Curious George Pinata Party (Curious George Early Reader Series) »

One of the most memorable and charismatic characters in children s literature, Curious George was the creation of the talented husband-and-wife team H. A. and Margret Rey, who fled Nazi Germany for America. Their lovable monkey (and his mischievous exploits) have entertained several generations of readers.

At a birthday party, Curious George discovers how hard it is to hit a pinata without being able to see. He sets out on a trek around the city with the help of Charkie, the dog, to explore using his other senses. When he returns to the party, George applies his heightened senses to make a direct hit at the pinata!

Activities include fun suggestions for exploring your senses and a five senses quiz.

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 studied philology and natural science at the University of Hamburg. He then 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 many languages, including French, German, Japanese, Afrikaans, and Norwegian. Additional Curious George books followed, as well as such other favorites as CECILY G. AND THE NINE MONKEYS and FIND THE CONSTELLATIONS.

Children's Literature

Curious George is having great fun at Betsy's birthday party where a new experience awaits him: a pinata. He knows from the smell that good things are inside, but how will he ever be able to hit it when he is blindfolded and unable to see it? His buddy Steve takes him on a sensory journey through the city where he learns to navigate using other senses, such as touch, smell, and sound. Unfortunately his antics are not zany enough to elicit a chuckle from the reader, but they are ill-advised enough to elicit a parent's disapproval—turning on a high-pressure fire hose by accident and running through a kitchen full of steaming hot food with his arms outstretched. At one point, he stops to pet a cat named Gnocchi, which most adults cannot properly pronounce, much less children learning to read. In the end, George uses his other senses to make contact with the elusive pinata, spilling candy everywhere and finally enjoying his fifth sense, taste. Bright, cartoonish illustrations may please viewers of the television series. Reviewer: Michele C. Hughes