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The Donut Delivery
Curious George adds a few extra zeroes to his donut order and doesn’t realize just how big his delivery problem is going to become. This paperback picture book explores the concepts of zero and counting by tens.
24 pages, Paperback
First published January 22, 2007
4 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
H.A. Rey
585 books213 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 17, 2013
We love Curious George in this house, and the more we read him, the more we realize there just doesn't seem to be any bad Curious George books out there. Around a level 2 reading level, it's a cute story about George learning his numbers. A small but beneficial educational lesson for kids. It's one of our favorites.
June 6, 2025
This was a cute quick read that vaguely introduces you to the power of Zeros. I wouldn’t use this as a learning tool, just because it doesn’t really show the quantities of numbers, but just that adding zeros to numbers can make a difference. I wish we got more of a story behind what George and the man did with the donuts. I felt the ending was a “quick write something because I don’t know to wrap it up” sort of ending… could have expanded the book much further!
December 22, 2014
This is not a book. It is a commercial. For donuts. You have been warned. Now, where is nearest donut shop? Do they deliver?
I have to change this. My daughter heard my complaint about this book and told me, "mom, that book isn't about donuts. It's about numbers that add up to zero."
For what it's worth, I don't remember reading anything about numbers. I just remember the donuts.
I have to change this. My daughter heard my complaint about this book and told me, "mom, that book isn't about donuts. It's about numbers that add up to zero."
For what it's worth, I don't remember reading anything about numbers. I just remember the donuts.
December 28, 2016
This book is almost carbon of the television show on PBS of the same title. So it doesn't give children much to think about and enjoy. But some like to have their books just like the show they are used to....
In this story George learns about the number 0 and how alone it means nothing but if you put it in front of another number it means a HUGE number.
In this story George learns about the number 0 and how alone it means nothing but if you put it in front of another number it means a HUGE number.
September 21, 2018
Five stars because I love doughnuts.
October 6, 2021
It’s all about the food as a kid
August 1, 2022
T got a sense of what "zero" and "dozen" mean.
February 4, 2023
Kait and Maddie really got into doing the math in this book and learning how many makes up 1, 10, and 100 dozen doughnuts.
January 10, 2021
H A Rey's greatest creation has at last become least thanks to PBS and its commitment to subjugate children with its B moralistic worldview, using, yes, Rey's classic monkey Curious George as their bait. This book was adapted from the PBS Curious George TV show, minus the permission of the late HA Rey. So expect George to be an aping of the ape he once was. In this one, CG learns from Mr Yellow Hat about the number zero, and how alone it means nothing but put it after a number like 1 and it adds bulk to that number like 1 becomes 10, 10 plus another zero is 100 etc. But CG is not focussed or interested in this lesson. He'd rather enjoy that every zero looks like a donut, his favourite snack. So Yellow Hat sends CG to the store for donuts. Only with George on his own, anything that can get effed up, will. CG checks hg is shopping list and decides to apply what he's learned about the zero, and adds it to the 1, and another zero, making 1 into 100. And oh yes, he can't read still, so he can't figure out the word DOZEN. So the list actually reads (ready for this?) 100 DOZEN DONUTS! Now how the hell is that monkey gonna eat 1200 donuts? The answer: share it with the hard-working firefighter team....when neighborhood kids are more deserving of donuts than those who fight fires because they get paid. And how did fire rescue people get involved? Because PBS policy, in conjunction with special interest groups, have made the shit possible. No matter: George is still our monkey boy, and that should be enough.
Three stars
George is makin the DONUTS!!!!
Three stars
George is makin the DONUTS!!!!
April 5, 2013
Basic Plot: Curious George learns about zeroes and their big impact on little numbers.
I think this is my son's favorite Curious George book. I also think this is because the story involves George ending up with 100 dozen donuts that he then tries to hide in his apartment. The math lesson of the story is good, and there is some silly fun in there, but I can't bring myself to rank these TV-show-based George books any higher than a 3. They just aren't the originals. The art is clear and bright, but the stories get so watered down that they aren't nearly as effective or funny as the episodes they are based on.
I think this is my son's favorite Curious George book. I also think this is because the story involves George ending up with 100 dozen donuts that he then tries to hide in his apartment. The math lesson of the story is good, and there is some silly fun in there, but I can't bring myself to rank these TV-show-based George books any higher than a 3. They just aren't the originals. The art is clear and bright, but the stories get so watered down that they aren't nearly as effective or funny as the episodes they are based on.
February 8, 2015
Curious George sets off on an adventure with his friend In the yellow hat and is given a note to take to the donut shop to buy one dozen but he decides to add a few zeroes to list and a delivery of 100 dozen are dropped off at his house. Can George hide all of the extra donuts before the man in the yellow hat returns? Read on to find out. Zoe and I enjoyed reading this book together today.
March 13, 2010
My authors block is Margret Rey's Curious George books. I am doing a unit plan in my math methods class using Curious George books. All five of these books are being transformed into lessons for k-2nd grade students to connect a favorit charactor into the classroom.
March 14, 2013
Never give a monkey as shopping list....
May 26, 2013
I just really enjoy doughnuts
March 19, 2016
06/06: One of our favorite "Curious George" stories.
January 2, 2019
A quick lesson on the power of zeroes after ones, featuring doughnuts!
September 14, 2009
I liked the educational activities in the back of the book.
June 16, 2011
Cute illustrations and a great one to teach about the number "0".
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews