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Curious George New Adventures
Curious George and the Pizza
Curious George is up to his elbows in dough and trouble as he tries his hand at making pizza. Tony the baker chases him out of his restaurant, and George hides in a truck in the alley. An angry Tony becomes a grateful Tony when George helps him deliver a pizza in a way that only a monkey could.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 1985
About the author
Margret Rey
245 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 37 reviews
July 28, 2019
George not only makes pizza, he delivers too. such a funny book
October 20, 2024
This has Tot asking to make pizza, seems like a fair dinner plan.
February 1, 2018
This Curious George story is great. Always start out by asking if they think George will get in trouble in this story. See if anyone can guess how Tony the Baker will get the pizza into the factory since the gates are locked.
March 5, 2019
classic george
September 13, 2019
I mean, why does curiosity always lead to trouble??
February 25, 2020
Fun watching George try to make a pizza.
January 20, 2021
(4☆ Would recommend)
Curious George is such a great classic! My son loves the show as well as the books. The length of the stories are perfect for young kids.
Curious George is such a great classic! My son loves the show as well as the books. The length of the stories are perfect for young kids.
March 17, 2022
The more curious George books I read the more I get annoyed with the Man in the yellow hat and how George can get into so much mischief...
April 18, 2022
George gets in trouble when he tries to make his own pizza at the restaurant, but as usual, makes up for it by being helpful.
April 23, 2022
Fails the Bechdel test.
February 7, 2023
One of my favorites as a child.
February 9, 2023
George delivers a pizza and gets a special one in turn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2019
We love Curious George books!
July 24, 2014
My son recently discovered the Curious George animated television show and is totally enamored. I decided it was time to show him that Curious George was originally a book character, so I grabbed this as his first Curious George book.
I know, I know, I should have gone with the classic Curious George or Curious George Takes a Job (which was definitely my favorite when I was a kid)...but those books seem long for a two-year-old. Plus I have a very empathetic kid, and I'm sure the pitiful "OH NO"-ing that would ensue over the images of George with a broken leg or getting knocked out by ether would break my heart. In other words, I'm gonna wait a while longer before introducing that one.
But this book has a nice, brief story in which nothing particularly bad happens. Plus it features pizza, and my son is always happy to talk about pizza. It is based on some sort of film series, so the illustrations look like they are probably just stills from the film; in other words, not the best. Still, now that my son knows there are "George" books I bet he will be checking out many more in the future, and this was a perfectly acceptable introduction.
I know, I know, I should have gone with the classic Curious George or Curious George Takes a Job (which was definitely my favorite when I was a kid)...but those books seem long for a two-year-old. Plus I have a very empathetic kid, and I'm sure the pitiful "OH NO"-ing that would ensue over the images of George with a broken leg or getting knocked out by ether would break my heart. In other words, I'm gonna wait a while longer before introducing that one.
But this book has a nice, brief story in which nothing particularly bad happens. Plus it features pizza, and my son is always happy to talk about pizza. It is based on some sort of film series, so the illustrations look like they are probably just stills from the film; in other words, not the best. Still, now that my son knows there are "George" books I bet he will be checking out many more in the future, and this was a perfectly acceptable introduction.
November 12, 2014
My 7 year old son recently borrowed this book from his school library.
This book is adapted from the Curious George film series. My son loves the Curious George TV shows and movies, so Curious George books are on the top of his list when looking for books. George and his friend (most of you will know him as the man in the yellow hat) go out for pizza. Tony is the baker at the pizza place. The book shows you how Tony makes his pizzas. Tony's wife tells him that he needs to make a delivery. While Tony is talking with his wife and getting his coat, George wonders if he can make a pizza too.
Join George, as his curiosity gets the best of him. He always seems to get himself in some sticky situations, but always manages to save the day.
There were a few words that my son needed help with, but not many. There are illustrations that go along with each page. Recommended for young Curious George fans.
This book is adapted from the Curious George film series. My son loves the Curious George TV shows and movies, so Curious George books are on the top of his list when looking for books. George and his friend (most of you will know him as the man in the yellow hat) go out for pizza. Tony is the baker at the pizza place. The book shows you how Tony makes his pizzas. Tony's wife tells him that he needs to make a delivery. While Tony is talking with his wife and getting his coat, George wonders if he can make a pizza too.
Join George, as his curiosity gets the best of him. He always seems to get himself in some sticky situations, but always manages to save the day.
There were a few words that my son needed help with, but not many. There are illustrations that go along with each page. Recommended for young Curious George fans.
September 13, 2012
Curious George has always been my favorite since I was very young. Children of all ages can relate and love George. George and his friend want some pizza. As soon as George gets to the pizza place he immediately starts causing mischief due to his curiosity. The pizza place gets a call for a delivery to a factory and thats when george becomes curious as to whether he can make a pizza or not. He takes four peices of dough and tosses them into the air and they land all over the restaurant. He then gets scarred and decides he should hide. That’s when George runs into a truck to hide. Tony the owner of the pizza shop has to deliver the pizza to the factory. Tony gets in his truck that George is in and drives to the factory to find that it is closed and that George is in the back of the truck. George is able to save the day by hoping over the fence and saves the day.
February 11, 2015
This is a 'classic' Curious George that will bring back wonderful memories of your childhood looking forward to finding it in the library to read! The man and George go to get a pizza and George is curious about how they are made but gets into mischief without realizing he is. He accidentally gets hidden in the delivery van but in all his adventure he ends up saving the day in the end of the story. My 3 year old granddaughter and my special needs teenage son enjoyed listening to George and his antics and it brought memories back to me.
June 24, 2015
Curious George – and the Pizza is about a monkey named George and all of the mischief he gets into while at the pizza parlor. George wonders if he can make a pizza, so he tries and winds up causing more trouble for the owner. All of the pictures in this book sit at the top of the page with the text in a white box at the bottom. The pictures depict the story well while the text adds with its narration. I would use this book with young readers, ages five to eight, to teach that it is good to be curious about the world, but that it is important to follow the rules.
November 17, 2011
George becomes curious (of course) and tries to make pizza. After causing some trouble, he helps the chef deliver pizzas to make up for it. This book can teach how to make a pizza, as well as teach children that they shouldn't get into things without asking.
September 17, 2013
So this isn't George's best. The illustrations seem to be off somehow, as if it was a pirated work with scanned copies. But it could have been my library's edition.
Nonetheless, George saves the day and gets pizza.
Nonetheless, George saves the day and gets pizza.
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December 6, 2014One of the many books that features Curious George, this time the monkey gets caught sneaking away with a pizza much to the dismay of the owner of the pizza shop. This book would be great to have in a classroom library for children's enjoyment.
January 19, 2015
This is the most disappointing of the Curious George books adapted from the film. Very thin plot, you are definitely better off with basically any other CG book available. We bought and then returned this one, children deserve better.
January 30, 2009
This was very obviously a book taken from a film, as the cover says. It's not bad for beginning readers, but it's certainly not the best Curious George book either!
February 20, 2009
Frank really enjoyed this, especially George climbing over the fence at the factory.
January 2, 2010
i thought that a juke box was calld a juice box
October 18, 2013
continues the story of the cute little monkey who moves to the city
June 17, 2012
Not the best of the George stories but cute - I just wish people didn't get so mad at George - he's a monkey after all.
January 29, 2013
Classic-ish, but riddled with holes.
March 8, 2013
Based on the film series- George gets into trouble at a pizzeria.
October 3, 2013
George has fun in the pizzeria and makes a mess but ends up saving the day with his pizza delivery skills.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews