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Curious George New Adventures
Curious George at the Fire Station
This time George is in serious trouble. When he rings the bell on the fire engine, the firemen think there's a real fire. It seems that a fire station is no place for a curious monkey -- unless that monkey is George, who can do what none of the firemen can to make a quick rescue.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
4 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Margret Rey
235 books121 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 31 reviews
October 5, 2017
Cute but I did replace "fireman" with "firefighter" while I read out loud.
March 13, 2019
Not my favorite Curious George, as it's not one of the originals, but bonus points for nostalgia.
January 22, 2020
I usually really enjoy Curious George books but I found this one had a really boring plot and quiet a few plot holes. I think perhaps if it were written where George was on a field trip to the fire station with his class or something it would have made a little more sense. Even my 6 year old sister had trouble enjoying it.
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September 11, 2024I like Curious George! But this would not be my favourite of his stories. Not very educational, and the education there is is quite dated. The problems weren't interesting, and the one resolution George made was too easy.
All to say, try a different Curious George! There are many amazing ones out there!
All to say, try a different Curious George! There are many amazing ones out there!
March 16, 2025
In this book - the man in the yellow hat takes Curious George to a fire station. George gets to try on fire gear and rings bell - which does irritate the firemen.
He saves one of the firehouse puppies.
All in all - a splendid adventure.
He saves one of the firehouse puppies.
All in all - a splendid adventure.
May 4, 2017
I read this to my four year old nephew, three to four times of a week because he loves this monkey. :)
July 17, 2018
She loves George. She was really interested in the crocodiles in the greenhouse.
March 10, 2019
Poor George! Always causing trouble by accident, but he ends up saving the day anyway. I remember this one from “way back when” and I read it to my kids too. George never goes out of style.
December 27, 2021
Curious George visits a fire station and set off a false fire alarm. His curiousness has lead to a serious infraction this time. Read along to see how it ends for George.
February 4, 2023
Though the plots follow the same pattern (George is naughty but in the end he helps out), they were better reads than I expected.
February 10, 2023
You get George rescuing a puppy with a giant fire man's helmet. What's not to love?
March 17, 2017
Young kiddos will love this book about fireman and Dalmatian puppies.
April 13, 2019
We love Curious George books!
September 10, 2019
Do firefighters still have dogs at the station? I've always wondered that.
Anyways, would pair well with Curious George and a glass of Rose
Anyways, would pair well with Curious George and a glass of Rose
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2012
Review: All children love Curious George because well he is curious just like children are. This is a great book for children because it is easy to read. Curious George goes on an adventure in this book to the fire station where he learns new things.
Learning Experience: An excellent learning experience for Curious George at the Fire Station would be for the whole class to go on a field trip to the fire station. At the fire station the students will learn how important the job of a fireman/firewomen really is. The fireman/firewomen will teach the students what goes on in their job and what they have to do when a fire has been reported to them. After have the children write a thank you note to the fireman/firewomen for showing them around the fire station.
Learning Experience: An excellent learning experience for Curious George at the Fire Station would be for the whole class to go on a field trip to the fire station. At the fire station the students will learn how important the job of a fireman/firewomen really is. The fireman/firewomen will teach the students what goes on in their job and what they have to do when a fire has been reported to them. After have the children write a thank you note to the fireman/firewomen for showing them around the fire station.
August 29, 2013
Curious George is one of my favorite series of children's books. They're an easy read and there's always a good meaning to them. George rang the bell and caused all the firemen to get ready and made them believe there was a fire. It was just a false alarm and the Chief had to raise his voice a little bit and let George know that what he did was wrong. Then, a puppy almost fell and George climbed up the pole and held out his hat for the puppy to fall into. Sure enough, the puppy fell and George had saved him. The Chief then let George keep his hat and was very proud of him. Children can understand that we all have accidents, but that doesn't mean we don't ever do something right. We just learn from the accident, and move on.
September 2, 2012
PB 22: This book could be used when talking about career choices. Although it doesn't really talk about the firemen in action it discusses the fire station. Children will like this book because George is curious just like they are and they might even get in trouble for it sometimes just like George.
September 28, 2012
This is one of the best books i have read all year. Curious George is like a child always messing with everything. I loved how he rang the fire alarm just like a kid would. I think that's why kids love him so much because they relate. He is so awesome he saves a puppies life in this book. Read it now!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2016
I loved this story when I was younger and couldn't wait to read it to my daughter. She enjoyed this tale of George at the fire station as well. After finishing she wanted to go visit a fire station so she could see the dogs. I felt horrible to tell her that most fire stations don't have dogs anymore. At least not the ones that are in our area. Would recommend this story still though.
November 5, 2021
George gets a tour of the fire station and helps save a puppy. These stories are so predictable (George gets curious about something, makes a mess/gets in trouble, then fixes things splendidly in the end, lol). However, Elliot absolutely adores all Curious George books, so I read and re-read them because I love that curious little Elliot😄
Read at 23 and 25 months
Read at 23 and 25 months
May 30, 2008
This book has everything fireman related. You come across a fire chief, and fire truck, bells, dalmations, a firemans pole...I think the only thing missing was a ladder and a hose.
I think that most 2-3 year olds would enjoy this.
I think that most 2-3 year olds would enjoy this.
January 22, 2009
Can't explain it, but it is one of Lily's current Faves. She's reading it every night and loves it.
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January 7, 20105 minutes
February 19, 2010
George is up to his usual antics and he saves a puppy
September 29, 2014
the cute story of a little curious monkey, that gets into trouble by accident
June 16, 2016
George saves a little puppy from falling down the hole where the fire pole is. A great adventure for Curious George!
March 3, 2017
Another favorite Curious George book. This time we find George at the fire station and he is of course, curious as always!
January 23, 2016
Another book adapted from the cartoon. Blah.
August 2, 2016
I never really liked these books as a kid. As an adult day care worker, I still don't like these books. However, the kids seem to like them more than the average book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews