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Curious George Chasing Waves
Get swept away by this summery story based on PBS's award-winning television show! When Curious George, the man with the yellow hat, and their friend Marco visit Professor Wiseman at the beach, they have many new experiences. They dig for clams in a tidal pool, swim with dolphins, and even bury some special treasure. But when the tide comes in and takes their treasure out to sea, George and Marco need their new knowledge of how tides work—and their new dolphin friend—to get it back. Includes bonus activity page with instructions for making your own ocean bottle!
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
24 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2014
About the author
H.A. Rey
601 books218 followersHans Augusto Rey was born on September 16, 1898, in Hamburg, Germany. He grew up there near the world-famous Hagenbeck Zoo, and developed a lifelong love for animals and drawing. Margarete Elisabeth Waldstein (who would be known to most of the world as Margret Rey) was also born in Hamburg on May 16, 1906. The two met briefly when Margret was a young girl, before she left Hamburg to study art. They were reunited in 1935 in Rio de Janeiro, where Hans was selling bathtubs as part of a family business and Margret was escaping the political climate in Germany. Margret convinced Hans to leave the family business, and soon they were working together on a variety of projects.
Hans and Margret were married in Brazil on August 16, 1935, and they moved to Paris after falling in love with the city during their European honeymoon. It was there that Hans published his first children’s book, after a French publisher saw his newspaper cartoons of a giraffe and asked him to expand upon them. Raffy and the Nine Monkeys (Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys in the British and American editions) was the result, and it marked the debut of a mischievous monkey named Curious George.
After Raffy and the Nine Monkeys was published, the Reys decided that Curious George deserved a book of his own, so they began work on a manuscript that featured the lovable and exceedingly curious little monkey. But the late 1930s and early ’40s were a tumultuous time in Europe, and before the new manuscript could be published, the Reys—both German Jews—found themselves in a horrible situation. Hitler and his Nazi party were tearing through Europe, and they were poised to take control of Paris.
Knowing that they must escape before the Nazis took power, Hans cobbled together two bicycles out of spare parts. Early in the morning of June 14, 1940, the Reys set off on their bicycles. They brought very little with them on their predawn flight — only warm coats, a bit of food, and five manuscripts, one of which was Curious George. The Nazis entered Paris just hours later, but the Reys were already on their way out. They rode their makeshift bicycles for four long days until reaching the French-Spanish border, where they sold them for train fare to Lisbon. From there they made their way to Brazil and on to New York City, beginning a whole new life as children’s book authors.
Curious George was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941, and for sixty years these books have been capturing the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. All the Curious George books, including the seven original stories by Margret and Hans, have sold more than twenty-five million copies. So popular that his original story has never been out of print, George has become 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.
Although both of the Reys have passed away — Hans in 1977 and Margret in 1996—George lives on in the Curious George Foundation. Established in 1989, this foundation funds programs for children that share Curious George’s irresistible qualities—ingenuity, opportunity, determination, and curiosity in learning and exploring. Much consideration is given to programs that benefit animals, through preservation as well as the prevention of cruelty to animals. The foundation supports community outreach programs that emphasize the importance of family, from counseling to peer support groups.
Hans and Margret were married in Brazil on August 16, 1935, and they moved to Paris after falling in love with the city during their European honeymoon. It was there that Hans published his first children’s book, after a French publisher saw his newspaper cartoons of a giraffe and asked him to expand upon them. Raffy and the Nine Monkeys (Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys in the British and American editions) was the result, and it marked the debut of a mischievous monkey named Curious George.
After Raffy and the Nine Monkeys was published, the Reys decided that Curious George deserved a book of his own, so they began work on a manuscript that featured the lovable and exceedingly curious little monkey. But the late 1930s and early ’40s were a tumultuous time in Europe, and before the new manuscript could be published, the Reys—both German Jews—found themselves in a horrible situation. Hitler and his Nazi party were tearing through Europe, and they were poised to take control of Paris.
Knowing that they must escape before the Nazis took power, Hans cobbled together two bicycles out of spare parts. Early in the morning of June 14, 1940, the Reys set off on their bicycles. They brought very little with them on their predawn flight — only warm coats, a bit of food, and five manuscripts, one of which was Curious George. The Nazis entered Paris just hours later, but the Reys were already on their way out. They rode their makeshift bicycles for four long days until reaching the French-Spanish border, where they sold them for train fare to Lisbon. From there they made their way to Brazil and on to New York City, beginning a whole new life as children’s book authors.
