The secret is out. Curious George is a Jew. Well at least his creators, Margret and H.A. Rey were. Long before the Reys became
best selling authors and famous illustrators they were Holocaust survivors. In The
Journey that Saved Curious George , author Louise Borden poignantly reveals their harrowing wartime adventure. Ms. Borden painstakingly researched this biography to give an accurate portrait of Margaret and H.A. Rey’s remarkable lives. The book is chock full of period maps, and authentic Rey family photographs. Additionally, readers will delight in Allan Drummond’s beautiful illustrations of the couple’s flight to freedom.
The heart of the story is set in France. As young, struggling artists the Reys naturally found pre-war Paris a stimulating place to live. However, in the spring of 1940, all of that changed when the Nazi Army marched into France. The Rey’s very survival depended on finding an escape route out of Paris. Luckily, they had Brazilian passports and knew how to ride two wheelers. H.A. Rey managed to get his hands on two rickety old bicycles and with the help of some spare parts made them useable. He and his wife packed up their manuscripts and some warm clothing and rode out of Paris as quickly as those battered old bikes could take them.
The Reys endured many hardships as refugees. Frequently they went without much food and were forced to spend many uncomfortable nights sleeping in stables. However, they also met with the kindness of strangers and good luck along the way. Their long journey included stops in such exotic locations as Spain, Portugal, and Brazil. Four long months after they bicycled out of Paris the Reys arrived in New York City. Only one year later in 1941, their first
children’s book, Curious George, was born
The Journey that Saved Curious George is an extraordinary biography, which I enthusiastically recommend for children ages 8 to 80. Monkey lovers and history buffs alike will enjoy reading this exciting children’s book.