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13th out of 48 books
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The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey
In 1940, Hans and Margret Rey fled their Paris home as the German army advanced. They began their harrowing journey on bicycles, pedaling to Southern France with childrens amazing story in this unique large format book that resembles a travel journal and includes full-color illustrations, original photos, actual ticket stubs and more. A perfect book for Curious George fans...more
Hardcover, 80 pages
Published
September 26th 2005
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
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Very well written and meticulously researched. Without having a story directly from the authors, Louise Borden managed to piece together their escape from Paris on bicycles during the Nazi invasion across the sea to Brazil and eventually the US. Tells how Hans carefully protected his manuscript of a mischievous monkey named Fifi (who eventually became George) throughout the journey. The illustrations by Allan Drummond are fabulous. At first, I thought it was H.A. Rey who drew them because th...more
We loved this book!
I read it with my 7 year old daughter and it really brought the abstract concept of what it meant to flee from a war into concrete terms. She was also quite fascinated by the way the Reys' life experiences came through in their books. We also loved the inclusion of real photos, drawings, diary pages, letters, identity cards, etc. along with the text and new illustrations.
We selected this book because it was on the William Allen White Children's Book...more
I read it with my 7 year old daughter and it really brought the abstract concept of what it meant to flee from a war into concrete terms. She was also quite fascinated by the way the Reys' life experiences came through in their books. We also loved the inclusion of real photos, drawings, diary pages, letters, identity cards, etc. along with the text and new illustrations.
We selected this book because it was on the William Allen White Children's Book...more
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Courtney
added it
This was the book that I read for my biography. This was a biography of Margret and H.A. Rey, the authors of Curious George. The first part of the book is titled two artists, and is the early lives of Margret and H.A., and then talks about how their romance was sparked in Brazil, and was where they found their love for monkeys, as well as where they shortened their name to what the world knows them as now. When they moved from Brazil to France, was when they started writing children' books. They...more
This is the first time that I am participating in Non-Fiction Monday and I am very excited. I have chosen to write about The Journey that Saved Curious George by Louise Borden, though I have to be honest and say that I have never been a big fan of Curious George, but I have a foster child who was (she is now 22 and a recent college grad - hurray.) We recently went to the Jewish Museum in New York City to see the exhibition they have about the Reys' escape from Nazi occupied Europe. It was an exc...more
This is a wonderful book that recreates the story of Margaret and H.A. Rey, as they fled Paris just ahead of the Nazi army with the illustrations for the book that would later become Curious George strapped to the back of their bicycles.
I did not know that the Reys were German-born Jews, who had gained Brazilian citizenship in the early 1930s, before moving to an artistic quarter of Paris after their marriage. The book is lush with original Rey illustrations, photographs taken by Ma...more
I did not know that the Reys were German-born Jews, who had gained Brazilian citizenship in the early 1930s, before moving to an artistic quarter of Paris after their marriage. The book is lush with original Rey illustrations, photographs taken by Ma...more
Recommended for 3rd-5th grades
This beautifully designed book is a must read for children's literature buffs. The book is divided into two parts. The first gives background on the couple's childhoods and early life together. The second half is devoted to their dramatic escape from Europe in World War II. Husband and wife were both Jewish, born in Hamburg. After serving in the German army during World War I, Hans sailed to Brazil, where he wore a big hat and sailed down the Amazon. Margaret,...more
This beautifully designed book is a must read for children's literature buffs. The book is divided into two parts. The first gives background on the couple's childhoods and early life together. The second half is devoted to their dramatic escape from Europe in World War II. Husband and wife were both Jewish, born in Hamburg. After serving in the German army during World War I, Hans sailed to Brazil, where he wore a big hat and sailed down the Amazon. Margaret,...more
This book was not about Curious George but about the escape of his writers from World War II. The book follows the writers Hans and Margaret Reyersbach as they moved from place to place finding there home. They found their home in France when the two Jews needed to flee before being taken hostage by the Germans for being Jewish. The story talks about their bicycle ride to Lisbon before they made their Brazil to be safe from the Germans. The pages were filled with fun drawings of the couple goin...more
Born German-Jews, H. A. and Margaret Rey fled from their home in Paris with thousands of others on the eve of Germany’s occupation of France’s capital city. The biography details the early years before the Reys married, their collaborative efforts and their life together before the war. Then it launches into a bit of historical context before detailing their remarkable escape by bicycle. While the facts about the Reys are interesting, there was little by way of tension as the pair optimistically...more
Born German-Jews, H. A. and Margaret Rey fled from their home in Paris with thousands of others on the eve of Germany’s occupation of France’s capital city. The biography details the early years before the Reys married, their collaborative efforts and their life together before the war. Then it launches into a bit of historical context before detailing their remarkable escape by bicycle. While the facts about the Reys are interesting, there was little by way of tension as the pair optimistically...more
Tells the story of the lives of Margret and H.A. Rey, from their childhood up until they first published the beloved children’s book Curious George. The author takes the reader through details of their lives that inspired the book about the mischievous monkey, as well as their courageous escape from Paris during the Nazi invasion. They fled the city on bicycles with only their lives and their manuscript. Illustrated by Allan Drummond.
