SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: SURPRISING SPIES
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://karenruelle.com/
CITY: New York
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 209
http://www.hiddenonthemountain.com/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born June 17, 1957, in Salisbury, MD; daughter of Edward (an engineer) and Barbara (an artist) Gray; married Lee Gray Ruelle (an artist), September 18, 1988; children: Nina Sophia.
EDUCATION:University of Michigan, B.G.S., 1979, M.L.S., 1980.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, editor, and illustrator. Library Journal, New York, NY, assistant editor, 1980-83; Publishers Weekly, New York, NY, associate editor, 1983-85; English-Speaking Union, New York, NY, librarian, 1985-90.
AWARDS:First runner-up, Partners and Crimes (bookstore) writing competition, 1994; Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Book Award, 2002, for Easy as Apple Pie, and 2004, for Just in Time for New Year’s!; Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Book for Teens designation, Association of Jewish Libraries, 2008, for Hidden on the Mountain.
RELIGION: Jewish.WRITINGS
Contributor of book reviews to Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus Reviews, and of articles to the Stamford Advocate/Greenwich Times.
SIDELIGHTS
Karen Gray Ruelle is the author and illustrator of the popular “Harry and Emily” series of chapter books featuring a pair of energetic, entertaining feline siblings. She is also the author of several works of nonfiction, most notably Hidden on the Mountain: Stories of Children Sheltered from the Nazis in Le Chambon, The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews during the Holocaust, and Peter’s War: A Boy’s True Story of Survival in World War II Europe, all of which she wrote with Deborah Durland DeSaix. Ruelle once told SATA: “When I was growing up, I wanted to be a writer and I also wanted to be an artist. Since it never occurred to me that I could be both as an adult, I was in a state of constant conflict about what I would be when I grew up. Then a dear friend suggested that I write and illustrate children’s books. A great fog lifted, and I’ve been pursuing that dream ever since!”
Born in Maryland, Ruelle spent much of her childhood in London, England. “From a very young age, I started making up my own little books,” she once recalled to SATA. “The first was about penguins and how to dress them up for various special occasions—I think I was six years old at the time! I keep coming back to making up books. It’s the only place where I do feel completely at home—with my writing and drawing and painting, making up little stories that develop often from a single image or phrase or sound.”
After graduating from the University of Michigan, Ruelle moved to New York City and worked as an editor, a reviewer, and a librarian. “I’ve always been an avid reader, a flashlight-under-the-covers-at-night kind of person,” she remarked. “In fact, for a while I was a librarian, just so that I could be surrounded by books. (I thought of myself as not only a Keeper of the Books, but also as a kind of Private Investigator of Information, answering all sorts of odd and fascinating reference questions.)” Ruelle made her literary debut in 1993. “My first book, Seventy-five Fun Things to Make and Do by Yourself, evolved quite naturally,” she told SATA. “I must have the sensibilities of a ten-year-old because it was easy for me to think from that viewpoint. Brainstorming to come up with projects for the book was an extremely creative time for me, and soon my apartment was filled with a jumble of materials, half-finished projects, junk everywhere. From the midst of this constructive chaos, the book emerged. I like to think that my book is not only a useful resource of activities and projects, but that it also motivates independent and creative thinking in its readers. In addition, I hope the informal, anecdotal tone reads like a storybook, almost a documentation of the development of the creative process.”
In 1999 Ruelle introduced her popular kitten characters Harry and Emily. In The Monster in Harry’s Backyard, Harry receives a tent for his birthday and happily plays with it indoors for a week before his mother suggests he try his new tent out of doors. As soon as Harry beds down for the night in the backyard, however, strange noises from what appears to be a masked monster send him skittering back indoors to hide under his bed. Early morning investigations reveal the source of the noises to be a raccoon. Although School Library Journal reviewer Jackie Hechtkopf observed that Ruelle’s illustrations make a confusing distinction between animals that act like people and animals that act like animals, she also noted the appropriateness of the author’s “easy, repetitive language.” A contributor to Kirkus Reviews also reviewed The Monster in Harry’s Backyard and concluded that “the suspense of the story and Ruelle’s friendly watercolors make this … ideal for beginners.”
