The birthday party for Curious George included his friends of all ages from grandparents (us) to grandchildren (Benjamin and Owen from next door). This much beloved monkey turned 80 this year, and we all agreed that he looks really good for his age. The two grandsons thought the Man with the Yellow Hat, who is 82, might have aged a bit since he sports a beard now.
One of the grandsons may have some kinship with George since he had to be enticed off the tallest column in the courtyard where the celebration was held. Not to be deterred from having fun, he substituted stalking George and the Man with the Yellow Hat while they greeted the attendees.
George’s history makes his youthfulness even more remarkable. He wasn’t even named George to begin with. He began life in a manuscript called The Adventures of Fifi and fled Paris in a satchel on bicycles pedaled by his authors, Margret and Hans Rey. Farmers along the way gave them shelter with a place to sleep, sometimes on a bed of hay, with cows to watch over them. As they left France, Fifi and the Reys stayed just ahead of the Nazi invaders. They passed through Portugal, London, Rio, and eventually made their way to America. A year after their arrival in America, Fifi would change his name and become published as Curious George.
For those who would like the rest of George’s intriguing story, look for Louise Borden’s book The Journey that Saved Curious George. And if you would like to see original drawings and art produced by the Reys, you might make a visit to the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi which houses the Rey archives.
