a curious fellow's birthday!

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, June 14th is considered by some to be Curious George's Birthday--some say it was June 14, 1940 because that was the day creators H.A. & Margaret Rey fled war-torn Paris with the manuscript for what would become Curious George.

Interesting facts about the lovable and curious monkey:
*Curious George first appeared in Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys (1939); in this book George's name was Fifi
*Curious George was published in 1941
* In the U.K. George was originally called "Zozo" to avoid using the name of the then King George VI
*What is sometimes called the "Original Adventures", these 7 titles are by Margret & H.A. Rey.

Curious George (1941)
Curious George Takes a Job (1947)
Curious George Rides a Bike (1952)
Curious George Gets a Medal (1957)
Curious George Flies a Kite (1958)
Curious George Learns the Alphabet (1963)
Curious George Goes to the Hospital (1966)

I was fortunate enough to have the original series to read and have read to me as a child, none of this TV inspired, ridiculously clownish artworked newer books, thank God. I only ever read the original books to kids, passing on those gloriously drawn pictures of that naughty monkey and the Man in the Yellow Hat! Happy 73rd Birthday George!  We LOVE LOVE LOVE you so!

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