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Curious George New Adventures
Merry Christmas, Curious George
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.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
35 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
About the author
Margret Rey
241 books122 followersMargret Elizabeth Rey (May 16, 1906 – December 21, 1996), born Margarete Elisabeth Waldstein, was (with her husband H. A. Rey), the co-author and illustrator of children's books, best known for their Curious George
Although she was born in Germany, she fled to Brazil early in her life to escape Nazism. While there, she met her future husband Hans (who was a salesman and also from Germany). They married in 1935 and moved to Paris, France that same year.
While in Paris, Hans's animal drawings came to the attention of French publisher, who commissioned him to write a children's book. The result, Rafi and the Nine Monkeys, is little remembered today, but one of its characters, an adorably impish monkey named Curious George, was such a success that the couple considered writing a book just about him. Their work was interrupted with the outbreak of World War II. As Jews, the Reys decided to flee Paris before the Nazis seized the city. Hans built two bicycles, and they fled Paris just a few hours before it fell. Among the meager possessions they brought with them was the illustrated manuscript of Curious George.
The Reys' odyssey brought them to the Spanish border, where they bought train tickets to Lisbon. From there they returned to Brazil, where they had met five years earlier, but this time they continued to New York, New York. The books were published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941, though certain changes had to be introduced because of the technology of the time. Hans and Margret originally planned to use watercolors to illustrate the books, but since they were responsible for the color separation, he changed these to the cartoon-like images that continue to feature in each of the books. (A collector's edition with the original watercolors was recently released.)
Curious George was an instant success, and the Reys were commissioned to write more adventures of the mischievous monkey and his friend, the Man in the Yellow Hat. They wrote seven stories in all, with Hans mainly doing the illustrations and Margret working mostly on the stories, though they both admitted to sharing the work and cooperating fully in every stage of development. At first, however, Margret's name was left off the cover, ostensibly because there was a glut of women already writing children's fiction. In later editions, this was corrected, and Margret now receives full credit for her role in developing the stories.
Margret and her husband moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1963, in a house close to Harvard Square. Following her husband's death in 1977, Margret continued writing, and in 1979, became a Professor of Creative Writing at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Starting in 1980, she also began to collaborate with Alan Shalleck on a series of short films featuring Curious George and more than two dozen additional books.
In 1989 Margret Rey established the Curious George Foundation to help creative children and prevent cruelty to animals. In 1996, she made major donations to the Boston Public Library and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She was also a long-time supporter of the Longy School of Music. The Reys spent twenty summers in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, to enable H.A. Rey to better observe the stars for his astronomy writing. They became an integral part of the Waterville community and their legacy is honored by The Margret and H.A. Rey Center and the Curious George Cottage located there.
Dr. Lena Y. de Grummond, a professor in the field of library science (specializing in children's literature) at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss. contacted the Reys in 1966 about the university's new children's literature collection. H.A. and Margret made a donation of a pair of sketches at the time. In 1996, after Margret's death, it was revealed in her will that the entire literary estate of the Reys were to be donated to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at Southern Miss.
Although she was born in Germany, she fled to Brazil early in her life to escape Nazism. While there, she met her future husband Hans (who was a salesman and also from Germany). They married in 1935 and moved to Paris, France that same year.
While in Paris, Hans's animal drawings came to the attention of French publisher, who commissioned him to write a children's book. The result, Rafi and the Nine Monkeys, is little remembered today, but one of its characters, an adorably impish monkey named Curious George, was such a success that the couple considered writing a book just about him. Their work was interrupted with the outbreak of World War II. As Jews, the Reys decided to flee Paris before the Nazis seized the city. Hans built two bicycles, and they fled Paris just a few hours before it fell. Among the meager possessions they brought with them was the illustrated manuscript of Curious George.
The Reys' odyssey brought them to the Spanish border, where they bought train tickets to Lisbon. From there they returned to Brazil, where they had met five years earlier, but this time they continued to New York, New York. The books were published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941, though certain changes had to be introduced because of the technology of the time. Hans and Margret originally planned to use watercolors to illustrate the books, but since they were responsible for the color separation, he changed these to the cartoon-like images that continue to feature in each of the books. (A collector's edition with the original watercolors was recently released.)
