Humboldt and area children on spring break got a special visitor to the Reid-Thompson Public Library on Feb. 17.
The Man in the Yellow Hat, played by Vance Hill, brought along his loveable, yet curious monkey, George, played by Emily Engele, to read the very first Curious George book, which turns 75 this year.
Writer, Hans Augusto Rey and, illustrator, Margret Rey, fled France in 1940 before Nazi occupation on a homemade bicycle, carrying their manuscript for Curious George.
Seventy-five years later, the popularity of the books, and evidently the television shows and movies, is still going strong.
Reid-Thompson Librarian, Rose Ward, laughs that the reason it is so popular is that people enjoy a mischievous monkey.
“And the man in the yellow hat gives some kind of mystery to the characters in the book.”
Ward noted the three generations in the room that grew up with the mischievous monkey, saying that the children that were read Curious George by their parents are now reading it to their children.
To get Curious George to come out and see the children, the children had to yell out, ‘Curious George, always curious.’
Hill then read the Curious George book as Engele acted out George’s curious nature page by page.
Engele bounded around the back of the library from her wooden box; which acted as everything from her tree, to the ship railing, to her prison bed, to the open sea when George falls overboard.
Hill and Engele took time in their drama class at Humboldt Collegiate to learn their parts.
“You have to get really comfortable with your surroundings because it’s really awkward to try and be a monkey,” says Engele.
The Man in the Yellow Hat was travelling through Africa when he found the little monkey, who seemed like a nice little monkey, said the Man in the Yellow Hat.
“So I brought him back to the big city with me.”
Of course, George’s curiosity does get him into a little bit of trouble.
“He likes to go to libraries and everywhere in the city and have a little bit of trouble.”
“Ooh ooh ah ah,” replied George.
Even with his adventures, it is good to let him explore the world, says the Man in the Yellow Hat.
“Ooh ooh ah ah,” replied George.
George’s curiosity is something that is good for children, says Ward.
“It shows that they using their imagination, they’re learning, they’re trying out new things.”
