How a curious little monkey changed the world

Posted on by WritingfromtheheartwithBrian

When I was very young, I would crawl into my mother’s lap wearing my onesie pajamas and beg for a glass of milk and for her to read to me. I had a series of favorite books, everything from The Poky Little Puppy; Clifford, the Big Red Dog; The Little Engine That Could; Corduroy; The Berenstain Bears; to Katy and the Big Snow, about a snowplow that saves the town of Geoppolis after it gets buried under several feet of snow. 

They all held a special place in my heart, but one book took center stage. I loved Curious George, the series of stories about a little monkey whose curious nature gets him into mischievous adventures. I would curl up in my mom’s lap in our brown rocking chair and ask her to read Curious George to me.

I could never get enough of the book. I must not have been the only one. The Curious George books, including the seven original stories, have sold more than twenty-five million copies. I’ve always been grateful for the silly little monkey in developing my own curiosity and questioning skills and a love of books, big and small.

Running from trouble

Years later, I found out that the stories about Curious George were amazing and all, but the truth was even more breathtaking. During World War II, Curious George’s creators, two German Jews named Margret and H.A. Rey, fled Paris by bike on June 14, 1940. They were just a few steps ahead of the Nazis who had invaded a few weeks earlier. The couple took little with them on their predawn escape — except what they had on their backs, some food and clothes, and the manuscript that would become the first Curious George book. 

The rode their bikes for four long days until they reached the French-Spanish border, took a train to Lisbon, made their way to Brazil and then onto New York City. When they got settled in New York, they approached a publisher and Houghton Mifflin published Curious George in the U.S. in August 1941, with an initial print run of 7,500 copies and a price of $2.00. 

From small beginnings to worldwide readership

If the Reys had stayed in Paris, there’s no question they would have faced death. Two-thirds of the Jewish people in Europe were killed during World War II, a total of 6 million Jews died in the Holocaust. In their home country of Germany, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, there were 525,000 Jews in 1933, and only 37,000 in 1950.

Meanwhile, Curious George became 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.

Starting a new life

I remember reading about the Reys ten or fifteen years ago and being struck by the absurdity of it. A delay in fleeing Paris, a poorly timed run-in along the way with Nazi soldiers, a flat tire here or there, or millions of reasons, and the Reys could have been stopped. A huge part of my childhood and so many others would not have happened. With a snap of the fingers, they would be gone like that.

It sounds trite, but I’m not sure I’ve ever written truer words:

  • Never be fooled, hate is a horrible, horrible thing
  • And conversely, curiosity, growth, the thirst for knowledge and learning are beautiful, beautiful things. Some of the best things life has to offer.

What are some books that mattered to you as a young child? Do they still matter to you? What stories do you have about them?

…..

Please join in on the discussion on the HoTM site. In addition, please visit my personal blog at www.writingfromtheheartwithbrian.com to read the companion piece I wrote today on my love of the stories behind the story. In addition, you can follow me on Instagram at @writingfromtheheartwithbrian.

All the best, Brian.

Images by Pexels.

27 thoughts on “How a curious little monkey changed the world”

  1. Pingback: Monkeying around! – Writing from the Heart with Brian

  2. I don’t know where to start with your post. I loved all of the books you mentioned…like my childhood reading list! Thank you for that and for bringing a history lesson. I knew nothing about the authors’ story (the Reys) and their harrowing escape from the Nazis. Another beautiful example of goodness coming (nearly) from tragedy. And your closing thoughts about the truest things in life? Also beautiful. Thank you, Brian. 💕

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Lovely story, Brian. Thanks. As to books I read at some later point in childhood, they included the baseball stories of John R. Tunis and a series of comic books called “Classics Illustrated.” My first exposure to Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” came in that format.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. What a great post! I love all of it – but the conclusion really hit home for me. Contrasting curiosity and growth against hate makes the openness that comes with curiosity so palpable! It reminds me of a quote from a Billy Bragg that said something along the lines that the opposite of faith isn’t doubt – it’s cynicism.

    I’m warmed by your description of reading with your mom, the story of the Reys that I didn’t know and all the great memories of books. Thank you, my friend!! ❤ ❤ ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. I was a huge Nancy Drew mysteries fan Brian, and over time collected all of the original titles. Honestly, I would read anything I could get my hands on, even if I didn’t fully understand what I was reading!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. My grandchildren loved Curious George! My mother tells me I was a voracious reader from the age of 3, but I don’t remember. I do still have my copy of Anne of Green Gables, which I have reread on numerous occassions.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  8. Yertle the turtle by Dr. Seuss. The lesson that we should form our own opinions and that just because someone in authority says something it doesn’t mean it’s so. AlsoA tree grows in Brooklyn because it shows that a quest for knowledge is always a good thing

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  11. I never knew the back story of “Curious George,” which I loved as a child. I also was a “Poky Little Puppy” and “Babar” fan. Later on I loved and read over and over “The Secret Garden,” “A Little Princess,” and all the “Anne of Green Gables” books.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. I read a lot of the same books as you – the best really stand the test of time, don’t they? My mom was an early education teacher, so we had hundreds of books and were already reading. I think the most impactful for me were The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, and Lois Lowry’s The Giver when I was little older.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. I’m an avid reader and love books. It’s funny that I don’t recall being read to or reading early books. I think my first memory is Black Beauty and The Famous Five series when I was maybe 7 or 8 years old. And when I was a little older the Nancy Drew storeis fuelled my love of mystery. Thanks for sharing that story about the creators of Curious George. I never knew that.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. Thanks for the backstory regarding Curious George, also one of my favorites when I was a kid. Blogging, meeting people from around the world, and respecting their differences are small steps toward fighting hatred. I took a sociology class in college from a Jewish professor who told an incredible story during World War II. At eight-years-old, he lost his entire family when the Nazis invaded their home. He was hiding in the house and later escaped, smuggled into another country.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  18. Pingback: Well Said Saturdays – September 30 – The Heart of the Matter

  19. I dearly love this story! As a preschool teacher for decades, I treasure the classics like Curious George and read them to my students, multiple times a day. You were lucky to have a mother who fostered your love of good books. We never forget the good ones, do we? I was lucky to be a live guest on the Kelly Clarkson show talking about books and reading aloud. The Rey’s story is one that keeps me going, fuels my fire, and gives me inspiration. Thank you for sharing this wonderful post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Oh, thank you Jennie! You’ve made my day. That’s so great to hear. Yes, I’ve always felt lucky that my mom read to me, it helped me immensely when school got harder. I had such a good base that it helped me get through it. Yes, I love the Rey’s inspirational story. I find it amazing to think the number of people their book helped!!!! Thanks so much for reading and joining the discussion.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. You are welcome, Brian. Your post was a pleasure to read. Reading aloud is huge, and gives children a leg up in school- in all academic areas. You are proof!

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment