By Diana Bierman
What’s similar about a mischievous monkey and a Jewish couple fleeing Paris under the threat of a Nazi invasion? Everything.
Picture this scene: You are five years old, and Mommy is reading Curious George Goes to the Hospital to you. You are transported into the world of a curious monkey who swallows a puzzle piece, is admitted to a hospital, and meets Betsy, a noticeably sad girl. In an attempt to make her laugh, George puts on a puppet show, dances on a record player, and rolls around in a wheelchair. When the chair rolls down a ramp and crashes into meal carts, George is flung smack into the arms of the city’s mayor. By causing mischief, George manages to “save the day” by simply causing sick Betsy to laugh.
Now, picture this scene: A Jewish couple, Margret and Hans Augusto Rey (H.A. Rey), is fleeing Paris on bicycles to escape the imminent Nazi invasion. At a border crossing, an intense inspection of their belongings reveals a potential manuscript with sketches of a monkey. The Reys were questioned about their accents, but when the sketches are found and explained that they were going to go into children’s books, they are allowed to proceed and continue to safety. Just as George had saved the day for Betsy, George had saved the day for the Reys.
Bet you had no idea that your favorite childhood star was symbolic to a terrifying Nazi incursion. Interested in more information about this impish monkey? Then you’d better get to 1109 5th Avenue at 92nd street by August 1st. This limited time special exhibit in the Jewish Museum offers visitors an extremely rare opportunity to gain insight into just how Curious George was created. This exhibit reveals more than eighty original drawings and preliminary dummies of Curious George that have never been on display before. Some of the earlier works that are presented are drawings and watercolors for Raffy and the 9 Monkeys (Curious George was named Fifi here, before publishers noted this was not the best name for a male monkey), Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World (A penguin who seeks new adventures) and Fifi: The Adventures of a Monkey (which was later printed as an initial start to the Curious George series).
There is also a chance to read journals that Hans kept in relation to their hazardous journey to freedom from the Nazis, as well as photography and images of illustrations created by Margret. In addition to this, technology has allowed for an interactive timeline to visually demonstrate even more about the Reys’ life pre-Nazi occupation. Still want more? An interview with the couple is available for your listening pleasure.
The Jewish Museum has elevated George to star status by dedicating an entire reading room inspired by the monkey’s adventures in Curious George Flies a Kite. So select your favorite Curious George paperback, and get ready to experience the zany adventures of this beloved monkey.
Since George has been around for almost sixty years, spanning more than two generations, a visit to the Curious George exhibit at the Jewish Museum will awaken feelings of nostalgia for most people. Whether the visit is a family outing, a class trip, a special date, or just a curious visit by yourself, a day of educational fun will be had by people of all ages. It’s definitely worth your while as adults are only $12, seniors are $10, students are $7.50, and children are free! Not under 12 and broke? Don’t fret; Saturday’s are free for everybody. The museum is open everyday with the exception of Wednesdays from 11:00 AM – 5:45 PM, and extended to 8:00 PM on Thursdays. So grab hold of your (yellow) hats everybody, and explore; it’s okay to be curious.
