H.A and Margret Rey, Creators of Curious George.

 Hans Augusto Reyersbach, or H. A. Rey, and his wife Margret Rey were a creative and adventurous couple whose journey to Paris and subsequent escape from Europe during World War II played a crucial role in creating the beloved character Curious George.

Hans and Margret were born in Hamburg, Germany, in the early 1900s. They shared a deep love for art, literature, and travel from an early age. Hans was a talented artist, while Margret had a flair for storytelling. Their shared passion for creativity and exploration led them to cross paths, and in the late 1920s, they fell in love and married.

As young Jewish individuals in Germany, they faced increasing persecution and anti-Semitic sentiment with the rise of the Nazi regime. In 1935, the Reys made a significant decision to leave their homeland and embarked on a journey that would take them to various European cities before eventually leading them to Paris. They chose Paris for its vibrant artistic community and relative safety, as it was still a haven for many intellectuals and artists fleeing Nazi oppression.

In the artistic milieu of Paris, Hans's talent for drawing animals caught the attention of a French publisher, who saw the potential for his creative skills in children's literature. This opportunity led to the creation of their first collaborative project, "Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys." Within this book, they introduced the mischievous character Curious George, a playful monkey.

However, their creative endeavors faced a significant interruption with the outbreak of World War II. Being Jews, the Reys were acutely aware of the impending danger. In a race against time, as the Nazi threat loomed, they left Paris just hours before the city fell to the invaders. Hans hastily assembled two bicycles, and with their meager possessions, including the invaluable illustrated manuscript of Curious George, they embarked on a perilous journey.

Their odyssey took them to Bayonne, France, where they were fortunate to obtain life-saving visas signed by Portuguese Vice-Consul Manuel Vieira Braga, following the courageous instructions of Aristides de Sousa Mendes. This enabled them to cross into Spain and purchase train tickets to Lisbon. From there, they retraced their steps to Brazil, a country where they had first met five years earlier.

Ultimately, their journey led them to New York City, where the manuscript for the first Curious George book was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941. Initially, the Reys had intended to use watercolor illustrations, but due to the practicalities of color separation, they opted for the now-iconic cartoon-like images.

Curious George quickly captured the hearts of readers and became an instant success. The Reys were commissioned to write more adventures for the inquisitive monkey and his friend, the Man in the Yellow Hat. Hans primarily focused on the illustrations throughout their creative journey, while Margret contributed to the storytelling. Although Margret's name was initially omitted from the book covers, it was later rectified in subsequent editions, giving her the credit she deserved for her integral role in developing the stories.

Their dedication and creative collaboration brought joy to countless children and served as a testament to their resilience and determination in the face of adversity. After Hans's passing in 1977, Margret cherished their legacy and contributions to children's literature.

In the 1990s, friends of the Reys established a children's bookstore named Curious George & Friends (formerly Curious George Goes to Wordsworth) in Harvard Square, which operated until 2011. Subsequently, in 2012, "The World's Only Curious George Store" opened, offering a delightful haven for fans of the curious little monkey and his enduring adventures.