Harry and Emily reappear in The Thanksgiving Beast Feast, another short chapter book for early readers. In this story, Harry and Emily learn about the Thanksgiving holiday from their mother and decide to make a small feast for the animals that live in their backyard. They distribute peanuts to the squirrels, peanut-butter-smeared pinecones to the birds, and cranberries to the chipmunks. Since Emily cannot bear the thought of pumpkin pie, they make pumpkin-shaped cookies instead and share those too. “Ruelle’s minimalist watercolors give this beginning reader an unusually fresh look,” remarked a reviewer for Horn Book, the critic also praising the author’s text for its gentle humor and theme of helping others.
In Snow Valentines Harry and Emily join forces to surprise their parents with the perfect gift on Valentine’s Day. After the kittens’s efforts to write a special song, create a new dance, and bake a delicious dessert draw the attention of their mother and father, Harry and Emily head outdoors, drawing fresh inspiration from a sudden snowstorm. “Colorful cartoons portray the loving family,” observed School Library Journal contributor Lisa Smith, and Carolyn Phelan, writing in Booklist, described Ruelle’s narrative and pictures as “simple, clear, and engaging.”
Harry and Emily ready themselves for Halloween in the easy reader Spookier than a Ghost, another installment in Ruelle’s self-illustrated series. Though Harry’s homemade dinosaur costume is a big success, Emily’s grand costume plans fail to materialize, leaving her with a tangled mess. Fortunately, Harry knows just how to soothe his little sister’s bruised ego. “Children whose best efforts haven’t produced exactly the imagined result will sympathize with Emily,” noted a critic in Kirkus Reviews.
The two kittens celebrate more holiday fun in April Fool!. After Harry, a notorious practical joker, declares that no one can top his April Fool’s Day pranks, Emily quietly proves herself worthy of the challenge. Ruelle’s “pen-and-watercolor illustrations are jaunty,” wrote Ilene Cooper in a Booklist review of the book, and a Kirkus Reviews contributor described the pictures in April Fool! as “charmingly direct and humorous.” In The Crunchy, Munchy Christmas Tree, a snowstorm prevents Harry and Emily from spending the holiday with their grandparents. To make the best of the situation, the kittens decorates a live tree with popcorn and cranberries for the local wildlife to eat. “The chief delight is in the characters’ natural dialogue,” Susan Patron remarked in a School Library Journal review of The Crunchy, Munchy Christmas Tree.
In Mother’s Day Mess, the kittens decide to shower their mother with homemade presents on her special day. During the festive presentation, however, the marigolds and peanut-butter-and-marshmallow pancakes end up all over Mom’s bed. “The simple, stylized line drawings, washed with gentle colors, are spontaneous and expressive,” Phelan noted, and a Kirkus Reviews contributor stated that “the earnest endeavors of the charming kittens are … engaging.” Harry and Emily attempt to stay up past midnight in Just in Time for New Year’s!. Here, according to School Library Journal reviewer Susan Lissim, Ruelle’s “enjoyable book deals with a subject with which many youngsters can identify.”
The feline siblings break a number of raw eggs, mix a batch of muddy-colored dye, and hide chocolates in several unusual spots around the house in Easter Egg Disaster. Ruelle’s pictures for this series installment “have a childlike quality and complement the narrative,” Melinda Piehler wrote in School Library Journal. In Dear Tooth Fairy, as Emily anxiously waits for her first baby tooth to fall out, Harry offers a wealth of information about the magical creature’s visiting habits. In Booklist, Jennifer Mattson described the work as “a small drama that realistically reflects childhood curiosity and resourcefulness,” and School Library Journal critic Laura Scott remarked that “Ruelle’s colorful cartoons depict a cast of appealing feline characters.”
Taking a break from her “Harry and Emily” stories, Ruelle collaborated with DeSaix to produce Hidden on the Mountain, a highly regarded nonfiction title. The work details how the residents of Chambon-sur-Lignon, a Protestant community in southern France, helped more than 3,000 Jewish children escape the horrors of the Holocaust during World War II. Ruelle and DeSaix first developed the idea for their book during a visit to an historical museum in France. “We were awed and moved,” the authors wrote on their Hidden on the Mountain Web site. “We tried to imagine what the refugees must have gone through, and what their lives must have been like. We wanted to learn more. And we decided that we had to tell this story to others.” While researching the work, Ruelle and DeSaix traveled to New York, Florida, Virginia, Switzerland, and France to interview surviving refugees and rescuers. “The risks that were taken by the people of Le Chambon, the generosity and bravery in the face of such extreme danger, were astounding,” the authors stated. “Yet they did it unassumingly because they felt it was the right thing to do to protect these refugees.”