Curious George was an instant success, and the Reys were commissioned to write more adventures of the mischievous monkey and his friend, the Man in the Yellow Hat. They wrote seven stories in all, with Hans mainly doing the illustrations and Margret working mostly on the stories, though they both admitted to sharing the work and cooperating fully in every stage of development. At first, however, Margret's name was left off the cover, ostensibly because there was a glut of women already writing children's fiction. In later editions, this was corrected, and Margret now receives full credit for her role in developing the stories.
Margret and her husband moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1963, in a house close to Harvard Square. Following her husband's death in 1977, Margret continued writing, and in 1979, became a Professor of Creative Writing at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Starting in 1980, she also began to collaborate with Alan Shalleck on a series of short films featuring Curious George and more than two dozen additional books.
In 1989 Margret Rey established the Curious George Foundation to help creative children and prevent cruelty to animals. In 1996, she made major donations to the Boston Public Library and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She was also a long-time supporter of the Longy School of Music. The Reys spent twenty summers in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, to enable H.A. Rey to better observe the stars for his astronomy writing. They became an integral part of the Waterville community and their legacy is honored by The Margret and H.A. Rey Center and the Curious George Cottage located there.
Dr. Lena Y. de Grummond, a professor in the field of library science (specializing in children's literature) at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss. contacted the Reys in 1966 about the university's new children's literature collection. H.A. and Margret made a donation of a pair of sketches at the time. In 1996, after Margret's death, it was revealed in her will that the entire literary estate of the Reys were to be donated to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at Southern Miss.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
December 15, 2018
I thought this was an original work by Margret, but it is only done in the style of. It is was well written and drawn in the style of, but I don’t like that these very popular storybook characters are continued to be told after the authors are gone. The body of work should come to a close. Putting that aside:
It was a cute story. George is looking for a tree with the yellow hat man and he gets in a tree that’s chopped down and sent to a hospital where he brings Christmas cheer to the kids and some mischief too.
Both children enjoyed this story. The Nephew still likes George and his antics. He gave 4 stars. The niece also enjoys George some and she gave the story 3 stars. She has a little appreciation for George still at this point. He amuses her. That’s what she said, “he amuses me.” Growing up so fast.
It was a cute story. George is looking for a tree with the yellow hat man and he gets in a tree that’s chopped down and sent to a hospital where he brings Christmas cheer to the kids and some mischief too.
Both children enjoyed this story. The Nephew still likes George and his antics. He gave 4 stars. The niece also enjoys George some and she gave the story 3 stars. She has a little appreciation for George still at this point. He amuses her. That’s what she said, “he amuses me.” Growing up so fast.
December 14, 2017
The Man in the Yellow Hat takes George to a Christmas tree farm.
Um, isn't Curious George from the jungle? where there are many trees?
Anyway, of course George gets lost and ends up being taken accidentally to the Children's Hospital.
You know, George ends up at hospitals in a lot of these books, doesn't he?
This isn't written by the original author and doesn't have the sparkle of the real CG books, but it is cute and seasonal and my niece will probably like it because recognizing familiar characters seems to be the main thing she wants from books.
"The Christmas tree farm had more trees than George had ever seen."
Um, isn't Curious George from the jungle? where there are many trees?
Anyway, of course George gets lost and ends up being taken accidentally to the Children's Hospital.
You know, George ends up at hospitals in a lot of these books, doesn't he?
This isn't written by the original author and doesn't have the sparkle of the real CG books, but it is cute and seasonal and my niece will probably like it because recognizing familiar characters seems to be the main thing she wants from books.
December 12, 2021
A cute Yuletide story, with fun illustrations...but the formatting of the eBook version I got was terrible. If you're going to buy, check out, or read this to your kids, get the print version.
December 6, 2018
I haven't read about Curious George in many years. I was a bit disappointed to see that these new Curious George books are trying to emulate the old ones... right down to the sexism from the time of the original books.
Curious George runs into trouble at the Christmas tree farm. When he's up in a tree, a couple of guys cut it down and haul it off to the children's hospital, which you apparently get to through some time-travel vortex. All the nurses are women and wearing dresses and little white hats, all the doctors are old white men, and nobody seems to think that a creature carrying any number of zoonotic diseases is cause for concern in a building full of ill and possibly immunocompromised kids. The depiction of the kids isn't very realistic, either, and I'd be afraid it would frighten some children, since it shows one little girl with a mere broken arm having to stay in the hospital over Christmas. There are no kids who appear to be going through chemotherapy, which you'd expect to find in a children's hospital; in fact, some of the kids look like they were hit by cars or fell out of trees. The rest look perfectly healthy (no IVs, no feeding tubes, etc.), so we don't know why they're there.
