H.A. Rey
Hans Augusto Rey was born on September 16, 1898, in Hamburg, Germany. He grew up there near the world-famous Hagenbeck Zoo, and developed a lifelong love for animals and drawing. Margarete Elisabeth Waldstein (who would be known to most of the world as Margret Rey) was also born in Hamburg on May 16, 1906. The two met briefly when Margret was a young girl, before she left Hamburg to study art. They were reunited in 1935 in Rio de Janeiro, where Hans was selling bathtubs as part of a family business and Margret was escaping the political climate in Germany. Margret convinced Hans to leave the family business, and soon they were working together on a variety of projects. Hans and Margret were married in Brazil on August 16, 1935, and they moved to Paris after falling in love with the city during their European honeymoon. It was there that Hans published his first children’s book, after a French publisher saw his newspaper cartoons of a giraffe and asked him to expand upon them. Raffy and the Nine Monkeys (Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys in the British and American editions) was the result, and it marked the debut of a mischievous monkey named Curious George. After Raffy and the Nine Monkeys was published, the Reys decided that Curious George deserved a book of his own, so they began work on a manuscript that featured the lovable and exceedingly curious little monkey. But the late 1930s and early ’40s were a tumultuous time in Europe, and before the new manuscript could be published, the Reys—both German Jews—found themselves in a horrible situation. Hitler and his Nazi party were tearing through Europe, and they were poised to take control of Paris. Knowing that they must escape before the Nazis took power, Hans cobbled together two bicycles out of spare parts. Early in the morning of June 14, 1940, the Reys set off on their bicycles. They brought very little with them on their predawn flight — only warm coats, a bit of food, and five manuscripts, one of which was Curious George. The Nazis entered Paris just hours later, but the Reys were already on their way out. They rode their makeshift bicycles for four long days until reaching the French-Spanish border, where they sold them for train fare to Lisbon. From there they made their way to Brazil and on to New York City, beginning a whole new life as children’s book authors. Curious George was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941, and for sixty years these books have been capturing the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. All the Curious George books, including the seven original stories by Margret and Hans, have sold more than twenty-five million copies. So popular that his original story has never been out of print, George has become one of the most beloved and recognizable characters in children’s literature. His adventures have been translated into many languages, including Japanese, French, Afrikaans, Portuguese, Swedish, German, Chinese, Danish, and Norwegian. Although both of the Reys have passed away — Hans in 1977 and Margret in 1996—George lives on in the Curious George Foundation. Established in 1989, this foundation funds programs for children that share Curious George’s irresistible qualities—ingenuity, opportunity, determination, and curiosity in learning and exploring. Much consideration is given to programs that benefit animals, through preservation as well as the prevention of cruelty to animals. The foundation supports community outreach programs that emphasize the importance of family, from counseling to peer support groups.
30 Books Written
Stay Curious at Home with Curious George... and John Krasinski! Here’s some good news! John Krasinski shares storytime with your little one. This complete collection of the seven original Curious George stories, featuring downloadable audio read by John Krasinski, is the perfect bookshelf addition for old and new fans alike. Curious George, Curious George Takes a Job, Curious George Rides a Bike, Curious George Gets a Medal, Curious George Flies a Kite, Curious George Learns the Alphabet, and Curious George Goes to the Hospital.The animated series Curious George is available to watch on Peacock, NBC Universal’s streaming platform.
The go-to guide to the stars for beginners and experts alike. With clear, readable text, easy-to-follow diagrams, and a sprinkling of H. A. Rey's irrepressible humor, The Stars: A New Way to See Them gives sparkle to the constellations and makes the mechanics of the universe intelligible to even the novice astronomer. This updated version of the classic text includes revised facts and figures for planets and new scientific details, This is a clear, vivid astronomy reference book. As Learning Through Literature puts it: " The Stars: A New Way to See Them is a great introduction to astronomy . It’s readable and easy to understand. But don’t assume it’s light on details. Not a bit! This reference book has 100+ pages packed with information. It’s filled with illustrations of the constellations, our solar system, and the universe. You could easily use it as a spine for an astronomy study or as a reference throughout the year when questions come up."
The first adventure in this highly popular series tells how the little monkey Curious George, caught in the jungle and brought back to the city by a man in a yellow hat, can't help being interested in all the new things around him. Though well meaning, George's curiosity always gets him into trouble. Young readers can easily relate, and Rey's cheerful illustrations celebrate Curious George's innocence.
Today is a special day for George because he gets his first bike. He does tricks, he helps the paper boy with his round and then he sees a river... and George is curious. And that's when his exciting adventure begins.
