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Curious George at the Zoo
The littlest readers will love to explore this touch-and-feel zoo animal book and search for the Curious George hiding on every page.
George and the man with the yellow hat are visiting the zoo together . . . until George runs off! Based on the Curious George TV show, this engaging touch-and-feel board book contains different tactile elements, including the fuzzy mane of a zebra, the rough hide of a hippo, and the spotted coat of a leopard, on every spread.
George and the man with the yellow hat are visiting the zoo together . . . until George runs off! Based on the Curious George TV show, this engaging touch-and-feel board book contains different tactile elements, including the fuzzy mane of a zebra, the rough hide of a hippo, and the spotted coat of a leopard, on every spread.
10 pages, Board book
First published October 22, 2007
About the author
H.A. Rey
600 books219 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 1, 2013
Baby was engaged. Loved textures.
January 11, 2026
This hands on book for young toddlers to early preschool of children’s classic character “Curious George”. This book takes place in the zoo as the beloved monkey takes his reader to see what the zoo is like; while learning textures like: “soft”, “rough”, “smooth”, etc.
November 7, 2017
A good touch and feel book. Where’s George? And he’ll find him.
March 11, 2020
Semi decent textures.
July 26, 2021
It's a touch-and-feel boardbook, but it also has a look-and-find element. It's kind of awkward. My dad got this for Morgan at our local Friends of the Library's annual used book sale.
November 21, 2025
Title tells all, so I took off 1 star as there was no noticeable plot.
February 22, 2014
This is another licensed character book that tries to squeeze in too many interactive aspects that just scatters any semblance of cohesive flow. Most of the touch and feel parts don't make sense, on the left pages you are supposed to try and find Curious George and the educational adjectives feel awkward: "Where has George gone? He would love to watch the pink flamingo standing on one leg! Feel the smooth shiny water." The water is three oval shaped puddles filled with baggy opalescent blue plastic. Conrad is certainly occupied by this book, but it makes him seem a tad unsettled.
October 5, 2014
2.5
If this were a book that did not include Curious George, it wouldn't really be very good. Because it has him in there, it is somehow better. His curiosity is well depicted, and of course the see and feel is good. It's just ok though.
If this were a book that did not include Curious George, it wouldn't really be very good. Because it has him in there, it is somehow better. His curiosity is well depicted, and of course the see and feel is good. It's just ok though.
May 15, 2016
I love this book, because it reminds me of the Curious George I grew up reading. Children can learn to love books with the interactive component of touch and feel. I believe that this would be useful in teaching print motivation for toddlers.
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March 31, 2009good book
March 23, 2012
Both my children like this touch and feel book.
June 26, 2017
I wish there were more pages and textures, but otherwise pretty cute. I like how there is a simple "I spy" element with George "hiding" on a few of the pages.
January 29, 2014
The giraffe and the basket were the best part for my lil guy!
April 24, 2014
Gotta love Curious George. This being a touch-and-feel book keeps the young and/or students on the autism spectrum engaged. There was some advanced vocabulary (hide for a giraffe).
August 18, 2015
We love touch and feel books at my house!! And my daughter is seriously into curious george right now, so this was right up her alley. This is her go to book right now!
September 28, 2015
One of my sons favorite characters and books to have me read to him.
June 2, 2018
My toddlers love the touch and feel pages in this book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews