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Curious George New Adventures
Curious George Goes Fishing
Book by
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 1987
About the author
H.A. Rey
601 books220 followersHans Augusto Rey was born on September 16, 1898, in Hamburg, Germany. He grew up there near the world-famous Hagenbeck Zoo, and developed a lifelong love for animals and drawing. Margarete Elisabeth Waldstein (who would be known to most of the world as Margret Rey) was also born in Hamburg on May 16, 1906. The two met briefly when Margret was a young girl, before she left Hamburg to study art. They were reunited in 1935 in Rio de Janeiro, where Hans was selling bathtubs as part of a family business and Margret was escaping the political climate in Germany. Margret convinced Hans to leave the family business, and soon they were working together on a variety of projects.
Hans and Margret were married in Brazil on August 16, 1935, and they moved to Paris after falling in love with the city during their European honeymoon. It was there that Hans published his first children’s book, after a French publisher saw his newspaper cartoons of a giraffe and asked him to expand upon them. Raffy and the Nine Monkeys (Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys in the British and American editions) was the result, and it marked the debut of a mischievous monkey named Curious George.
After Raffy and the Nine Monkeys was published, the Reys decided that Curious George deserved a book of his own, so they began work on a manuscript that featured the lovable and exceedingly curious little monkey. But the late 1930s and early ’40s were a tumultuous time in Europe, and before the new manuscript could be published, the Reys—both German Jews—found themselves in a horrible situation. Hitler and his Nazi party were tearing through Europe, and they were poised to take control of Paris.
Knowing that they must escape before the Nazis took power, Hans cobbled together two bicycles out of spare parts. Early in the morning of June 14, 1940, the Reys set off on their bicycles. They brought very little with them on their predawn flight — only warm coats, a bit of food, and five manuscripts, one of which was Curious George. The Nazis entered Paris just hours later, but the Reys were already on their way out. They rode their makeshift bicycles for four long days until reaching the French-Spanish border, where they sold them for train fare to Lisbon. From there they made their way to Brazil and on to New York City, beginning a whole new life as children’s book authors.
Curious George was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941, and for sixty years these books have been capturing the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. All the Curious George books, including the seven original stories by Margret and Hans, have sold more than twenty-five million copies. So popular that his original story has never been out of print, George has become one of the most beloved and recognizable characters in children’s literature. His adventures have been translated into many languages, including Japanese, French, Afrikaans, Portuguese, Swedish, German, Chinese, Danish, and Norwegian.
Although both of the Reys have passed away — Hans in 1977 and Margret in 1996—George lives on in the Curious George Foundation. Established in 1989, this foundation funds programs for children that share Curious George’s irresistible qualities—ingenuity, opportunity, determination, and curiosity in learning and exploring. Much consideration is given to programs that benefit animals, through preservation as well as the prevention of cruelty to animals. The foundation supports community outreach programs that emphasize the importance of family, from counseling to peer support groups.
Hans and Margret were married in Brazil on August 16, 1935, and they moved to Paris after falling in love with the city during their European honeymoon. It was there that Hans published his first children’s book, after a French publisher saw his newspaper cartoons of a giraffe and asked him to expand upon them. Raffy and the Nine Monkeys (Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys in the British and American editions) was the result, and it marked the debut of a mischievous monkey named Curious George.
After Raffy and the Nine Monkeys was published, the Reys decided that Curious George deserved a book of his own, so they began work on a manuscript that featured the lovable and exceedingly curious little monkey. But the late 1930s and early ’40s were a tumultuous time in Europe, and before the new manuscript could be published, the Reys—both German Jews—found themselves in a horrible situation. Hitler and his Nazi party were tearing through Europe, and they were poised to take control of Paris.
Knowing that they must escape before the Nazis took power, Hans cobbled together two bicycles out of spare parts. Early in the morning of June 14, 1940, the Reys set off on their bicycles. They brought very little with them on their predawn flight — only warm coats, a bit of food, and five manuscripts, one of which was Curious George. The Nazis entered Paris just hours later, but the Reys were already on their way out. They rode their makeshift bicycles for four long days until reaching the French-Spanish border, where they sold them for train fare to Lisbon. From there they made their way to Brazil and on to New York City, beginning a whole new life as children’s book authors.
