Curious George and Friends―Favorite Stories

Curious George and Friends: Favorite Stories by Margret and H. A. Rey features eight classic stories by the creators of Curious George. The book opens with an introduction called ?Memories of the Reys” by Margaret Bloy Graham, the illustrator of the popular Harry the Dirty Dog and other books about Harry. Graham was a long-time friend and neighbor of Hans and Margret Rey. Throughout their lives the Reys created many lively books together. The character for whom the author-illustrator team became best known, Curious George, arrived as one of many monkey children in Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys, Hans’s first book for children. Encouraged by their publisher and children throughout the world, the Reys continued with more books about Curious George. In the meantime, the Reys published a number of books showcasing their creative talents and their rare, immediate connection with childhood. These books feature characters, all with their own personalities, and a few with resemblances to George. Whether they come to you as new friends or old, they are sure to entertain children’s book lovers everywhere.

The Reys were born in Hamburg, Germany. Hans Augusto Rey (1898-1977) met his wife-to-be, Margret (1906-1996), at a party in her father’s home in Germany; when he first caught a glimpse of her, she was sliding down the banister. In their twenties and thirties they lived in Paris and in Rio de Janeiro, where Hans sold bathtubs in villages along the Amazon River. Eventually Cambridge, Massachusetts, became the Reys’ home and community.
Throughout their lives the Reys created many lively books together, including SPOTTY, PRETZEL, and lift-the-flap books such as HOW DO YOU GET THERE? The manuscript of the first Curious George books was one of the few items the Reys carried with them on their bicycles when they escaped from Paris in 1940. Eventually, they made their way to the United States, and CURIOUS GEORGE was published in 1941. Their incorrigible little monkey has become an American icon, selling millions of books and capturing the hearts of readers everywhere. CURIOUS GEORGE has been published in many languages, including French, German, Japanese, Afrikaans, and Norwegian. Additional Curious George books followed, as well as such other favorites as CECILY G. AND THE NINE MONKEYS and FIND THE CONSTELLATIONS.