Hidden on the Mountain was named a Sydney Taylor Book Award notable book and garnered strong reviews. Rachel Kamin, writing in School Library Journal, commented that “the book is an invaluable resource for Holocaust educators, and many of the children’s narratives would read beautifully out loud.” “Many readers will focus on the dramatic overviews and commentaries, but the personal details … are unforgettable,” noted Booklist critic Hazel Rochman, and a contributor in Kirkus Reviews stated that “the authors have brought the inspiring deeds of the Chambonese to life.”
(open new)In Bark Park, Ruelle introduces a number of dogs as they visit a canine park. The book shows how excited most of them are to go to the park and what sort of activities they do once they are there. Writing in School Library Journal, Catherine Callegari opined that the book would be “great for storytime or anytime that calls for a book brimming with dogs.”
Ruelle and DeSaix profile the period of history that a 250-year-old elm tree planted in what is now New York City’s Madison Square Park saw in The Tree. This specific tree served as the backdrop for a range of political demonstrations, a campground for soldiers during the U.S. Civil War, and as a potter’s field for yellow fever victims. The buildings around the tree also changed over time, ranging from an orphanage and baseball field to a hippodrome. A Kirkus Reviews contributor noted that “a vague timeline throughout the work is an unnecessary distraction from this charming piece of history.” Writing in School Library Journal, Kathy Piehl reasoned that “although Ruelle’s book is unlikely to attract casual readers, it could serve as a supplemental curriculum resource.”
With coauthor DeSaix, Ruelle published The Grand Mosque of Paris in 2008. The account looks at the role that the rector of Paris’s Grand Mosque and its primarily Berber congregants played in offering refuge to French Jews during World War II when theNazis were rounding them up and sending them off to concentration camps. Some Jews stayed at the mosque for a length of time while others transited there before being hidden elsewhere. Reviewing the book in School Library Journal, Rachel Kamin insisted that “this well-researched book belongs on the shelves of most libraries.” Booklist contributor Ilene Cooper commented that the authors “effectively capture the desperation felt by the victims and the enormous effort made by the resistance.”
Again collaborating with DeSaix, Ruelle published Peter’s War in 2020. Twelve-year-old Peter Feigl’s life is told in picture-book format as he and his family fled Nazi persecution. From Berlin they moved to Czechoslovakia, Austria, Belgium, and France before his parents were ultimately captured and sent to Auschwitz. Peter was able to hide in a number of schools and orphanages before escaping to safety in Switzerland. In a review in School Library Journal, Madeline J. Bryant stated: “Despite writing and format imperfections, this is an important primary source story of a young refugee during World War II.” Booklist contributor Kathleen McBroom remarked that “this affecting compilation will help young readers put a human face on an unfathomable tragedy.”
In Surprising Spies: Unexpected Heroes of World War II, Ruelle introduces short biographies of individuals who had worked in some capacity to undermine Nazi efforts during World War II. With the aid of photographs, maps, and other illustrations, the account chronicles the efforts of Virginia Hall, Noor Inayat Khan, Josephine Baker, and others as they masqueraded as magicians, musicians, and even a baseball player while conducting their covert activities. A Kirkus Reviews contributor found the book to be “an engaging examination of the important although often unsung work of spies.”(close new)
“I’ve never had a problem coming up with ideas,” Ruelle once remarked to SATA. “My life is filled with little stories, made-up and real. I’m the kind of person who sees the humorous and ironic side of everything, and I’m forever imagining shapes and personalities in everything I see. A fire hydrant is a strange creature breaking through the concrete sidewalk; trees express powerful emotions with their branched arms; birds actually talk; houses listen. And I love the music of language. So it makes sense that I like to put these things down, as pictures and stories.