This is an exciting story no matter who the main...more
This is an exciting story no matter who the main...more
This book tells the real life story of Margret and H.A. Rey, a (soon-to-be famous) Jewish couple living in Paris at the onset of World War II. Rather than illustrating the horrors of the Holocaust, as many Jewish themed books of the era do, this tells a true story that rides on the fringe of the Jewish persecution at that time. As much a story of the journey the Rey's took in escaping France as Germany occupied the country, as recollection of H.A. Rey's early work on children's books and his i...more
I would have liked to give this book 4 stars, as there were things I liked very much about it. But it's an odd little book... the biggest flaw is that it doesn't know who its audience is. The narrative, written in loose verse in an attempt to emulate the style of the Curious George books, is too childish to appeal to middle-school aged readers, but the vocabulary (and perhaps concepts) is too difficult for younger readers who wouldn't be insulted by the verse style.
That being said, th...more
That being said, th...more
Curious George was one of my favorite characters as a child, so this one hit home for me! This book is geat for those that love the character, and I would recommend the book for 4th and 5th grade students when they are learning about World War II. The pictures in the book were great interpretations of the time and events and the features were realistic. I think this book is great for children because such serious events are appropriately told as a picture book. In this book, the story of the Rey...more
This was a very interesting poetry book. To be honest I did not even know I was reading poetry. I am thinking that it is free verse. What was interesting, was the information on the authors who write the Curious George series and many other children's books.
Through the free verse poem, you learn about the couples struggles during World War II. The two were living in Paris, France when the German occupation started to happen. They used up much of their funds to flee the city they ...more
Through the free verse poem, you learn about the couples struggles during World War II. The two were living in Paris, France when the German occupation started to happen. They used up much of their funds to flee the city they ...more
Subtitled The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey. I always loved Curious George as did my daughters, so I was particularly interested in reading this account which is actually intended for older children. The colourful illustrations by Allan Drummond greatly enhanced the text, which I didn’t find particularly well written, but it was still an interesting and very quick read. Photographs and illustrations by H.A. Rey are also included. I recommend this one for all fans of that curious ...more
Seamless integration of simple text, period-style illustrations, and reproductions of primary documents such as H. A. Rey's diary. At times the narrative Is "novelistic," a feature common in old-style children's biographies, e.g., " He pushed open the heavy shutters and smelled the fresh September air." But the book is fastidiously researched. I was impressed that the German-Jewish Reys bicycled from Paris (over five million people were on the road) to Lisbon to escape the G...more
The fascinating background story of Margret and H.A. Rey and their iconic character, Curious George. Finding themselves in France when Germany began their march through Europe in June 1940, the couple must find a way to flee, saving themselves and their precious not-yet-published manuscripts. They bicycle through France, take trains through Spain and Portugal, a ship to Brazil, and finally another ship to a new home in New York, all by October of the same year. Filled with documentary items and ...more
Delightful! Unfortunately, I am not a fan of Curious George...(I know, I know)just cannot agree that curiosity is a good thing since it is a vice, not a virtue. The rascal just never has to face consequences for being naughty! I do love the author, his illustrations and now that I know the story of his love for his wife and their escape during WWII. I love the photos of his journal, letters from his editors, childhood photos, maps, etc. This book is a real treasure. We borrowed it from the...more
This book chronicles the journey of Margaret and H.A. Rey out of German occupied France at the beginning of WWII. They fled on bicycle away from the descending German troops with minimal possessions and their drawings of Fifi, a curious monkey, who was always getting into trouble. The Reys traveled through Spain and Portugal to a ship that took them to Brazil, where they were citizens. From Brazil, they came to America. Fifi eventually was renamed George and became the popular curious monkey...more
Megan
rated it
Shelves:
children,
historical,
holocaust,
hoosier-book-award,
intermediate,
picture-books,
nonfiction
I had never heard this story of the authors of Curious George. Both German-born Jews living in France, they found it necessary to flee when WWII began. Packing only what they could carry, Margret and H.A. Rey left Paris on bicycles and traveled to American by way of Portugal and Brazil. Fascinating photographs and documents accompany the text, and sharp observers will figure out where H.A. Rey got the inspiration for the character of George (originally named Fifi!) and why George's keeper wor...more
In almost an almost epic poetry style, Louise Borden tells the fascinating story of the Reys, and their exciting and harrowing escape from the Nazis on bicycle and train with Curious George in a knapsack on their back - that's how I imagined it anyway, it's the manuscript actually. Some of the terminology might be a bit beyond the intended audience, and the pictures were occasionally distracting (but always really well drawn). But when all is said and done, a fun and exciting little read.