Curious George was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941, and for sixty years these books have been capturing the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. All the Curious George books, including the seven original stories by Margret and Hans, have sold more than twenty-five million copies. So popular that his original story has never been out of print, George has become one of the most beloved and recognizable characters in children’s literature. His adventures have been translated into many languages, including Japanese, French, Afrikaans, Portuguese, Swedish, German, Chinese, Danish, and Norwegian.
Although both of the Reys have passed away — Hans in 1977 and Margret in 1996—George lives on in the Curious George Foundation. Established in 1989, this foundation funds programs for children that share Curious George’s irresistible qualities—ingenuity, opportunity, determination, and curiosity in learning and exploring. Much consideration is given to programs that benefit animals, through preservation as well as the prevention of cruelty to animals. The foundation supports community outreach programs that emphasize the importance of family, from counseling to peer support groups.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 3, 2011
Who doesn't love Curious George? This funny little monkey entertained my niece and nephew in this tale. The book was funny, but my niece and I made it even funnier by making Curious George monkey sounds, which elicited belly laughs from my nephew. The text is easy to read, which would also make this a great story for new readers to practice reading aloud. An all around great kid book.
March 26, 2012
So much better than you think it will be.
October 19, 2018
Love it
January 11, 2018
I know there are bigger Curious George books, but when I am reading to toddlers I am mainly getting very small and short books, most of which are great.
This one comes as a small book, but is written as a large one, and is in fact an excerpt from a larger book. So even though a two year old can easily hold it and turn the pages, they get restless with the long passages of text. I ended up having to drop multiple sentences or just describe the pictures to maintain interest.
I am sure an edited version could work, and that should have been thought of when the book was being prepared.
This one comes as a small book, but is written as a large one, and is in fact an excerpt from a larger book. So even though a two year old can easily hold it and turn the pages, they get restless with the long passages of text. I ended up having to drop multiple sentences or just describe the pictures to maintain interest.
I am sure an edited version could work, and that should have been thought of when the book was being prepared.
March 17, 2019
Fishing must not be that hard if a monkey can do it...
April 20, 2022
The boys were extremely entertained by this one.
July 5, 2023
"My favorite part was him ripping the hook of the wall. It was funny!"
November 10, 2022
Sadly, for me the Curious George books have not aged well. They can be tedious and sometimes the illustrations look like they’ve been re-printed way too many times and are very muddy.
As for Parker, who was fascinated with the fishing. He does like his fish sticks, lol.
As for Parker, who was fascinated with the fishing. He does like his fish sticks, lol.
September 14, 2016
I know this seems silly reviewing a kids book, but I vowed I would review every book that I completed, and this counts.
So George wants to go fishing. Good for him. But I don't know why George would model himself after a fisherman who is standing at the end of a pier looking like he's using a fly fishing pole in a lake. I'm surprised George was able to copy this guy so well without further getting a pipe to smoke either?
The next thing, George goes into his home (I hope it's his home) and starts just grabbing stuff to make his fishing pole. He takes presumably the only mop, thieves some cake, and then rips a hook off of the wall in order to make his pole. I can't imagine what would happen if my kids were to do that and traipse off to hang out at a lake.
Lastly, the end of the book is just George getting distracted by a guy flying a kite? Another stranger?
Not the best of the Curious George line, would recommend to people who don't have super impressionable children.
So George wants to go fishing. Good for him. But I don't know why George would model himself after a fisherman who is standing at the end of a pier looking like he's using a fly fishing pole in a lake. I'm surprised George was able to copy this guy so well without further getting a pipe to smoke either?
The next thing, George goes into his home (I hope it's his home) and starts just grabbing stuff to make his fishing pole. He takes presumably the only mop, thieves some cake, and then rips a hook off of the wall in order to make his pole. I can't imagine what would happen if my kids were to do that and traipse off to hang out at a lake.
Lastly, the end of the book is just George getting distracted by a guy flying a kite? Another stranger?