Curious George is a good little monkey. But he' very curious.One day George escapes from the zoo, He rides on top of a bus, he gets busy in a kitchen and takes a job washing windows. Then he sees some men painting ... and of course George is very curious. And that's when the trouble begins!
After repeatedly disastrous efforts to get himself out of trouble, George ends up being the first monkey in space.In this classic Curious George story, the curious little monkey starts his day off on the wrong paw and spends the rest of it trying to fix his mistakes! After a hilarious chain of events, all is forgiven after George helps out on a space mission. This picture book was written and illustrated by the original creators of Curious George, Margret and H.A. Rey.
What better way to learn to read than with Curious George as your classmate and the man with the yellow hat as your teacher?In this classic book by H.A. Rey, Curious George has progressed from learning to wash dishes, clean windows, and ride a bike to learning his letters—with time out for fun, food, football, mischief, and a surprise at the end!
There is originality and a childlike humor in both the amusing antics and engaging pictures.” Booklist Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys was the first book to feature Curious George, as well as being Hans and Margret Rey’s first book for children. In this initial effort, about a lonely giraffe befriended by George and his eight siblings, we see all the hallmarks of Curious George’s signature style: humor, adventure, playfulness, and the episodic storytelling that later characterized classic George set pieces like the flyaway balloons, the rocket ship, and the bunny escape.
Inspired by a vignette in the classic Curious George Flies a Kite , this is a sweet story of hide-and-seek.
Read from A to Z along with George in a condensed version of the clas-sic Curious George Learns the Alphabet.
It’s Christmastime! And irrepressible, excitable Curious George has just the spirit for it. He can’t wait to help his best friend, The Man with the Yellow Hat, pick out their holiday tree. At the tree farm, however, amid all the excitement of finding the perfect specimen, George gets carried away, as usual—atop his favorite tree! Hiding in the tree’s branches, George finds himself delivered to the local children’s hospital, where his tree trimming antics cheer the children and he gets to meet a jolly man in a bright red suit.
Do you ever feel like George? Are you curious? Are you mischievous? Curious kids can read along with their parents to see if they behave like the monkey best known for getting in and out of mischief.
When the man with the yellow hat promises to buy George a holiday surprise during their trip to the city, George decides he wants to give his friend a surprise too. But it isn't long before the little monkey's curiosity gets him into trouble and he gets separated from his friend. Though he has fun seeing the tourist sites and all the sparkling decorations, what he enjoys most is finding his best friend and enjoying the city together. NEW bonus features include a drawing activity, word jumble, and spot-the-difference activity.
Inspired by a vignette in the classic Curious George Flies a Kite, this amusing episode shows George at his curious best trying to catch a fish.
Containing star charts, a guide to the constellations, and details about seasons and the movement of the objects we see in the sky, this classic book makes H. A. Rey’s passion for astronomy evident on every page.Second edition updates concentrate on the planetary and solar system information in the latter part of the book. Facts and figures for each planet have been revised, and new scientific information has been added, such as Pluto’s reclassification as a dwarf planet.
Join Curious George as he gets ready for the spookiest night of the year!Halloween is here, and Curious George is getting ready for the big night. There are so many costumes to try on, treats to share, and games to play! George has so much Halloween fun picking out the perfect pumpkin, decorating his house, and celebrating with his friends that he’s not sure he’s ready for the day to end. Follow the little monkey through his fun-filled day with this book of poems. Happy Halloween, Curious George is a sweet treat to help Curious George fans of all ages get in the Halloween spirit.
It's Ramadan, Curious George: A Joyful Exploration of Fasting and Feasting During Ramadan Featuring Everyone's Favorite Curious Monkey
by H.A. Rey
Rating: 4.3 ⭐
It's the first day of Ramadan, and George is celebrating with his friend Kareem and his family. George helps Kareem with his first fast and joins in the evening celebration of tasting treats and enjoying a special meal. Then, George helps make gift baskets to donate to the needy, and watches for the crescent moon with the man in the yellow hat. Finally George joins in the Eid festivities to mark the end of his very first Ramadan. This playful tabbed board book, with a foil-stamped cover, makes a great holiday gift for all fans of Curious George—those who celebrate Ramadan, and those who are learning about it for the first time!
Today is Thanksgiving and George is so excited! He loves everything about the holiday--from the parade with music, jugglers, and big balloons to the delicious turkey shared with family and friends. But even on Thanksgiving the curious little monkey manages to stir up some trouble! Follow George through his Thanksgiving adventures with the short poems in this board book. The fun, tabbed pages are perfect for little fingers!
