That mischievous little monkey who continually gets himself into trouble is turning 75 this years. It’s Curious George, first created by Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey. The trickster monkey has long been a favorite by me and my family.
My boys, in particular, have loved reading and playing with Curious George. It sometimes seems as though my kids must be gaining inspiration for your impish antics via the tales of Curious George.
Why We Love Curious George?
Here are just 5 reasons we love Curious George:
- Open-Minded/Curiosity: He’s constantly meeting new people, and exploring the world around him. It’s a great reminder that we should all be open-minded to experiences, accepting and working through whatever might happen.
- Lessons Learned: We all make mistakes, but the Man with the Yellow Hat is always there to correct Curious George, and make sure that all necessary corrections are made. He fulfills the role of a parent, but he also imparts knowledge (teacher) and offers support (friend).
- Community: His friends are a huge part of his adventures. For being so mischievous, he never intends harm to others. Many of his haphazard experiences really involve absent-minded mishaps or attempts to “help” without understanding.
- Family/Caring: Beyond all those lessons learned, it’s also important to remember that no matter what Curious George does, his family still loves them. There’s something very heartening about that fact, but also a bittersweet realization. It’s a Love You Forever phenomenon.
The Evolution of Curious George
The first iteration of the famous monkey was with the story, Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys, which was published in France in 1939. The authors, Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey, fled from France in 1940; and the main character was called Zozo in a version that was published in the UK in 1941.
Seven books were released during the lifetimes of the authors; but the Curious George phenomenon continues to grow and change. It’s now available as TV episodes, movies, books, games and toys. It’s everywhere!
And, yet, I still prefer the books…