Not the best of the Curious George line, would recommend to people who don't have super impressionable children.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2014
Curious George is this monkey who has the mind of a child. So one afternoon his owner decides to take him out fishing. They get to the lake and the owner goes off to find a good place to fish and leaves George in one spot. Instead George goes off swinging from tree to tree and finds this family. He notices the family fishing and is curious of how to fish. When the family turns their backs he uses their fishing poles to try and fish but ruins their dinner. So he feels bad and wants to help get them their dinner back. As the family leaves camp to look for food Curious George uses four fishing poles to catch dinner. As the family returns back they find Curious George catching four fish! The way the story ends it is a closed ending and a happy one. I like the way the images in the books are painted looking. The colors look soft and it isn't so vivid. The sentences in the story are kept simple and short. Easy for a group of second graders to read, especially since it all takes place in one setting the forest. Some could also think that there is a moral to this story, such as when you do something wrong don't walk away from it, instead try and fix it. It's a good children's book and simple to understand for just about any grade level. I think that the monkey as the main character could interest and entertain a child more. It brings out that sort of cartoon side mixed with reality. Such as the George's actions and the way he reacts to catching fish. After all, all kids are curious.
April 8, 2014
Curious George is a very curious monkey. He is always getting himself into trouble and exploring the world. My son loves to watch the curious George show on PBS. This book is about George learning how to fish and enjoying the outside. It starts by him following a man that is going fishing. He studies the man and when the man catches the fish George gets very happy. He gets so happy that he takes the man’s fish wire and runs away with it. George tried to make his own fishing rod using a map, hook, wire, and cheese as bait. George goes fishing but all the fish just eat the bait and none of the fish are caught. George thinks he can catch a fish with his bare hands but he just ends up falling into the lake. George gets out of the lake to find his friend Bill flying a kite. Instead of George trying to fish, he helps Bill fly his kite.
March 14, 2024
Who doesn’t love George? With a curious mind, George finds a man walking to the lake. As the man puts some food on a hook that’s fastened on a pole, George is fascinated when the man catches a fish! George wants to do that too! Off George goes to make his own fishing pole.
Finding a mop, string, some cake, and a hook, George creates his own fishing pole. Fishing doesn’t come easy for George but that’s okay, as George does have fun. What’s this? Bill comes by with something that looks more interesting than fishing and it looks like it will be more fun too! So much for fishing, as George is now going to see what Bill is up to. A fast-paced book with short sentences and cute illustrations. 5 stars
Finding a mop, string, some cake, and a hook, George creates his own fishing pole. Fishing doesn’t come easy for George but that’s okay, as George does have fun. What’s this? Bill comes by with something that looks more interesting than fishing and it looks like it will be more fun too! So much for fishing, as George is now going to see what Bill is up to. A fast-paced book with short sentences and cute illustrations. 5 stars
March 13, 2015
Synopsis: "Inspired by a vignette in the classic Curious George Flies a Kite, this amusing episode shows George at his curious best trying to catch a fish."
My Review: This was an interesting Curious George book, it wasn't exactly what I expected. He attempted to copy a fisherman but didn't quite work out how to catch the fish. I do like how he decided to play with a line instead. Munchkin found it interesting and now wants to go fishing and fly a kite.
My Review: This was an interesting Curious George book, it wasn't exactly what I expected. He attempted to copy a fisherman but didn't quite work out how to catch the fish. I do like how he decided to play with a line instead. Munchkin found it interesting and now wants to go fishing and fly a kite.
February 2, 2009
The runs of iambic trimeter make this especially fun to read. Plus it teaches children not to lean too far off the dock. Or to use cake as fish bait, which almost never works, except for the very fattest fish.
July 14, 2017
Curious George is funny because he, um, does stuff like, um, he got some cake and when he put it up the cake was just gone. The fish wasn't there. And he reached a hand in and SPLASH! He went in. I like the pictures.
April 21, 2010
fish like cake
March 12, 2008
I learned how NOT to fish.
August 1, 2008
the text doesn't move along as nicely as I would like, especially for a board book, but the children love it anyway, just because it's curious george!
July 28, 2011
A super board book.
November 21, 2011
George tries his hand and foot at fishing with some hilarious results!
April 3, 2012
I'm trying to read it so I can post a review on the book.
Read
August 21, 2012June 2012
May 10, 2013
How can you go wrong with Curious George?
Read
December 26, 2015A fine children's book I read to my family!
Read
April 3, 2016Jaws
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2016
Rey, M. (2001). Curious George goes fishing. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
May 26, 2016
Sometimes a successful fishing trip means swimming with the fish and flying a kite instead. A sweet story about Curious George.
August 31, 2016
Never a dull moment with George!
November 4, 2018
Meh. Random ending.
April 13, 2019
We love Curious George books!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews