The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey

I love this story, and am delighted to see it in a children's book. I found the scrapbook style mildly distracting, although it's not out of place. Finding age appropriate WW2 resources for children is valuable, if we are to hold on to the lessons our world learned during this time. This book is not just a good resource, but also a good story, especially for children who have already been introduced to Curious George.

I love this book. It provides a gateway for young students to gain interest in World War II and history in general. It describes Hans & Margaret Rey's partnership in writing children's books and how difficult it was for them to save Curious George.

Tales of great adventures and escapes always seem to capture our imaginations, and make us believe that anything is possible. Perhaps that's one of the reasons that the adventures of Margret and H.A. Rey is so tantalizing. And in this adventure, we also have the added benefit of saving a famous manuscript from almost certain destruction. There is hope still that these bits of history will be saved, even when war and devastation strikes.
They never had children of their own and she died in 1996.

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 children's book manuscripts among their few possessions.Follow the Rey's 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 of all ages.

A picture book biography of Margret and H.A. Rey, focusing on their experience during World War II trying to escape the Nazi invasion. There is suspense and drama here; even as the Reys enjoy stays on the countryside and seashore there is a foreboding sense hanging over it all. Their escape is exhausting and desperate. We also get a sense of how H.A. Rey worked on his books. Illustrations by Drummond bring to mind the "Curious George" illustrations; there are also collages of period photographs, pictures of the Reys and reprints of diary entries and letters. You get the sense that the Reys not only enjoyed life but were sturdy and resourceful as they biked and trained from France to Portugal, sailed to Brazil and then to the U.S.

This brightly-illustrated book tells the true story of the creators of Curious George, Margret and H.A. Rey. Much like their monkey creation, they had to escape from some sticky situations. The couple lived in Paris on the verge of World II and made their escape from the city by bicycle hours before the German army marched in. It's a fascinating story, and this book left me wanting to know more.

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 children's book manuscripts among their few possessions.

Louise Borden combed primary resources, including Hans Rey's pocket diaries, to tell this dramatic true story. Archival materials introduce readers to the world of Hans and Margret Rey while Allan Drummond dramatically and colorfully illustrates their wartime trek to a new home.
Follow the Rey's 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 of all ages.