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Curious George Board Books
Curious George and the Bunny
Inspired by a vignette in the classic Curious George Flies a Kite , this is a sweet story of hide-and-seek.
24 pages, Board Book
First published January 1, 1958
About the author
H.A. Rey
598 books223 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 - 30 of 52 reviews
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September 28, 2025We're so proud of you for reading "Curious George and the Bunny"! What a wonderful story about kindness to animals. Just like George learned, sometimes loving something means letting it be free and happy where it belongs. You discovered that caring for others - even little bunnies - sometimes means making hard choices that are best for them, not just what we want. This shows you have a big, caring heart! You can use this idea when you see animals outside or when friends need space. Keep reading, our little scholar!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2023
In Curious George and the Bunny, George stumbles upon a bunny hutch and proceeds to take out a baby bunny and---Wait a minute, this looks familiar . . . Yep, this is just a repackaging of the first act of Curious George Flies a Kite. Recycled art with some changes to the text, but now in board book form!
Low effort money grab. Hard pass.
Low effort money grab. Hard pass.
September 19, 2018
George is curious about bunnies and let's one out of the cage so he can pet it. When he opens the gate the bunny runs away. he tries to look for the baby bunny but her can't find it anywhere.
George gets the idea to get the mama bunny to find the baby bunny. He let's her out and they find the baby.
George gets the idea to get the mama bunny to find the baby bunny. He let's her out and they find the baby.
May 6, 2019
Another classic Curious George book. I'm glad George was a little more responsible this time around though. His mischievous acts and curiosity really make me nervous whenever I read what he's about to do or what's on his mind, but he's entertaining as always.
Reading Level:
LEXILE - 490L
ATOS - 2.5
Traits:
Voice
Reading Level:
LEXILE - 490L
ATOS - 2.5
Traits:
Voice
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September 28, 2022I don't normally write reviews about books that I read to my toddler BUT I had to for this one...
Has anyone else picked up on the fact that George invites the baby bunny to play hide and seek and then cheats because the bunny is hiding too well and gets the Mother bunny to help?
I can't stop thinking about this every time I read it (and we read it a lot!).
Has anyone else picked up on the fact that George invites the baby bunny to play hide and seek and then cheats because the bunny is hiding too well and gets the Mother bunny to help?
I can't stop thinking about this every time I read it (and we read it a lot!).
November 15, 2024
Jack borrowed this book from the Oxford Public Library. I picked it because he loves his Curious George bedtime book.
While this book wasn’t as big of a hit as that one, Jack still enjoyed it. He loved the bunnies … and made barking noises for them for some reason, until I told him to say hop instead. And he made the monkey noises for George. A really cute, wholesome little book.
While this book wasn’t as big of a hit as that one, Jack still enjoyed it. He loved the bunnies … and made barking noises for them for some reason, until I told him to say hop instead. And he made the monkey noises for George. A really cute, wholesome little book.
October 14, 2018
Read this to my 5 month old daughter today. She was very interested in the pictures and it was a very cute story. Would be a great story to teach toddlers not to take baby animals away from their mothers.
March 20, 2019
In his curiosity, George lets a baby rabbit out of its hutch. Then he feels bad because it is away from its mom. How can George solve the problem?
This was a shorter book than most curious George books, intended for a toddler audience.
This was a shorter book than most curious George books, intended for a toddler audience.
June 1, 2018
Curious george did some pretty messed up things. He did pretty much everything wrong. now he had some bunny. he ATE a BUNNY!!!!
February 16, 2019
Both of my kids have forced me to read this book 3,248 times...luckily it’s a good one!
March 7, 2019
I loved hearing the story of Curious George and the Bunny. I can't wait to see what happens to the Bunny. Is it time? We can learn what to do if we see a bunny rabbit.
November 17, 2019
My niece loves this book.
November 26, 2019
One of our favorite Curious george
April 26, 2020
Shorter Curious George story, and it was great, once again.
May 19, 2020
George is playing hide and seek with a bunny. Bunny is hiding too hard. George knows that mother bunny can help find baby bunny and they both make if home safe and sound.
June 13, 2021
This is a very simple story and I liked how it showed that sometimes good intentions create problems but you can solve them with help.
August 13, 2021
Super great book
December 14, 2021
Lucas’ favorite as of late. Cute little story ❤️
September 14, 2022
Perfect book for introducing little ones to Curious George.
August 6, 2024
Loves monkeys and curious George and bunnies right now.
January 12, 2025
Have the sudden craving for roasted rabbit
January 14, 2025
9.5/10⭐️
May 14, 2025
Cute but not good bunny care in soooo many ways.
December 23, 2025
It was a short cute story about George playing with bunnies.
September 3, 2026
Just like the name of the title suggests, George is curious about meeting a bunny and you read what happens in this encounter.
March 21, 2022
A great curious George book for an Easter basket. Cute story about George, a baby bunny, and a Mama bunny.
April 4, 2016
My one-year-old daughter received this book as an Easter present from her grandma. She was interested in the first three pages or so, pointed excitedly at the bunnies and chattered a bit, then wandered off to cause chaos (which is generally what she does during story time lately). Her four-year-old brother was more interested in it and listened to the whole thing. He likes the George books in general and we've read a lot of them. Apparently this one has been pulled from "Curious George Flies a Kite," which we've read in the past, although I don't specifically remember this bunny bit. As a stand-alone story it's okay, although I've mentioned before that I much prefer the Curious George stories where George solves a problem by doing something only a monkey can do. In this case, he ties a string on the mother bunny and walks her until she finds her baby. No special monkey skills needed there.
ETA: L, at age 2, really enjoyed this book this Easter! (This isn't an Easter-specific book, of course, and doesn't even mention the holiday. But because we originally got it as an Easter present and because it's about bunnies, I keep it with our Easter books and bring it out only at Easter time)
ETA April 2022: F, almost 4, liked this book a lot this Easter and requested it several times.
ETA: L, at age 2, really enjoyed this book this Easter! (This isn't an Easter-specific book, of course, and doesn't even mention the holiday. But because we originally got it as an Easter present and because it's about bunnies, I keep it with our Easter books and bring it out only at Easter time)
ETA April 2022: F, almost 4, liked this book a lot this Easter and requested it several times.
April 25, 2009
Could there be a book more perfect for my 2 year old daughter? This one combines monkeys and bunnies, currently her two favorite animals. She wants to read it over and over and over. No, let me restate. In the three days we have had it, we have read it over and over and over. Fortunately, it stands up to rereading.
February 2, 2008
My daughter loves all the "George books" as we call them in our house. We always skip over the word "good" (when it says George is a good little monkey) because we don't like labeling words. I like that this story opens up for conversation about responsibility towards taking care of animals.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews