Happy Halloween, Curious George Book

Halloween is here, and Curious George is getting ready for the big night. There are so many costumes to try on, treats to share, and games to play! George has so much Halloween fun picking out the perfect pumpkin, decorating his house, and celebrating with his friends that he’s not sure he’s ready for the day to end. Follow the little monkey through his fun-filled day with this book of poems. Happy Halloween, Curious George is a sweet treat to help Curious George fans of all ages get in the Halloween spirit.

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 studied philology and natural science at the University of Hamburg. He then 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 many languages, including French, German, Japanese, Afrikaans, and Norwegian. Additional Curious George books followed, as well as such other favorites as CECILY G. AND THE NINE MONKEYS and FIND THE CONSTELLATIONS.

Children's Literature

Seven double-page spreads with a tab for each one introduces young children to various aspects of Halloween. First there is the pumpkin picking, then decorating, followed by costume selection, a game of "boo," trick or treating, a party, and finally, bedtime where the events of the day are recounted. Curious George is central to each of these events, whether he is climbing a spider web or hanging from a chandelier, and his personality remains true to character. Each "story" is actually a rhyming verse. The rhythm and sound are appropriate for a preschool audience. There is no real story line here, but this serves as an ordinary introduction to Halloween traditions. The illustrations are in the style of H. A. Rey. Strong character identification will make this book popular. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo