Middle Grade & Up
Karen Gray Ruelle’s nonfiction books are written for readers starting from age 7 and are read and enjoyed by adults, too.
Hidden on the Mountain: Stories of Children Sheltered from the Nazis in Le Chambon
Written by Karen Gray Ruelle & Deborah Durland DeSaix
(Holiday House, 2007) For ages 10 and up
As the Nazi Army invaded one European country after another at the onset of World War II, desperate Jewish families fled. Their lives were in danger, and many of them had nowhere to turn for help. But the town of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon and the tiny villages around it, on a mountainous plateau in south-central France, became a refuge for Jews. By the end of the war, the lives of thousands of Jews had been saved, most of them children. Based on personal interviews and extensive research, this book tells the poignant true stories of some of the children who were hidden there, and pays tribute to the courageous people of Le Chambon.
REVIEWS:
“An invaluable resource. . . Fascinating.” –School Library Journal
“This story is inspiring. . . . An absolute must.” –Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Click here to read the entire review
“Should linger long in readers’ minds.” –Publishers Weekly
A Sydney Taylor Notable Book
75 Fun Things to Make & Do by Yourself
Written by Karen Gray Ruelle
Illustrated by Sandy Haight
(Sterling, 1993) For ages 7-10
What do you do when there’s nobody else around to play with? Even in a world without gadgets and devices, there’s still plenty to make and do without any help. This book is filled with do-it-yourself projects from noisemakers and homemade musical instruments to arts and crafts projects made of found objects. There are even tricks to try out, like the Mysterious Balancing Salt Shaker, Baking Soda Volcano or Straw-Wrapper Spider. The book is divided into three sections: Noisemakers (water-drop mouth noise, glass works, etc.), Stuff to Do Outside (whirligigs and rhino noses, birch-bark treasure maps, etc.) and Stuff To Do Inside (walking on the ceiling, floating arms and stuck fingers, etc.). Clear directions and helpful illustrations make these fun projects easy to follow.
REVIEWS:
“. . . the projects are doable and satisfying.” –Booklist