The pictures--aside from the problematic things they depict--are cute, and look much the way I remember the Curious George books looking years ago, even though they're done by a different artist. I just can't wholeheartedly recommend this one because of the dated feel. It either needs to be clearer that this is set in the past (the little girl in modern-looking cropped leggings kind of confused the issue), or the pictures need some updating.
Curious George runs into trouble at the Christmas tree farm. When he's up in a tree, a couple of guys cut it down and haul it off to the children's hospital, which you apparently get to through some time-travel vortex. All the nurses are women and wearing dresses and little white hats, all the doctors are old white men, and nobody seems to think that a creature carrying any number of zoonotic diseases is cause for concern in a building full of ill and possibly immunocompromised kids. The depiction of the kids isn't very realistic, either, and I'd be afraid it would frighten some children, since it shows one little girl with a mere broken arm having to stay in the hospital over Christmas. There are no kids who appear to be going through chemotherapy, which you'd expect to find in a children's hospital; in fact, some of the kids look like they were hit by cars or fell out of trees. The rest look perfectly healthy (no IVs, no feeding tubes, etc.), so we don't know why they're there.
The pictures--aside from the problematic things they depict--are cute, and look much the way I remember the Curious George books looking years ago, even though they're done by a different artist. I just can't wholeheartedly recommend this one because of the dated feel. It either needs to be clearer that this is set in the past (the little girl in modern-looking cropped leggings kind of confused the issue), or the pictures need some updating.
December 6, 2015
4* art
2.5* story
This book gets points with Squirt mostly because:
1. He loves Curious George. (So much so that he tells me "Be a good little monkey." when I put him down for his nap.)
2. He loves everything about "Chripmas". (So much so that he tells me "Merry Chripmas, Mommy" every time he thinks of it - which is often.)
Otherwise, I can't say it's the best of his books. But does that matter? No! Curious George is an old and trusted friend.
2.5* story
This book gets points with Squirt mostly because:
1. He loves Curious George. (So much so that he tells me "Be a good little monkey." when I put him down for his nap.)
2. He loves everything about "Chripmas". (So much so that he tells me "Merry Chripmas, Mommy" every time he thinks of it - which is often.)
Otherwise, I can't say it's the best of his books. But does that matter? No! Curious George is an old and trusted friend.
October 16, 2018
Ages: 4 - 8
Cleanliness: Santa Clause appears.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
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Cleanliness: Santa Clause appears.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
January 2, 2020
Post-Christmas let down? My panel, age 2.8 and 5.5 found the pictures worthy of comment but they were not engaged with the narrative. We spent time talking about why the children were in the hospital and what made them happy. None of this was part of the plot.
This felt (and is) Curious George recycled. It tries to emulate, but something is missing. Nothing much worth seeing here folks, keep moving.
This felt (and is) Curious George recycled. It tries to emulate, but something is missing. Nothing much worth seeing here folks, keep moving.
December 23, 2017
I mean you can't really go wrong with Curious George
December 8, 2024
Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat set out to buy a Christmas tree, but thanks to his trademark curiosity George ends up crashing the pediatric ward of a local hospital and bringing holiday cheer to the sick children there.
Cathy Hapka's tale fits with George but feels a bit blander than the stuff the Reys usually turned out. At least Mary O'Keefe Young is able to ape (hee hee) Rey's art style quite well -- including the odd way he drew trucks -- and that was always the best part of Curious George books anyhow.
My daughter didn't find it interesting when she was six, and eighteen years later she's more inclined to wonder how dire are the illnesses that keep the children hospitalized at Christmas.
Cathy Hapka's tale fits with George but feels a bit blander than the stuff the Reys usually turned out. At least Mary O'Keefe Young is able to ape (hee hee) Rey's art style quite well -- including the odd way he drew trucks -- and that was always the best part of Curious George books anyhow.
My daughter didn't find it interesting when she was six, and eighteen years later she's more inclined to wonder how dire are the illnesses that keep the children hospitalized at Christmas.
February 25, 2016
In Merry Christmas, Curious George he is up to his usual tricks and escapes from the man in the big yellow hat while picking out a Christmas tree. He visits a hospital and spreads joy and in they end the have a Merry Christmas. This is a great holiday story to teach children to share Christmas with others.
December 2, 2019
Another Christmas classic I have enjoyed reading to my three girls over the years.