“I strive to make my work both entertaining and moving. My goal is to combine sweetness and humor without making my work too sentimental or goofy.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, July 1, 2000, Carolyn Phelan, review of Snow Valentines, p. 2045; September 15, 2001, Carolyn Phelan, review of Spookier than a Ghost, p. 236; February 1, 2002, Ilene Cooper, review of April Fool!, p. 949; August, 2002, Carolyn Phelan, review of Easy as Apple Pie, p. 1976; March 1, 2003, Carolyn Phelan, review of Mother’s Day Mess, p. 1294; September 1, 2003, Carolyn Phelan, review of The Crunchy, Munchy Christmas Tree, p. 136; March 15, 2004, Carolyn Phelan, review of Easter Egg Disaster, p. 1310; February 15, 2006, Jennifer Mattson, review of Dear Tooth Fairy, p. 104; March 15, 2007, Hazel Rochman, review of Hidden on the Mountain: Stories of Children Sheltered from the Nazis in Le Chambon, p. 42; November 1, 2009, Ilene Cooper, review of The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews during the Holocaust, p. 45; March 1, 2020, Kathleen McBroom, review of Peter’s War: A Boy’s True Story of Survival in World War II Europe, p. 35.
Horn Book, September 1, 1999, review of The Thanksgiving Beast Feast, p. 617.
Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 1999, review of The Monster in Harry’s Backyard, p. 228; September 15, 2001, review of Spookier than a Ghost, p. 1367; February 1, 2002, review of April Fool!, p. 188; August 1, 2002, review of Easy as Apple Pie, p. 1141; February 15, 2003, review of Mother’s Day Mess, p. 316; March 1, 2003, review of Hidden on the Mountain; September 1, 2008, review of The Tree; October 1, 2020, review of Surprising Spies: Unexpected Heroes of World War II.
Publishers Weekly, September 27, 1999, review of The Thanksgiving Beast Feast, p. 51; May 14, 2007, review of Hidden on the Mountain, p. 56.
School Library Journal, April 1, 1999, Jackie Hechtkopf, review of The Monster in Harry’s Backyard, p. 108; September 1, 2000, Lisa Smith, review of Snow Valentines, p. 207; September 1, 2001, Shara Alpern, review of Spookier than a Ghost, p. 204; June 1, 2002, Sandra Welzenbach, review of Frog’s Best Friend, p. 87; October 1, 2002, Elaine Lesh Morgan, review of Easy as Apple Pie, p. 121; March 1, 2003, Marilyn Taniguchi, review of Mother’s Day Mess, p. 206; October 1, 2003, Susan Patron, review of The Crunchy, Munchy Christmas Tree, p. 67; April 1, 2004, Melinda Piehler, review of Easter Egg Disaster, p. 122; October 1, 2004, Susan Lissim, review of Just in Time for New Year’s!, p. 128; September 1, 2005, Jane Barrer, review of Great Groundhogs!, p. 185; May 1, 2006, Laura Scott, review of Dear Tooth Fairy, p. 103; May 1, 2007, Rachel Kamin, review of Hidden on the Mountain, p. 152; May 1, 2008, Catherine Callegari, review of Bark Park, p. 107; October 1, 2008, Kathy Piehl, review of The Tree, p. 122; October 1, 2009, Rachel Kamin, review of The Grand Mosque of Paris, p. 152; April 1, 2020, Madeline J. Bryant, review of Peter’s War, p. 154; December 1, 2020, Debbie Tanner, review of Surprising Spies, p. 116.
ONLINE
Hidden on the Mountain website, http://www.hiddenonthemountain.com/ (April 1, 2008), author profile.
Karen Gray Ruelle website, https://karenruelle.com (January 18, 2021).
Growing Up, Wanting to be a Writer (and a Spy)
Karen Gray RuelleI was born in the United States, in Salisbury, Maryland, and my family moved a lot when I was growing up. For at least half of my childhood, we lived in London, England, so I had an interesting accent and nobody could figure out where I was from.
When my little brother, Doug, was several months old, I tried to send him back, but now we’re good friends. I’ve always liked making art—my mother is an artist and we spent a lot of time in her studio–but I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. I also wanted to be a spy.
Ever since I was a toddler, I’ve been crazy about dogs. I dreamed of getting a puppy, but my parents said no, so I made one out of snow. When spring came, Snowy melted. Finally, my parents relented, and we got a terrier named Angus MacWhat’s-His-Name Paddington Gray. Ever since then, I’ve never been without at least one pet, and none of them have ever melted.
