In this, the original book about the curious monkey, George is taken from the jungle by the man in the yellow hat to live in a new home, but - oh, what happened! Though trying to be good, George is still very curious and takes a swim in the ocean, escapes from jail, and goes for a flying ride on a bunch of balloons. This treasured classic is where it all began for the curious, loveable monkey and is a must have for any children’s book collection. AGES: 4 to 7 AUTHOR: Hans Augusto Rey was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1898. As a child, he spent much of his free time in that city’s famous Hagenbeck Zoo drawing animals. After serving in the army during World War I, he married Margret Rey and they moved to Montmartre for four years. The manuscript for the first Curious George books was one of the few items the Reys carried with them on their bicycles when they escaped from Paris in 1940. Eventually, they made their way to the United States, and Curious George was published in 1941. Curious George has been published in numerous languages. And many, many Curious George books have followed.