The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H. A. Rey
The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H. A. Rey by Louise Borden, Houghton Mifflin, 2006.
Grade Level: 3 rd -5 th
ISBN-10: 0618339248 ISBN-13: 978-0618339242 List Price: $17.00
Synopsis: Biography of Margret and H.A. Rey, authors of Curious George books. Both German born Jews, they flee France in advance of the Nazi takeover. They take only the manuscripts for Curious George and other books and make their perilous way to the U.S.
General Review: This fast paced book is a perfect way to tell the story behind the story of Curious George. The book pages features copies of primary documents and artifacts. Teachers will find the book a great springboard to discussion regarding persecution, immigration laws, and war.
Themes: Biographies, Authors, Voyages and Travels, World War II, Immigration Laws.
Author Information:
Louise Borden was born October 30, 1949 and reared in Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from Denison University with a degree in history. Louise lives with her husband, Pete, in Terrace Park, Ohio, and has three grown children. This book is one of twenty-two books she has written for children. Her web site is www.louiseborden.com.
Discussion: (Standard 3, Benchmark 3)
1. Hans Rey like to draw and write about monkeys and other animals. Do you have a
favorite animal? Why do you like about that animal?
2. Describe the planning that Hans and Margret did to escape the Nazis.
3. Hans and Margret left their home on bicycles with only what they could carry in
four baskets. If you had to leave your home and travel by bicycle to another country,
Hans and Margret, what you put in your baskets and why?
Activities:
1. Would marmoset monkeys make good pets? Research the habits and needs of the
marmoset monkey. Write a report explaining how to take care of a pet marmoset
monkey. (Standard 2, Benchmark 4, Standard 3, Benchmark 2)
2. Research embassies and consulates. How do they help citizens traveling in foreign
countries? Write a summary explaining why the Reys kept going to the various
countries’ consulates. Use web site http://www.usembassy.state.gov and
http://www.future.state.gov. There are student and educator sections.
(Standard 3, Benchmark 2 and Benchmark 3)
3. Hans and Margret were both born in Germany but became legal citizens of Brazil.
They had Brazilian passports that allowed them to leave Germany. Make a list of
the information you would need to obtain a United State Passport? How much does a
passport cost? Use web site http://state.gov/travelandbusiness.
(Standard 3, Benchmark 2 and Benchmark 3)
4. Obtain a map of Europe and mark the Reys’ travels. The book reported their mileage
kilometers. Research how to convert kilometers into miles. Create a chart showing
how many miles they rode each day. (Standard 3, Benchmark 1 and Benchmark 3)
Additional Resources:
This site features activities for The Journey That Saved Curious George.
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/cgsite/journey_lp.shtml
This site features information and activities for the Curious George books.
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/cgsite/
This site is for individuals seeking additional research about the Reys. The Reys collection is part of the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi.
http://www.lib.usm.edu/%7Edegrum/html/research/findaids/DG0812f.html
Follow-up Books:
A partial bibliography of books by Margret and H.A. Rey can be found on page 72 of
The Journey That Saved Curious George.
Books that deal with escaping Europe during World War II:
Borden, Louise. Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands.
Giff, Patricia Reilly. Lily’s Crossing
Haywood, Carolyn, Primrose Day
Lowry, Lois, Number the Stars
Books about authors:
Anderson, William. Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Anderson, William. Prairie Girl: The Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Anderson, William. River Boy: The Story of Mark Twain
Blegvad, Lenore. Kitty and Mr. Kipling: Neighbors in Vermont
Carle, Eric. Flora and Tiger: 19 Very Short Stories About My Life
Cohen, Charles. Seuss, the Whole Seuss, and Nothing But the Seuss:
A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel
Crew, Donald. Bigmama’s
De Paola, Tomie. 26 Fairmount Avenue
De Paola, Tomie. Christmas Remembered
De Paola, Tomie. Here We All Are
De Paola, Tomie. I’m Still Scared
De Paola, Tomie. On My Way
De Paola, Tomie. Things Will Never Be the Same
De Paola, Tomie. What a Year
Hesse, Karen. Young Hans Christian Anderson
Jones, Brenn. Learning About Achievement From the Life of Maya Angelo
Kull, Kathleen. Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to
Dr. Seuss
Lester, Helen. Author: A True Story
Marcus, Leonard. Side by Side: Five Favorite Picture-Book Teams Go to Work
McGinty, Alice. Meet Jerry Spinelli
Rau, Dand Meachen. Dr. Seuss
Ruffin, Frances. Meet Cynthia Rylant
Ruffin, Frances. Meet Lois Lowry
Ruffin, Frances. Meet Patricia MacLachlan
Ruffin, Frances. Meet Paula Danziger
Ruffin, Frances. Meet Roald Dahl
Ruffin, Frances. Meet Sid Fleischman
Wallner, Alexandra. Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Author of Anne of Green Gables
Ward, S. Meet Beverly Cleary
Ward, S. Meet J.K. Rowling
Ward, S. Meet Shel Silverstein
Winter, Jeanette. Beatrix: Various Episodes From the Life of Beatrix Potter
Yolen, Jane. Perfect Wizard: Hans Christain Anderson