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Curious George Pat-A-Cake
Play pat-a-cake with George! A board book and puppet in one. With this new take on the classic pat-a-cake rhyming game, George can pat out rhymes about the baker's man, the postman, the ice cream man, and, of course, the yellow hat man! Colorful illustrations, bouncy rhyme, and a cuddly puppet make this a perfect interactive choice for play time and story time.
8 pages, Board Book
First published September 12, 2011
About the author
H.A. Rey
589 books201 followersHans Augusto Rey was born on September 16, 1898, in Hamburg, Germany. He grew up there near the world-famous Hagenbeck Zoo, and developed a lifelong love for animals and drawing. Margarete Elisabeth Waldstein (who would be known to most of the world as Margret Rey) was also born in Hamburg on May 16, 1906. The two met briefly when Margret was a young girl, before she left Hamburg to study art. They were reunited in 1935 in Rio de Janeiro, where Hans was selling bathtubs as part of a family business and Margret was escaping the political climate in Germany. Margret convinced Hans to leave the family business, and soon they were working together on a variety of projects.
Hans and Margret were married in Brazil on August 16, 1935, and they moved to Paris after falling in love with the city during their European honeymoon. It was there that Hans published his first children’s book, after a French publisher saw his newspaper cartoons of a giraffe and asked him to expand upon them. Raffy and the Nine Monkeys (Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys in the British and American editions) was the result, and it marked the debut of a mischievous monkey named Curious George.
After Raffy and the Nine Monkeys was published, the Reys decided that Curious George deserved a book of his own, so they began work on a manuscript that featured the lovable and exceedingly curious little monkey. But the late 1930s and early ’40s were a tumultuous time in Europe, and before the new manuscript could be published, the Reys—both German Jews—found themselves in a horrible situation. Hitler and his Nazi party were tearing through Europe, and they were poised to take control of Paris.
Knowing that they must escape before the Nazis took power, Hans cobbled together two bicycles out of spare parts. Early in the morning of June 14, 1940, the Reys set off on their bicycles. They brought very little with them on their predawn flight — only warm coats, a bit of food, and five manuscripts, one of which was Curious George. The Nazis entered Paris just hours later, but the Reys were already on their way out. They rode their makeshift bicycles for four long days until reaching the French-Spanish border, where they sold them for train fare to Lisbon. From there they made their way to Brazil and on to New York City, beginning a whole new life as children’s book authors.
Curious George was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941, and for sixty years these books have been capturing the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. All the Curious George books, including the seven original stories by Margret and Hans, have sold more than twenty-five million copies. So popular that his original story has never been out of print, George has become one of the most beloved and recognizable characters in children’s literature. His adventures have been translated into many languages, including Japanese, French, Afrikaans, Portuguese, Swedish, German, Chinese, Danish, and Norwegian.
Although both of the Reys have passed away — Hans in 1977 and Margret in 1996—George lives on in the Curious George Foundation. Established in 1989, this foundation funds programs for children that share Curious George’s irresistible qualities—ingenuity, opportunity, determination, and curiosity in learning and exploring. Much consideration is given to programs that benefit animals, through preservation as well as the prevention of cruelty to animals. The foundation supports community outreach programs that emphasize the importance of family, from counseling to peer support groups.
Hans and Margret were married in Brazil on August 16, 1935, and they moved to Paris after falling in love with the city during their European honeymoon. It was there that Hans published his first children’s book, after a French publisher saw his newspaper cartoons of a giraffe and asked him to expand upon them. Raffy and the Nine Monkeys (Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys in the British and American editions) was the result, and it marked the debut of a mischievous monkey named Curious George.
After Raffy and the Nine Monkeys was published, the Reys decided that Curious George deserved a book of his own, so they began work on a manuscript that featured the lovable and exceedingly curious little monkey. But the late 1930s and early ’40s were a tumultuous time in Europe, and before the new manuscript could be published, the Reys—both German Jews—found themselves in a horrible situation. Hitler and his Nazi party were tearing through Europe, and they were poised to take control of Paris.
Knowing that they must escape before the Nazis took power, Hans cobbled together two bicycles out of spare parts. Early in the morning of June 14, 1940, the Reys set off on their bicycles. They brought very little with them on their predawn flight — only warm coats, a bit of food, and five manuscripts, one of which was Curious George. The Nazis entered Paris just hours later, but the Reys were already on their way out. They rode their makeshift bicycles for four long days until reaching the French-Spanish border, where they sold them for train fare to Lisbon. From there they made their way to Brazil and on to New York City, beginning a whole new life as children’s book authors.
