Curious George's pipe-smoking adventures
Ryan's Curious George-themed party made me remember how I've beeen wanting to write a bit about our own adventures in the sometimes off-color world of Curious George.
Isaac went through about 6 months where he was psycho for Curious George books, and he still likes them very much, though now his rabid book love has been transferred to Mike Mulligan. I was happy to indulge his George phase because those books were so easy to find at the library -- the librarian even stacks them on a special shelf at knee-level so little fans can pick through them themselves -- and because what few books we can't get at the library only cost $4 pop.
I think Isaac enjoys the obvious insanity of George doing all kinds of things Isaac (and George) knows George shouldn't ... although a few of the things George shouldn't do, he REALLY shouldn't do, if you get my drift. Now, there are, like, literally 50 George books, and almost all of them are really great fun and funny. The Captain Insano situations are almost entirely sequestered to the original handful of books written by H.A. Rey and his wife, Margret, in the 50s and 60s, and are written with that era's audience in mind.
One example -- in the very first book, the Man in the Yellow Hat blatantly kidnaps George from the jungle, for the apparent purpose of taking him to a zoo back in the states. While at the Man's house, George smokes a pipe as part of his bedtime routine.
Another example, in "Curious George Gets a Medal", George accidentally demolishes an exhibit of dinosaurs at the science museum. The museum director tells his seeming-henchmen to take George "back to the zoo", that is, until the director learns that this troublemaker is the one and only George. Then he asks George to go on a mission to space on an untested teeny rocket built by the museum scientists. If George would agree, you know, to risk his life, then "all would be forgiven".
A crime-free-'50s George moment can be found in "Curious George Rides a Bike". George rides his bike into a rock and wrecks the front wheel, forcing him to pop a permanent wheelie. Two dudes in a truck in crazy green suits see him, stop him, and lure him into their truck with promises that his bike-riding trick will be the highlight of their animal show. Look, here's a green cap just for you! they say. This potential monkey-napping scene is offset, however, by the coolness of the illustrated, step-by-step instructions on how to make your own boat (that floats!) out of newspaper.
Perhaps my favorite super-naughty George moment is in "Curious George Goes to the Hospital", which is quite possibly the most perfect cautionary tale ever. George thinks a puzzle piece is candy and swallows it, making him sick enough to necessitate a hospital visit. While at the hospital, he sees a big, strange blue bottle full of some mysterious liquid and goes over to take a big whiff. Poor George, it's ether (ETHER!), and he PASSES OUT and has to be awakened by a cold shower. Note to Curious Preschooler: Don't put strange things in your mouth. Also, huffing is bad.
Again, I don't really mean to pick on George -- I just think it's a funny how certain topics that you would never find in picture books today (huffing ether!) find a permanent place on Isaac's bookshelf because it's that crazy George, getting into Greatest-Generation-style trouble, UH-gain. Sigh. If only my greatest worry was my kids' friendly bedtime smoke...
Isaac went through about 6 months where he was psycho for Curious George books, and he still likes them very much, though now his rabid book love has been transferred to Mike Mulligan. I was happy to indulge his George phase because those books were so easy to find at the library -- the librarian even stacks them on a special shelf at knee-level so little fans can pick through them themselves -- and because what few books we can't get at the library only cost $4 pop.
I think Isaac enjoys the obvious insanity of George doing all kinds of things Isaac (and George) knows George shouldn't ... although a few of the things George shouldn't do, he REALLY shouldn't do, if you get my drift. Now, there are, like, literally 50 George books, and almost all of them are really great fun and funny. The Captain Insano situations are almost entirely sequestered to the original handful of books written by H.A. Rey and his wife, Margret, in the 50s and 60s, and are written with that era's audience in mind.
One example -- in the very first book, the Man in the Yellow Hat blatantly kidnaps George from the jungle, for the apparent purpose of taking him to a zoo back in the states. While at the Man's house, George smokes a pipe as part of his bedtime routine.
Another example, in "Curious George Gets a Medal", George accidentally demolishes an exhibit of dinosaurs at the science museum. The museum director tells his seeming-henchmen to take George "back to the zoo", that is, until the director learns that this troublemaker is the one and only George. Then he asks George to go on a mission to space on an untested teeny rocket built by the museum scientists. If George would agree, you know, to risk his life, then "all would be forgiven".
A crime-free-'50s George moment can be found in "Curious George Rides a Bike". George rides his bike into a rock and wrecks the front wheel, forcing him to pop a permanent wheelie. Two dudes in a truck in crazy green suits see him, stop him, and lure him into their truck with promises that his bike-riding trick will be the highlight of their animal show. Look, here's a green cap just for you! they say. This potential monkey-napping scene is offset, however, by the coolness of the illustrated, step-by-step instructions on how to make your own boat (that floats!) out of newspaper.
Perhaps my favorite super-naughty George moment is in "Curious George Goes to the Hospital", which is quite possibly the most perfect cautionary tale ever. George thinks a puzzle piece is candy and swallows it, making him sick enough to necessitate a hospital visit. While at the hospital, he sees a big, strange blue bottle full of some mysterious liquid and goes over to take a big whiff. Poor George, it's ether (ETHER!), and he PASSES OUT and has to be awakened by a cold shower. Note to Curious Preschooler: Don't put strange things in your mouth. Also, huffing is bad.
Again, I don't really mean to pick on George -- I just think it's a funny how certain topics that you would never find in picture books today (huffing ether!) find a permanent place on Isaac's bookshelf because it's that crazy George, getting into Greatest-Generation-style trouble, UH-gain. Sigh. If only my greatest worry was my kids' friendly bedtime smoke...
posted by Claire at 10:40 PM
1 Comments:
Most of my Goerge experience has been with the more modern books, so I've always loved him. My Mother-in-law not so much and I saw why when she and Ryan brought home the original book about the zoo. She tried to gently guide him away from it, but he really wanted it. You're right- It was HORRIBLE! We read about the puzzle piece and the hospital one time, but I don't remember ether. I remember thinking how much more I like the evolved Goerge that is friends with the man in the yellow hat. I wondered how they justified the ending with him in the zoo and then him having all those adventures with the lovable man in the yellow hat.
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