Popular Children’s Series Celebrates 75 Years on Curiosity Day

For three quarters of a century, Curious George has been warming the hearts of children across the globe with his many adventures. However, you may be surprised to learn that the inquisitive monkey got his start in author Hans Augusto Rey’s first children’s book, Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys.

After publishing the book in Paris in 1939, Rey and his wife Margret fled the country to avoid the Nazi invasion. The couple eventually made their way to the U.S., where they turned their dream of making George the star of his own stories into a reality.

Since the original book’s debut in 1941, Curious George and The Man in the Yellow Hat have starred in several additional stories, films, and television series. The Reys’ original story has been so popular over the years that it has never once been out of print.

To celebrate the sense of learning and discovery upheld within the popular children’s series, bookstores and libraries across the country join Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers in hosting Curiosity Day events each year. The celebrations include activities ranging from book readings and games to crafts and coloring stations.

This year, celebrate your child’s curiosity by heading to an event near you or use the resources available at curiousgeorge.com to plan and host your own Curiosity Day event for friends and neighbors to enjoy!