As a child, I was terrible at sports, but I could run faster than anyone in my grade, even the boys. I was also taller than everyone in my grade, including the boys. Now I’m a normal height, but I’m still terrible at sports. Sometimes I still run, just a bit more slowly than before.
This is Me Now–Writing about Spies
At University of Michigan, I studied everything except art, which I had already done at home. Since I loved languages, I learned as many as I could. I figured it would come in handy if I ever became a spy. After that, I went on to get a Master’s degree in Library Science, so I would be good at doing research. Then I moved to New York, where I met Lee, another artist, at a printmaking workshop. He’s half an inch taller than I am and he runs much faster than I do. We got married and our daughter, Nina, grew up to be an artist, too.
Children's book author and illustrator, Karen Gray RuelleI’ve had lots of different jobs, including editor, book reviewer, librarian and ESL teacher. Did I ever become a spy? Perhaps. But if I did, I probably wouldn’t be allowed to tell you. Now I teach ESL to immigrants at a non-profit organization. I also make paintings of animals, which have been shown in exhibits in New York City. You can see some of my artwork and illustrations here on the Artwork page or visit my online portfolio here. But my main job is writing and illustrating books for children.
Karen Gray Ruelle
About
I'm a professional writer and illustrator, with 20 children’s books published so far and several others in the works. I write for all ages, from toddlers to adults, and enjoy working on my own, as well as in collaboration with other authors and illustrators.
In terms of style, my illustrations tend to be more whimsical than realistic, and I've worked in watercolor, oils, pastels, pen and ink, and collage. Lately, I've been experimenting with layering colors in oils and using the resulting swatches to create collage. It makes me happy to work with so many gorgeous, rich colors.
My writing ranges from extensively researched, powerful non-fiction narrative to humorous fiction and poetry, with some folktales and other stories thrown in for fun. I write things that move me or make me laugh, and I hope that my readers will enjoy them.
BOOKS
• The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews During the Holocaust
(co-written and co-illustrated with Deborah Durland DeSaix)
Holiday House, 2009, nonfiction picture book for ages 9 to adult
• Bark Park
Peachtree Publishers, 2008, rhyming picture book
• The Monster in Harry's Backyard
Holiday House, 1999, easy reader, level 2
• The Thanksgiving Beast Feast
Holiday House, 1999, easy reader, level 2
• Snow Valentines
Holiday House, 2000, easy reader, level 2
• Spookier Than a Ghost
Holiday House, 2001, easy reader, level 2
• Easy As Apple Pie
Holiday House, 2002, easy reader, level 2
• April Fool!
Holiday House, 2002, easy reader, level 2
• Mother's Day Mess
Holiday House, 2003, easy reader, level 2
• The Crunchy, Munchy Christmas Tree
Holiday House, 2003, easy reader, level 2
• Easter Egg Disaster
Holiday House, 2004, easy reader, level 2
• Just in Time for New Year's!
Holiday House, 2004, easy reader, level 2
• Great Groundhogs!
Holiday House, 2006, easy reader, level 2
• Dear Tooth Fairy
Holiday House, 2006, easy reader, level 2
• The Tree
(illustrated by Deborah Durland DeSaix)
Holiday House, 2008, nonfiction picture book
• Hidden on the Mountain: Stories of Children Sheltered from the Nazis in Le Chambon
(co-written with Deborah Durland DeSaix)
Holiday House, 2007, 304-page non-fiction book for teenagers and adults
• The Book of Baths
• The Book of Breakfasts
• The Book of Bedtimes
(illustrated by Lizi Boyd)
Harcourt Brace, 1997, rhyming board books
• 75 Fun Things to Make and Do by Yourself
(illustrated by Sandy Haight)
Sterling, 1993
INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION
France
• The Grand Mosque of Paris
Editions Salvator, 2010
Japan
• The Grand Mosque of Paris
Sairyusha, Ltd., 2010
AWARDS
• American Library Association Notable Children's Book
• National Council of Teachers of English Orbis Pictus Award Recommended Title
• Smithsonian Institution Notable Children's Book
• Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Notable Children's Book
• Middle East Outreach Council Book Award, Honorable Mention
• Booklist Top Ten Religious Books for Youth
• California Reading Association Eureka! Children's Book Award for Excellence in Nonfiction
• Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Book Award
• ABC Choices for Children, Association of Booksellers for Children
• American Booksellers Association/Children's Book Council Joint Committee, Children's Books Mean Business exhibition and catalog
The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews during the Holocaust.