Curious George was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941, and for sixty years these books have been capturing the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. All the Curious George books, including the seven original stories by Margret and Hans, have sold more than twenty-five million copies. So popular that his original story has never been out of print, George has become one of the most beloved and recognizable characters in children’s literature. His adventures have been translated into many languages, including Japanese, French, Afrikaans, Portuguese, Swedish, German, Chinese, Danish, and Norwegian.
Although both of the Reys have passed away — Hans in 1977 and Margret in 1996—George lives on in the Curious George Foundation. Established in 1989, this foundation funds programs for children that share Curious George’s irresistible qualities—ingenuity, opportunity, determination, and curiosity in learning and exploring. Much consideration is given to programs that benefit animals, through preservation as well as the prevention of cruelty to animals. The foundation supports community outreach programs that emphasize the importance of family, from counseling to peer support groups.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 4, 2017
Needed a quick smile - this book delivered. Great book (with a puppet) for small children.
March 7, 2014
The 1-year-old's current favorite, and the 3-year-old has loved it for two years too. Basically a board book with a puppet in the middle that one of your hands goes in, and you can make George move and act out the rhymes. They especially love the "hug me and squeeze me and hold my hand" page. Best $10 ever spent.
February 2, 2015
Cute... if your a toddler at least..!
January 16, 2016
Got this for J's first birthday, and he loved it!
October 6, 2014
Henry loves this puppet book!
October 6, 2016
Eowyn really likes to play and mouth George.
January 15, 2019
Very basic and short by great if you like George and the puppet is neat.
May 11, 2016
We received this as a gift from a family member after Brookyn was born. It's a cute book with several versus from Pat-A-Cake. I always enjoyed that song when I was a kid so it's fun to sing it to my daughter.
The book also comes with a puppet George attached in the middle so on each page you can put your fingers in and have George play pat-a-cake with you and your child. It's one of my daughters favorite books --- I think because of the puppet.
The book also comes with a puppet George attached in the middle so on each page you can put your fingers in and have George play pat-a-cake with you and your child. It's one of my daughters favorite books --- I think because of the puppet.
May 24, 2014
My boys were a bit too old for this one, but it was interactive and they love Curious George; so they still really enjoyed it.
May 8, 2021
I learned the words to Pat-a-cake, something that I feel was a real gap in my cultural knowledge.
The three additional verses I could take or leave and the man in the yellow hat is a creep but I'm still happy I have a new skill.
The three additional verses I could take or leave and the man in the yellow hat is a creep but I'm still happy I have a new skill.
September 21, 2017
my 4 year old loves this book.
August 2, 2018
I just love monkeys! And it’s so cool how Curious George can hold my hands!! I wish I could clap!
June 11, 2020
Another cute book. My son loved it so much he wanted to chew on it after I read it to him.
October 2, 2020
Delightful and interactive. Young kids love it.
September 4, 2021
Super cute book
July 13, 2024
My kids loved this puppet book! They loved when I had George give them hugs and kisses afterward. Cute book to read with the kids and to gift.
February 20, 2017
most notably a puppet book. the rhymes beyond the simple pat-a-cake seem awkward to me. only a few pages long
January 10, 2021
This book has four different rhymes leading up to a friend's (the Man with the Yellow Hat) birthday.
The rhymes are fun, the illustrations are sweet, and of course the puppet is a huge hit. My daughter has loved this book since she was only a few months old. As a one-year-old, she literally squeals with delight when we read it.
The rhymes are fun, the illustrations are sweet, and of course the puppet is a huge hit. My daughter has loved this book since she was only a few months old. As a one-year-old, she literally squeals with delight when we read it.
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June 2, 2012Nik loves this book. He saw it at the store when we went to get him cough medicine and was inconsolable when I couldn't get it for him, so his Nana got it for him. I'd say it's his new favorite for the moment.
August 26, 2016
Given by Unkie Bear and purchased from the Curious George Bookstore in Harvard Square
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2016
I read this silly book too my baby sister, she liked it :D
December 29, 2016
Zak loves to be the puppet monkey george!
January 2, 2017
5 stars for the puppet, 3 stars for the story, and 2 stars for the illustrations. But the puppet seems made nicely enough to withstand toddlers.
July 1, 2024
Cute but very interesting
April 11, 2017
Such a fun finger puppet book!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews