The spy in the museum

ldquo;They thought she was harmless. They underestimated her." Here McGuire directs a rare and well-earned salute to a French curator who, concealing her knowledge of German, not only stood quietly by and took careful notes as Nazi invaders looted the art collections of Paris but, as Allied armies approached, slipped the Resistance a heads-up when one last train full of crated treasures was set to depart. With the help of those notes, Valland went on, after the war, to restore an incredible 60,000 paintings, sculptures, rare books, and other works to the museums and the targeted Jewish families from which they had been stolen. In an afterword, the author acknowledges that thousands more remain missing, so "the mission continues." She also invites readers to think not about why it's important to protect art but why its suppression or destruction was so important for the Nazis (and, by implication, other authoritarian regimes). In the illustrations, Valland's small, erect figure sometimes looks ghostly as scowling Nazi soldiers scurry obliviously past, piling up artworks to carry away or, tragically, burn. But her determination and courage shine throughout.

Gr 1--3--World War II was a time of upheaval and destruction, especially for anything that did not fit Hitler's opinion of an ideal world. Art was one of Hitler's primary targets, and his armies made a point of destroying countless works across the world. Luckily, a woman named Rose Valland was employed at the Jeu de Paume Museum in Paris when the Nazi soldiers arrived. Through her careful notes, unwavering bravery, and secret language skills, Valland was able to usurp many of the Nazi's efforts, thus preserving priceless works of art for generations to come. This engrossing nonfiction picture book explores a complex subject in a way that is accessible to young readers. While the extent of the destruction wrought by the Nazi party is unfathomable, this book uses a thoughtful blend of narrative and illustrations to effectively describe the impact Hitler's beliefs had on art during that time. Brief segments of text introduce readers to Valland and her life in Paris during WWII, while colorful illustrations depict the danger and destruction in Valland's vicinity, inviting further discussion with caregivers beyond the confines of the book. End matter includes selected sources and a historical note that provides additional context for older readers. VERDICT Best suited to an elementary school-aged audience, this narrative nonfiction picture book engagingly introduces young readers to a lesser-known WWII hero.--Mary Lanni

An unlikely spy sets out to save priceless stolen artwork from the Nazis. Rose Valland, curator at Paris' Jeu de Paume Museum, especially loves modern art for its departure from convention and expectation. To Adolf Hitler, however, modern art is "contaminated" and "degenerate." As World War II spreads through Europe, Hitler helps to pay for his expensive war by stealing and selling valuable artwork. Upon arriving at Rose's museum, soldiers order everyone out except for Rose, who stays on as manager. Little do they know that she secretly speaks German and listens in on their nefarious plans. Unwittingly, Rose becomes a spy. As the Nazis catalogue and hide their treasures, Rose documents the movements of every piece of art she can, passing information to the French Resistance and putting her own life in grave danger. Richly detailed, painterly illustrations highlight the gravity of Rose's work and some of the lesser-known struggles and losses of World War II. Particularly outstanding spreads depict an intricately detailed museum facade, a glowing cityscape, and a haunting, swirling bonfire where works of art are tossed like kindling. An appended historical note discusses the theft of innumerable treasures also stolen from Jewish people during the war, in addition to those plundered from museums like Rose's. A visually stunning account of a fearless woman and her fight against the Nazis' war on art. (sources, author's note)(Picture-book biography. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.