By Karen Gray Ruelle and Deborah
Durland DeSaix. Illus. by the authors.
2009.40p. Holiday, $17.95 (9780823421596).
940.53. Gr. 3-6.
The book begins with a quote found in Islamic and Jewish traditions: "Save one life, and it is as if you've saved all of humanity." Today's problems between these two Abrahamic religions are obvious, but there have been moments of brotherhood. During the Nazi occupation of France, Jews were being rounded up and sent to concentration camps. One avenue of refuge was the Grand Mosque in Paris, where Jewish adults and children hid, some briefly until they could be spirited away, others for longer stays. Thanks to the mosque's rector, and particularly Berbers from Algeria, many lives were saved. This is a fascinating, little-known piece of history (the afterword explains how difficult it was to research). The authors sometimes try too hard to explain too much to a middle-grade audience, but they effectively capture the desperation felt by the victims and the enormous effort made by the resistance. The evocative paintings in somber colors heighten the tension, but some, like the one of a Jewish girl in front of an intricately designed mosque wall, capture the hope.--Ilene Cooper
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Source Citation
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Cooper, Ilene. "The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews during the Holocaust." Booklist, vol. 106, no. 6, 15 Nov. 2009, p. 45. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A225315807/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=20ec56c6. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
Peter's War: A Boy's True Story of Survival in World War II Europe. By Deborah Durland DeSaix and Karen Gray Ruelle. Illus. by Deborah Durland DeSaix. Mar. 2020.40p. Holiday, $18.99 (9780823424160). Gr. 3-7. 940.53.
This oversize picture-book memoir tells the story of Peter Feigl, a 12-year-old boy fleeing the Nazis during WWII. His family's odyssey began in Berlin and continued on to Czechoslovakia, Austria, Belgium, and France, where his parents were arrested and deported to Auschwitz. Peter was left alone, and he hid in various schools and orphanages until he made it to freedom in Switzerland. Substantial text fills in historical and political background, but more compelling are the photos and excerpts from Peters diaries, where he writes to his absent parents and records his daily experiences. This account is based on interviews conducted by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum oral history project, and extensive chapter notes provide additional details. The soft pastel illustrations stand in stark contrast to the scenes they portray: Peter innocently giving the Nazi salute at a rally; Peter watching his father bicycle away for the last time. This affecting compilation will help young readers put a human face on an unfathomable tragedy, as Peter's personality shines through in his writing. This accessible tribute is an important addition to children's Holocaust literature.--Kathleen McBroom
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Source Citation
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McBroom, Kathleen. "Peter's War: A Boy's True Story of Survival in World War II Europe." Booklist, vol. 116, no. 13, 1 Mar. 2020, p. 35. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A618567153/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=bcbdd4d9. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
RUELLE, Karen Gray & Deborah Durland DeSaix. The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews During the Holocaust. illus, by authors. 40p. bibliog, further reading, glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Holiday House. 2009. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2159-6. LC 2008017209.
Gr 4-6--The authors of Hidden on the Mountain: Stories of Children Sheltered from the Nazis in Le Chambon (Holiday House, 2007) return to France to uncover a little-known story. While they admit that "many of the details are destined to remain forever uncertain, with few facts proven to a historian's satisfaction," Ruelle and DeSaix feel strongly that the bits and pieces of information that they were able to unearth provide convincing evidence that the Muslims of the Grand Mosque of Paris saved Jewish lives. While the format and appearance of this title are similar to other picture books of rescue and resistance during the Holocaust, such as Carmen Agra Deedy's The Yellow Star (Peachtree, 2000) and Ken Mochizuki's Passage to Freedom (Lee & Low, 1997), the text provides more of a descriptive history of events than a retelling of a story. The oil-paint spreads are luminous and beautiful, but they belie the tone of the writing and the presentation of facts. Regardless, this well-researched book belongs on the shelves of most libraries.--Kamin, Rachel, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Kamin, Rachel. "Ruelle, Karen Gray & Deborah Durland DeSaix. The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews During the Holocaust." School Library Journal, vol. 55, no. 10, Oct. 2009, p. 152. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A209902316/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=62890d03. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
RUELLE, Karen Gray. Peter's War: A Boy's True Story of Survival in World War II Europe. illus. by Deborah Durland DeSaix. 40p. Holiday House. Mar. 2020. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780823424160.
