SuitabookThe journey that saved Curious George
Louise Borden
- Reading
- Pause to distinguish the artists’ everyday lives, their creative process, and the historical forces affecting them. Examine the reproduced documents and illustrations, then discuss what the book leaves unclear about the escape.
- Themes
- Art shaped by history: H.A. and Margret Rey develop picture-book work while their lives are affected by the approach of war and their eventual escape. The book presents creative work as part of the couple’s shared life and connects the Curious George manuscript with their wartime journey.
- Escape and refuge: The Reys, Jewish artists from Germany, leave Paris during the Nazi advance, travelling by bicycle with their manuscript. The narrative frames their escape as a central historical event and places personal courage and practical decisions within wartime danger.
- Worth knowing
- The wartime setting and the couple’s escape bring danger and persecution into a story associated with a familiar character. Read together if those historical pressures may need calm explanation.