Curious George was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941, and for sixty years these books have been capturing the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. All the Curious George books, including the seven original stories by Margret and Hans, have sold more than twenty-five million copies. So popular that his original story has never been out of print, George has become 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.
Although both of the Reys have passed away — Hans in 1977 and Margret in 1996—George lives on in the Curious George Foundation. Established in 1989, this foundation funds programs for children that share Curious George’s irresistible qualities—ingenuity, opportunity, determination, and curiosity in learning and exploring. Much consideration is given to programs that benefit animals, through preservation as well as the prevention of cruelty to animals. The foundation supports community outreach programs that emphasize the importance of family, from counseling to peer support groups.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 27, 2017
3.5 stars
it is interestind and educational. But felt too direct and not as enjoyable as it could have been.
works great for a science class.
it is interestind and educational. But felt too direct and not as enjoyable as it could have been.
works great for a science class.
April 16, 2024
This was much more educational than other franchise books that seem to be more focused on selling their product.
September 15, 2015
This was a cute story, but seemed a little heavy and wordy for my four-year-old. Lots of explanation of concepts that I found interesting, but I'm not sure she got as much out of it - though she did love the dolphin finding the lost necklace at the end.
August 9, 2017
I guess George has evolved. This book was far more educational than funny. I miss the George that gets into trouble all the time.
December 1, 2018
This book introduces children to the biology of dolphins and the scientific concept behind tides.
January 1, 2020
Informative, but a higher vocabulary than the older ones
May 11, 2022
5/11/22 Read with Julia and Andres
December 2, 2018
“Curious George Chasing Waves” written in narrative perspective. The setting of this story takes place at a beach. The character types would be George and Marco as the protagonist because they are the main characters, although this story doesn’t really have an antagonist because no one is really villainous. The man in the yellow hat and professor Wiseman would be minor supporting characters because even without them the story would have been able to make sense. The plot of this story was simple, the man takes George and Marco to the beach, Marco and George are playing on the beach and decide to bury Marcos necklace as “treasure” when they try to dig up the treasure the necklace is missing but George knows how they can get it back, in the end everyone was happy. The conflict of this story was that George and Marco dug up the treasure they buried to find that the necklace was missing but with the information they learned from the man in the yellow hat George was able to find a solution and in the end found they got the necklace back. The Theme of this story was friendship. George and Marco are getting to know each other the whole book and they are playing together on the beach, the author ends the book with this line “ Now George and Marco had one more treasure: a new friend.” This validated my theory of friendship being the theme. I think the writer has done a good job of creating a literary work that appeals to children. In this particular story I think they could have elaborated a little better as to how the story flows but other than that I think it was short and to the point which is good for keeping children focused however some of it felt a little too educational and over explained where the children's minds might wonder elsewhere.
November 11, 2016
This is one out of many Curious George stories. This one is about his trip to the ocean. He finds all these shells, and animals, and discovers how the waves change with the moon. He berries something in the sand but when the tide comes in he discovers he can no longer find it. He then learns how the tides work.
I love this series of books I think it is a good way of teaching children in a fun way. I would keep this in my library because it would help children understand the ocean. I think it would also be fun to have children who are going to the beach read. Curious George books are over all a great way to better explain things to children. It would be fun to read and then have the kids answer questions about their trips to the beach and just discuss the different animals and things we see at the beach.
I love this series of books I think it is a good way of teaching children in a fun way. I would keep this in my library because it would help children understand the ocean. I think it would also be fun to have children who are going to the beach read. Curious George books are over all a great way to better explain things to children. It would be fun to read and then have the kids answer questions about their trips to the beach and just discuss the different animals and things we see at the beach.
June 6, 2014
Basic Plot: George travels to the beach, plays with a dolphin, and learns about the tide.
Trying to explain a concept like the tide to a small child is nigh impossible. This book sort of does it. At least, it gives some decent examples of what happens when it comes in and out, and those concrete actions really help. That said, there isn't much of a story to this particular George book, making it a bit lackluster.
Trying to explain a concept like the tide to a small child is nigh impossible. This book sort of does it. At least, it gives some decent examples of what happens when it comes in and out, and those concrete actions really help. That said, there isn't much of a story to this particular George book, making it a bit lackluster.
February 18, 2017
George doesn't know anything about the beach but he soon learns fun and interesting facts about and at the beach. Things that the reader-listener learns along with George too.
January 9, 2017
Awful excuse for a Curious George book. Everything in this learning series is garbage
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews