Both writers, Hans and Margret Rey married in Brazil on August 16, 1935.  During their European honeymoon, they fell in love with Paris and relocated there.  Hans published his first children's book after a French publisher saw his newspaper cartoons (Raffy and the Nine Monkeys) of a giraffe and asked him to expand upon them.  The result, a mischievous monkey named Curious George.

Hans felt that Curious George deserved a book of his own, so together the Reys 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 — only warm coats, a bit of food, and five manuscripts, one of which was Curious Geroge.  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.

George can do what kids can't do. He can paint a room from the inside. He can hang from a kite in the sky. He can let the animals out of their pens on the farm. He can do all these naughty things that kids would like to do.  Han's delightful illustrations and Margret's clear and precise turn of phrase may appear effortless, but that's only because they labored over each book to achieve that perfect look and tone.

Instead of relying on marketing surveys for book ideas, Hans and Margret Rey each looked to the child within.  I know what I liked as a child, Hans once said and I don't do any book that I, as a child, wouldn't have liked.

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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