Riding forward and backward on his bicycle and letting pigs in and out of their pen, George, in his typical inquisitive manner, explores opposites in this simple book.
There is so much to do at bedtime: cleaning up, taking a bath, telling stories, playing peek-a-boo, and more. Will George ever get sleepy? The animated series Curious George is available to watch on Peacock, NBC Universal’s streaming platform.
Curious George watches Jumpy the squirrel bury an acorn in the yard. Upon learning that Jumpy is storing food for later, George decides to do the same. The man with the yellow hat comes home to find the kitchen empty and its contents buried in the yard! It’s time to teach George about what things grow and what don’t. George finally gets it right when he grows a beautiful sunflower from a seed.
Hang on to your hats! George gets spooked when he spends his first Halloween in the country and hears the legend of No Noggin—a headless scarecrow that kicks people’s hats off on Halloween! The man with the yellow hat tells George it’s just a legend, but with the help of his friends Allie and Bill, George is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery and find out once and for all if No Noggin really exists. This early reader features a festive bonus activity for even more Halloween fun with George! For more monkey fun, check out and discover all the latest books, promotions, games, activities, and more!
Keep Curious and Carry a Banana: Words of Wisdom from the World of Curious George
by H.A. Rey
Rating: 4.2 ⭐
For more than seventy-five years, the world of Curious George has delighted readers with its playful charm and deceptively simple wisdom. Fans of the Keep Calm and Carry On craze will find comfort in this Georgified version of the popular book format. Each inspiration is humorously accompanied by an illustration from the original works of H. A. Rey’s Curious George books. Sure to make readers chuckle as only George can, this book is packed with inspiration and humor. It's the perfect gift for all the curious people in your life!
George's favorite author is signing at the new bookstore in town. Waiting in line is hard when you're as curious as our little monkey, especially when surrounded by so many great books! George has fun browsing but then takes organizing some open boxes of books into his own hands, with surprising results. At the end of the day, lucky George finally gets some time with his favorite author. Children will love his silly antics as George explores the wonderful world that is the local bookstore. This latest monkey tale is for book lovers, lovers of George, and especially lovers of curiosity!
The littlest readers will love to explore this touch-and-feel zoo animal book and search for the Curious George hiding on every page. George and the man with the yellow hat are visiting the zoo together . . . until George runs off! Based on the Curious George TV show, this engaging touch-and-feel board book contains different tactile elements, including the fuzzy mane of a zebra, the rough hide of a hippo, and the spotted coat of a leopard, on every spread.
Play pat-a-cake with George! A board book and puppet in one. With this new take on the classic pat-a-cake rhyming game, George can pat out rhymes about the baker's man, the postman, the ice cream man, and, of course, the yellow hat man! Colorful illustrations, bouncy rhyme, and a cuddly puppet make this a perfect interactive choice for play time and story time.
Curious George, the beguiling little monkey, is one of the most beloved of all children"s book characters. Now this collection of four board books featuring Curious George is available in a sturdy, reusable, carry-along box. Brightly colored and suitably scaled for the youngest readers, the books feature art from the original storybooks by H. A. Rey.
Today is George’s lucky day—St. Patrick’s Day is here! George loves a celebration, and St. Patrick’s Day means plenty o’ music, dancing, and feasting fun! He dresses up in his festive finest, looks for leprechauns, and learns some Irish dance steps. But can George make it to the parade without causing any trouble? See if his lucky four-leaf clover will come through . . . Fun tabbed pages are ideal for little fingers, and jaunty poems make for a fun read-aloud celebration!
It's Halloween! When George and his friend the man with the yellow hat go to a party at Mrs. Gray’s house, George is excited to find out that it is a costume party. After seeing his friends dressed up as astronauts, mummies, witches, and more, George gets to pick out his own costume. But George accidentally wraps himself up in a tablecloth and gets mistaken for a ghost! Will everyone enjoy George's Halloween trick, or will he scare away the party guests? Each hardcover gift book comes with festive Halloween stickers. (Previously published as Curious George Goes to a Costume Party)
Curious George won the 2010 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program on PBS-TV, and this delightful tie-in tells the madcap story of Curious George at the library. Of course, when the librarian Mrs. Dewey leaves George in charge, he’s in quite the quandary. How will he organize the books? By color? By size? Will he able to shelve them all before Mrs. Dewey comes back? Activities exploring alphabetizing and classification add even more fun to the equation. For more monkey fun, investigate www.curiousgeorge.com and discover all the latest on Curious George, books, promotions, games, activities, and more!