Gr 3-6--Peter Feigl, a German Jewish boy separated from his parents during World War II, fled from country to country to evade capture by the Nazis. This brief recounting is based on his personal diaries and interviews with the authors. Despite a thoroughly researched topic, there are several writing and formatting flaws that make this an imperfect package. The story itself is often so abbreviated that it fails to capture an appropriate sense of action or emotion. For example, "Peter's father was temporarily released from a prison camp because he was very ill. When he joined them in Auch, Peter was thrilled, but he constantly worried that his father might be sent back." The use of complex vocabulary assumes prior understanding and basic knowledge of topics such as European geography, religion, and chronology of the war, which is not provided. Words such as chancellor, Gestapo, baptized, strafing, and draconian are used without the aid of a glossary or pronunciation guide. Small images of Peter's diaries, which miraculously survived and are housed in the National Holocaust Museum, are included, along with a virtual "scrapbook" of black-and-white photos of Peter, his parents, and classmates. Supplemental watercolor illustrations in muted earth tones soften the impact and urgency implied in the text. VERDICT Despite writing and format imperfections, this is an important primary source story of a young refugee during World War II. Purchase where demand in this subject area is strong.--Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Bryant, Madeline J. "RUELLE, Karen Gray. Peter's War: A Boy's True Story of Survival in World War II Europe." School Library Journal, vol. 66, no. 4, Apr. 2020, p. 154. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A619849477/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=67cc92e2. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
* RUELLE, Karen Gray. Surprising Spies: Unexpected Heroes of World War II. 160p. Holiday House. Nov. 2020. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780823437573.
Gr 3-7--This entertaining anthology features short biographies of people who worked to undermine the Nazi regime during World War II. Each chapter highlights a specific person and their career as a spy, such as Josephine Baker, Virginia Hall, and Noor Inayat Khan. The concise chapters contain many graphic elements. Photographs and maps help to illuminate each individual, allowing readers to develop a connection to each of the spies. The profiles seem to be carefully selected and curated, ensuring a balanced gender representation. Many different cultural groups are represented, including Hispanics, African Americans, Indians, and Native Americans. The men and women have unique backgrounds, including a magician, a safecracker, a musician, and a baseball player. Each compelling entry details what happened to the spies after the war. Teachers can offer this title to reluctant readers, and the book could also serve as a starting point for deeper research. This work is recommended for ages eight through 12, but older readers might also find this an engrossing read. VERDICT An excellent addition to any collection about World War II.--Debbie Tanner, S D Spady Montessori Elem., FL
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Tanner, Debbie. "RUELLE, Karen Gray. Surprising Spies: Unexpected Heroes of World War II." School Library Journal, vol. 66, no. 12, Dec. 2020, p. 116. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A643822190/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=caee9ff0. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
RUELLE, Karen Gray. Bark Park. illus, by author, unpaged. CIR Peachtree. 2008. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-56145-434-1. LC 2007029753.
PreS-Gr l--Snappy rhymes describe a plethora of dogs on the way to the canine park, their activities there, and their return home. This fun-to-read story is an ode to pups of all types, breeds, sizes, colors, personalities, etc., as exemplified by this couplet: "Thin dog, grin dog, gulping, lapping./ Hairless, careless, digging, yapping." Each couplet gets a spread showing the dogs and their actions. Two verse-free pages feature 15 dogs engaged in various activities with accompanying onomatopoeia, for example, "pant, pant, pant," "sniff sniff sniff," "A-r-r-o-o-o-o-o," and "G-r-r-r-r." The colorful collages, made from papers hand-painted in watercolors, are reminiscent of a high school art project in the best possible way. They capture the essence of these animals and their behaviors. Great for storytime or anytime that calls for a book brimming with dogs.--Catherine Callegari, formerly at Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH
Callegari, Catherine
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Callegari, Catherine. "Ruelle, Karen Gray. Bark Park." School Library Journal, vol. 54, no. 5, May 2008, p. 107+. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A179207764/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=6f772d18. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
RUELLE, Karen Gray. The Tree. illus, by Deborah Durland DeSaix. unpaged. chron. CIP. Holiday House. 2008. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-1904-3. LC 2006002014.
