel, Zusak wrote on his blog:

"I can't lie - I'm writing this with my heart still loud inside me. As I said to a few people close by after watching it: 'I'm fine! I've just got something in my eye!' It looks absolutely stunning, and it's very hard to hold the emotion at bay."

The Book Thief, which is already receiving Oscar buzz is released in Australia on January 16.