December 17, 2020
I do love me some Curious George! He always has my heart. I enjoyed his heartwarming trip to the .hospital & his creative tree-decorating. He always delights the children...and me! Merry Christmas!
December 23, 2020
Good pacing/words on the page for a 15-month-old. I was so surprised he sat through the whole thing.
December 25, 2023
NOW THIS IS MKRE LIKE IT
December 25, 2020
My daughter sat through the entire book. She never does.
December 2, 2023
Theo: I like Ho Ho (Santa)!
Me: I hate curious George.
I’m giving this a 4 because Christmas and Theo loves it.
Me: I hate curious George.
I’m giving this a 4 because Christmas and Theo loves it.
November 17, 2024
love George so much . He is so naughty but adorable so it’s fine
December 31, 2018
Here is another cute Christmas story that I finally had the chance to review! I love Curious George. He’s always ready for an adventure and this one was a great one to have. Children would get a kick out of this little monkey.
Though a fun and heart-warming read, I do wish that readers could get to know a little more about George and The Man with the Yellow Hat. They always seem so basic and one-dimensional. I don’t think children would mind necessarily, but I know I always like it when characters are a bit deeper.
What I loved about this book in particular is the fact that George goes to a children’s hospital. It’s a great way to show other children, who are fortunate enough to not be in hospitals, how we can perhaps help others who aren’t at home for the Christmas holiday. It can raise awareness and open up discussion, which is always great.
Overall, this was a sweet and simple read that I’m sure many children will enjoy during the Christmas season! I would recommend to youngsters who either enjoy Curious George or would like to experience a story featuring the sweet monkey.
https://bookloverblogs.com/2018/12/31...
Though a fun and heart-warming read, I do wish that readers could get to know a little more about George and The Man with the Yellow Hat. They always seem so basic and one-dimensional. I don’t think children would mind necessarily, but I know I always like it when characters are a bit deeper.
What I loved about this book in particular is the fact that George goes to a children’s hospital. It’s a great way to show other children, who are fortunate enough to not be in hospitals, how we can perhaps help others who aren’t at home for the Christmas holiday. It can raise awareness and open up discussion, which is always great.
Overall, this was a sweet and simple read that I’m sure many children will enjoy during the Christmas season! I would recommend to youngsters who either enjoy Curious George or would like to experience a story featuring the sweet monkey.
https://bookloverblogs.com/2018/12/31...
July 28, 2017
Too cute while also being highly improbable. Who wouldn't like monkey to make them feel better? I, personally, who like a stuffed one when I am not feeling well, but a real one I would have to pass on.
Curious George is a very interesting little monkey to say the least. He likes to see how things tick and what makes them work. What was so cute about "Merry Christmas Curious George" is that this particular monkey ends up at the hospital bringing happiness to all of the sick little children who needed it the most.
I do recommend this short-story to be read to children everywhere. We read it to our children in the middle of July and we all still enjoyed it as if it was Christmas.
Curious George is a very interesting little monkey to say the least. He likes to see how things tick and what makes them work. What was so cute about "Merry Christmas Curious George" is that this particular monkey ends up at the hospital bringing happiness to all of the sick little children who needed it the most.
I do recommend this short-story to be read to children everywhere. We read it to our children in the middle of July and we all still enjoyed it as if it was Christmas.
June 27, 2018
Halfway around the year from Christmas, I found myself reading through this delightful Curious George adventure. George visits a Christmas tree farm with his friend/mentor, the Man with the Yellow Hat, and George's curiosity gets him into yet another adventure with many twists and turns, along with a happy ending! Although the "moral of the story" is never mentioned, I think that readers will come away from this book, inspired by George, to bring some happiness and joy to people around them (such as those who are hospitalized), especially during the Yuletide holidays.
Highly recommended for the young and the young at heart!
Highly recommended for the young and the young at heart!
February 23, 2008
Margret and H.A. Rey’s inquisitive little monkey is given new life in Cathy Hapka’s addition to the Curious George collection. On a visit to a Christmas tree farm, George gets separated from the Man in the Yellow Hat and is inadvertently delivered to a children’s hospital, where he wreaks a little havoc and decorates the tree with x-rays, crutches, and lollipops meant for patients. Hapka’s story is reminiscent of the Reys’ decades-old tales, andYoung’s illustrations are dead ringers for the originals. Although not a stellar title on its own, fans of George will enjoy this new adventure.