I devoured the Curious George books as a child, and so I was interested in this biography about his creators, Margret and H.A. Rey. I was surprised when I received a children's book in the mail - I had expected a 200 -300 page biography!This was clearly due to an oversight on my part. However, the story is still told in an engaging, informative way, and includes colorful illustrations as well as photographs. Maybe one day I'll get to read that 200 page biography....
I have never been a big Curious George fan but I do like this narrative nonfiction account of the Reys' departure from Paris, on bicycles, to join the flood of refugees in advance of the Nazi occupation of France. I particularly like the book design, with spot illustrations of photos, letters, journal entries and maps, interspersed with George himself (aka Fifi) and another character, Whiteblack the Penguin, who was discovered, & published, in 2000.
I had no idea that H. A. and Margeret Rey were Jewish or German or that their lives were at risk during World War 2. When I discovered this, I had to track down more information. True enough, the author did an excellent job of going through Hans's private diary and contacting people who knew the Reys to get the story. The illustrator's style, which I'm sure intentionally matches the Reys' own styles, is an excellent complement to the story.
While putting together a presentation on Curious George authors Margret and H.A. Rey for my 2nd graders, I ran across this book and was amazed at the adventure the authors had escaping from France right before the Nazis took Paris during World War II. They left on bicycles Hans had put together from parts, able to take only their winter coats, some food, and 5 manuscripts they were working on, one which would be "Curious George"!
Janell
rated it
Recommends it for:
Fans of Curious George, those who like WW2 stories
Recommended to Janell by:
Local newspaper article
I was glad there was a story written about how the husband and wife team behind Curious George barely escaped Europe just as the Nazis were invading. They escaped with the early drawings and concepts for Curious George on bicycle by the skin of their teeth. The adult story is told in children's storybook fashion, as an oversized book with lots of pictures and drawings, which I found fascinating. A quick and absorbing read.
I read this more because I was interested in the content than the style. While I enjoyed it and can tell that it was lovingly put together with both words and pictures, it felt out of place somehow. It contains more detail than the very young reader would be interested in yet picture book style format and the tone of the writing seems to be aimed at prereaders. To be fair I'll sit down with it and my 8-year-old to see what she thinks of it. Perhaps I'll add another star if she likes it.
I read this book after visiting the exhibit on H.A. and Margaret Rey at the Jewish Museum in NYC. This book is appropriate for older elementary readers and has a good combination of authentic pictures/documents and original illustration. The story of bicycling out of Paris to escape Nazi invasion with the manuscript for Curious George in the bike basket reminded me of parts of "Suite Francaise."
Reread. One of the most haunting aspects of World War II and the Holocaust is the lost potential of the millions who were murdered. Louise Borden chronicles the escape of Margret and H.A. Rey, who were able to escape with their lives and their art. Brilliantly researched with a pleasing design that introduces readers to many of the Reys' lesser known characters, as well as Curious George.
Very interesting book written in prose form that details the story of Magret and H.A. Rey...how they met, their careers, and ultimately how they escaped from the Nazi invasion of Paris on bicycles with nothing but their Curious George manuscripts and illustrations. Very well done...and completely fascinating!!!!
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