Gr 2-5--More than 250 years ago, an elm tree took root in land that is now part of Madison Square Park in New York City. Ruelle and DeSaix offer verbal and visual views of some of the events that have occurred around the tree since then. Over the years, the area has served as a potter's field for unfortunates such as yellow fever victims, a campground for Civil War soldiers, and a gathering spot for political demonstrations. At various times, an orphanage, railroad station, baseball field, upscale hotel, and hippodrome have existed nearby. Because so much has happened in the area, the text must race through the list of events without space to provide much detail about any of them. A pictorial time line underneath the large illustrations offers an idea of the passage of time. Dark colors and grainy shadings give many of the paintings a gloomy appearance. Three pages of historical notes will be useful for teachers who want to use the book to illustrate how communities change through time. Bruce Hiscock's The Big Tree (S & S, 1994), which features the life of a sugar maple in the New York countryside, might work as an interesting companion to this work, for teachers who wish to compare and contrast urban and rural development. In short, although Ruelle's book is unlikely to attract casual readers, it could serve as a supplemental curriculum resource.--Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Piehl, Kathy
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2008 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Piehl, Kathy. "Ruelle, Karen Gray. The Tree." School Library Journal, vol. 54, no. 10, Oct. 2008, p. 122. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A187686983/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=f51c3700. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.\
Ruelle, Karen Gray SURPRISING SPIES Holiday House (Children's None) $19.99 11, 17 ISBN: 978-0-8234-3757-3
Spies played a critical and fascinating role in World War II.
Ruelle provides interesting and sometimes suspenseful biographies of eight active, important, and often heroic spies who worked during World War II. Ruelle profiles Juan Pujol Garcia, a talented Spanish storyteller; Jasper Maskelyne, a British magician; Josephine Baker, an African American performer; Eddie Chapman, a British thief; Virginia Hall, an American State Department employee and amputee; Noor Inayat Khan, a biracial (Indian/White) Sufi woman who grew up in France and England; Roy Hawthorne, a Navajo Code Talker; and Moe Berg, a Jewish American major league baseball player. (With the exception of Baker, Khan, and Hawthorne, Ruelle’s subjects presented White.) They took varied paths to their dangerous new careers, but many were already experienced travelers who were fluent in several languages. All of them seem to have shared steely nerves and a willingness to put their lives in significant peril. For young Noor Khan, her efforts would ultimately result in her execution by the Nazis. Brief, unobtrusive, but useful sidebars provide additional information, and ample period photographs and maps are sprinkled throughout the text. Covering similar material and aimed at the same age group, this effort is far superior to Jennifer Swanson’s Spies, Lies, and Disguise, illustrated by Kevin O’Malley (2019). Additional material includes information about several other spies, codes, and suggestions for crafting secret messages.
An engaging examination of the important although often unsung work of spies. (bibliography, recommended reading, source notes, index) (Collective biography. 10-14)
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"Ruelle, Karen Gray: SURPRISING SPIES." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2020, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A636726938/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=4e4e6329. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
Ruelle, Karen Gray THE TREE Holiday House (Children's) $$16.95 Sep. 15, 2008 ISBN: 978-0-8234-1904-3
A stately elm tree in New York City's Madison Square Park is estimated to be 250 years old. Ruelle encourages readers to imagine the changes it's seen as she matches historical events to the growth of the tree, from its beginning in a rural landscape through its presence in the 21st-century metropolis. Because the land was set aside in 1686 as public space, it was spared from developers' blueprints for its entire history. But it has led a chequered life: It has been a potter's field, a military training ground, a children's refuge, the site of famed performance spaces and, somewhat surprisingly, the display venue of the arm of the Statue of Liberty. The author paces the narration perfectly, beginning leisurely and becoming more breathless as life in the city quickens, but she never forgets the tree's steady presence. DeSaix's softly drawn watercolors and rubbed oils beautifully capture the march of time and complement the text seamlessly. A vague timeline throughout the work is an unnecessary distraction from this charming piece of history. (historical notes) (Informational picture book. 6-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2008 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Ruelle, Karen Gray: THE TREE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2008. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A184141877/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d8f53687. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.