Roller-Coaster Grandma: The Amazing Story of Dr. Ruth By Ruth K. Westheimer and Pierre A. Lehu. Illustrated by Mark Simmons. (Apples & Honey Press, 64 pp. $11.95; ages 8 to 12)

How should a grandparent disclose her difficult life experiences to her grandchildren? Your first guess might not be to create a graphic novel that takes readers on a wild ride through an amusement park. And yet that’s precisely what Dr. Ruth has done. Her children’s book tells the ups and downs of her story of survival and success—fleeing Nazi Germany on a Kindertransport to Switzerland; moving to Israel, where she became a sniper; and coming to America, where she eventually became the popular sex therapist, educator and personality. Using monochromatic drawings to depict her past and colorful ones for the present, Dr. Ruth’s reflections convey the blessings of courage, optimism and hard work.

RELATED NEWS: Read our interview with Dr. Ruth here.