1947
WISE Score
Amazon
A monkey with zero work experience lands more jobs in one day than most people do in a decade. Chaos, paint, and window suds included.
4.5
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Curious George is the OG of 'toddler energy'—he means well, but he’s a walking disaster. This 1947 classic holds up surprisingly well because kids still find the idea of a monkey painting a room or washing a window hilarious.
It’s not 'brain rot' and it’s not boring. It’s just a solid, well-constructed story that has survived 80 years for a reason. If you can get past the slightly colonialist 'Man in the Yellow Hat' vibes, it’s a staple for any kid's bookshelf.
Ideal for the 3 to 7 crowd. Toddlers will dig the pictures while 1st and 2nd graders can actually tackle the text themselves without getting frustrated.
It’s a gentle, classic story about curiosity. George isn't being mean; he’s just a monkey who doesn't understand how windows or paint work. The pacing is perfect for a bedtime wind-down.
George’s attempts to navigate the human world of work are genuinely creative. Seeing a monkey try to be a window washer or a painter sparks a lot of 'what if' thinking in kids.
Extremely safe. No violence or scary stuff. The only 'danger' is the outdated 1940s premise of a monkey being snatched from the jungle and kept in a zoo, which is a conversation for later.
Great for early literacy and introducing the concept of different jobs. It subtly teaches that curiosity is good, but you have to deal with the mess you make.
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