Cecily G. and the 9 Monkeys (Curious George) [Hardcover]

H. A. Rey (Author), Margret Rey (Author), Louise W. Borden (Afterword)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Curious George

“There is originality and a childlike humor in both the amusing antics and engaging pictures.” —Booklist Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys was the first book to feature Curious George, as well as being Hans and Margret Rey’s first book for children. In this initial effort, about a lonely giraffe befriended by George and his eight siblings, we see all the hallmarks of Curious George’s signature style: humor, adventure, playfulness, and the episodic storytelling that later characterized classic George set pieces like the flyaway balloons, the rocket ship, and the bunny escape.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"There is originality and a childlike humor in both the amusing antics and engaging pictures." (Booklist )

About the Author

The Reys were born in Hamburg, Germany. Hans Augusto Rey (1898-1977) met his wife-to-be, Margret (1906-1996), at a party in her father's home in Germany; when he first caught a glimpse of her, she was sliding down the banister. In their twenties and thirties they lived in Paris and in Rio de Janeiro, where Hans sold bathtubs in villages along the Amazon River. Eventually Cambridge, Massachusetts, became the Reys' home and community. Throughout their lives the Reys created many lively books together, including SPOTTY, PRETZEL, and lift-the-flap books such as HOW DO YOU GET THERE? The manuscript of 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. Their incorrigible little monkey has become an American icon, selling millions of books and capturing the hearts of readers everywhere. 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.

Louise Borden is the highly regarded author of many books, including Good Luck, Mrs. K!, Sleds on Boston Common, Good-bye, Charles Lindbergh and The Little Ships: The Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk in WW II--all published by Margaret McElderry Books. Across the Blue Pacific is based on the true story of her uncle, Theodore Taylor Walker, who served aboard the USS Albacore (SS-218) during World War II. She lives with her husband, Pete, in Terrace Park, Ohio, and has three grown children. Her website can be found at www.louiseborden.com.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: HMH Books; None edition (September 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618800662
• ISBN-13: 978-0618800667
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #765,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The first introduction of Curious George, August 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys (Hardcover)

This book has charming illustrations of Curious George and his siblings. It's actually the first book George ever appeared in. I think it can be enjoyed simply for that, keeping in mind it was written in simpler times before childrens' books were analyzed for political correctness. A previous review slashed this book saying the monkeys were cruel to the giraffe....I've never seen it that way, nor have the kids who I've read it to. See for yourself. If you're a fan of Curious George you'll enjoy seeing his debut.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Can Curious George Go Back to the Jungle???, July 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys (Hardcover)

Cecily loves her new family of monkey children and tries to make them as happy as she can. It's fun seeing how happy Curious George was before he was kidnapped by the man with the yellow hat and carted off from the jungle to New York. He had a wonderful large family, of which he was a beloved member. When I read this to my second grade class, they were upset that he had been taken from them. I reminded them that anyone of them can write the book that takes George home again. And that's what's great about imagination! I like this book quite a bit, even though the giraffe is a bit too accomodating about what she will allow the monkey to do. But what they think up, and what she does, are very imaginative and warm.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars George's Debut, March 20, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys (Hardcover)

At first, I thought George was on his own. I had no idea at all George lived with a girraffe and 8 monkeys. Eventhough it says it's made in 1942, it was really written in Europe in 1939. If you wanna see George's family again, I'm writing a book called Curious George and Johnny. I got this book at Waldenbooks in the Sunvalley Mall, as part of a huge H.A. Rey treasury. It was so cool when they used Cecily as a boat,bridge,mountain,eeter totter and harp. There was only one problem: I could not tell which monkey's which. They all look eactly the same. The main reason I like this book is because George was in it. And one more thing, my dad suggested the reason George wasn't with his family at the beginning of Curious George, is because he wanted to take a day off and do something out of this world.