Happy Hanukkah, Curious George

by H. A. Rey, Margret Rey

Overview

It is the eighth night of Hanukkah, and George and his friends have gathered for a celebration. They light the menorah, spin the dreidel, make latkes, and learn the importance of mitzvah! In this tabbed board book, youngsters will even find a tasty latke recipe and instructions for constructing a dreidel, with rules for play. A festive foil-stamped cover makes this a fine holiday gift for fans of Curious George. For more monkey fun, investigate www.curiousgeorge.com.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547757315
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	09/18/2012
Series:	Curious George Series
Edition description:	Tabbed board book
Pages:	14
Sales rank:	263,725
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the 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.

Place of Birth:

Hamburg, Germany; Margret in 1906, and H.A. in 1898

Place of Death:

Cambridge, Massachusetts; Margret died in 1996, H.A. in 1977

Website:

http://www.curiousgeorge.com

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Completely charming."
—Southern Jewish Life

Editorial Reviews

"Completely charming."
—Southern Jewish Life

From the Publisher

The little monkey Curious George, always on the run, in fact fled the Holocaust in the bicycle basket of his creators, H.A. and Margret Rey. Therefore, it is entirely proper that George, the monkey, celebrate the festival of light and freedom with children. This is a curiously constructed book; a board book with seven two page poems describing the happy holiday celebration. It would have made sense to extend the book for two more pages and have a poem that could be shared on each of the eight night celebration. The book is tabbed, like a loose leaf notebook, so that children can turn to poems describing holiday fun; the lighting of the menorah, playing with a dreidl; making latkes, a typically "naughty George" moment; and the performance of mitzvoth (good deeds) which is a more modern interpretation of spreading the holiday's joy. The rhymes and textual explanations are simple enough for a young child, but wordier than most board books. The section, Yummy, Yummy, in George's Tummy, about making latkes (never defined as pancakes) is composed of couplets that snap and sizzle with onomatopoeic cooking words that will be fun to read. Multi-ethnic children dressed in vaguely mid-century period outfits celebrate with George and the one little boy wears a kipot. However, the adult men are bareheaded as the Man (without) the Yellow Hat lights the candles. No historical context is provided for the holiday. This is strictly a snapshot of a latter-day Hanukkah celebration. This will be a cheery introduction to the holiday for young children and, by the length of its rhymes, extends the age range by a year or two. Reviewer: Lois Rubin Gross

Children's Literature - Lois Rubin Gross

PreS-Gr 1—An original selection based on the beloved character created by Margret and H. A. Rey. Curious George is a guest at a Hanukkah party, where he sees children make jelly doughnuts, plays dreidel, and watches the Man in the Yellow Hat light the menorah. He helps make latkes, plays follow the leader, assists with cleanup, and wraps up a treat for a sick friend. The reasons behind most of the activities are not provided, e.g., the lighting of the menorah is described, but the reason behind it isn't given, making this book more suited to children who already know about the holiday. Despite the glittery cover, rhyming text, and charming images of George breaking eggs and washing dishes, this board book with tabs is an additional purchase.—Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

The titular monkey bends his inquisitive gaze upon Hanukkah in this playful board book. Through illustrations based on the iconic work of originators Margaret and H.A. Rey, youngsters can see George and his friend, the Man with the Yellow Hat, visiting the man's extended family for the Festival of Lights. George watches the man light the menorah, and he spins the dreidel with the children, eats all his gelt and helps to make latkes. Seven poems convey the rituals and traditions in language that will connect with a young child, but the pictures of George are what will truly engage. One shows the bescarved simian exulting in the falling snow, another reveals him sniffling over the latke onions, and a third depicts his excited acceptance of his Hanukkah gift—a beribboned banana. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum

Children's Literature - Mary Quattlebaum