February 5, 2013
I loved reading Curious George books when I was a child, but for some reason our girls never really took to this funny monkey. I had no idea how many books were out there in this series, but occasionally I'll pick one up to read on my own.
This is a sweet Christmas-themed tale about George sharing some Christmas fun with children in a hospital. The narrative is short and entertaining and the illustrations hold true to the original tales. I read an ebook version of this story on my iPad.
This is a sweet Christmas-themed tale about George sharing some Christmas fun with children in a hospital. The narrative is short and entertaining and the illustrations hold true to the original tales. I read an ebook version of this story on my iPad.
December 31, 2015
Curious George is a good little monkey, but always very curious, and when his curiosity gets the better of him at a Christmas tree farm, you never know where he's going to end up.
I thought this book was cute and fun and festive, but the real connoisseur (at 2.5) really loved it. Unsurprising for our resident CG fan, he wanted to go back to it at least four times the first day we read it, and it's been a favorite all throughout this Christmastime. That George, always making a mess of things and getting away with it in the end!
I thought this book was cute and fun and festive, but the real connoisseur (at 2.5) really loved it. Unsurprising for our resident CG fan, he wanted to go back to it at least four times the first day we read it, and it's been a favorite all throughout this Christmastime. That George, always making a mess of things and getting away with it in the end!
October 17, 2017
This is a cute Christmas read for fans of Curious George. It's pretty formulaic. George and the Man in the Yellow Hat go to a Christmas tree farm. Of course, George climbs the tallest tree and gets whisked off to an adventure. The tree is taken to a children's hospital. George finds plenty of mischief to get into and ends up decorating the tree with items he "borrowed"from the patient rooms. The Man in the Yellow Hat eventually arrives saying he followed the truck to the hospital. A little unbelievable since George had so much time to get in trouble. Children will like the happy ending.
December 13, 2011
Genre:
Copyright Date: 2006
I brought a bag of Christmas/Winter books with me to class and I let the students pick out a book or two to read each day. This book was picked today and the kids loved it. I was unsure if they knew who Curious George was as he is not as popular as he once was. It didn't matter, they still loved the book and loved George because as one student said "He's a Monkey (giggle giggle)".
Copyright Date: 2006
I brought a bag of Christmas/Winter books with me to class and I let the students pick out a book or two to read each day. This book was picked today and the kids loved it. I was unsure if they knew who Curious George was as he is not as popular as he once was. It didn't matter, they still loved the book and loved George because as one student said "He's a Monkey (giggle giggle)".
December 9, 2015
"Good. Ehn, it was pretty good, anyway. My favourite part was when George helped re-decorate the Christmas tree at the end."
We got this from the digital library, and the formatting was very odd: each page was duplicated in small format (With tiny print as part of the picture), then a larger zoom of the pic, and finally the words were retyped. It made for a confusing read with more page turning than was necessary.
We got this from the digital library, and the formatting was very odd: each page was duplicated in small format (With tiny print as part of the picture), then a larger zoom of the pic, and finally the words were retyped. It made for a confusing read with more page turning than was necessary.
July 6, 2018
A very sweet Curious George story that, despite not being written or illustrated by the Reys, is pretty well done. Especially the art. It's mostly the great art that makes me love it, because it brings up so much nostalgia in me.
I mean, the story itself isn't the best George normally has to offer. But he's cute and sweet and fun-loving and, of course, curious. And really, what more do you need from Curious George?
I mean, the story itself isn't the best George normally has to offer. But he's cute and sweet and fun-loving and, of course, curious. And really, what more do you need from Curious George?
February 7, 2014
George goes out to buy a Christmas tree with the man in the yellow hat and ends up in a tree bound for the children's hospital. George decides that he will help decorate the tree with things he found in the hospital. As usual someone doesn't like what George has done but the children come to the rescue.
December 25, 2014
This is such a cute story. Curious George is always a favorite for kids because he's a monkey that gets in to trouble. I loved when he ended up at the children's hospital and ended up cheering them up. I think it's a cute story for kids and indirectly shows how they can help others who aren't as fortunate or are sick in the hospital. This will definitely be one we read every Christmas.
July 16, 2009
Picture Book
Curious George gets in a Christmas tree that's taken to the hospital where he tries to make things festive. He ends up making all the sad children happy and the man with the yellow hat finds him to take him home.
Curious George gets in a Christmas tree that's taken to the hospital where he tries to make things festive. He ends up making all the sad children happy and the man with the yellow hat finds him to take him home.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews