The Journey that Saved Curious George

The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Reyby Louise Borden (author), Allan Drummond (illustrator); Houghton Mifflin, 2005

9 years and up (80 pages)

Who knew that Curious George's original name was Fifi? We're all familiar with those wacky adventures by that curious monkey, but few know the real life adventure that brought Curious George and his creators to the United States. This is a beautifully written story about Hans Augusto Reyersbach and Margarete Waldstein who found love in Brazil where they owned two pet monkeys. However, when they returned to Paris, they'd have to flee due to occupation by the Nazis. The Reys flee by bicycle, carrying with them a few precious possessions, among them a manuscript about a little monkey named Fifi, an early incarnation of our picture book hero, Curious George. It's a great selection for children's book lovers, a fourth or fifth grader learning about WWII, or anyone who had a love for Curious George.

Head on over to the Picture Book of the Day Blog for Anastasia Suen's Nonfiction Monday Roundup.