Curious George – The Morals of the Story

Rating: 4 out of 4 stars
Writer:  H. A. Rey

Curious George Plot Summary In A Sentence:               

A man brings a curious monkey out of the jungle and into “civilization,” and the monkey and the man explore the new worlds and consequences created from those decisions.

The Morals of the Story:                                               

Curiosity comes from a desire to find answers to questions and a want to learn.

It is not inherently bad to be curious.  It is natural and normal to be curious.

Our sense of curiosity often supports our sense of playfulness.

Unmitigated and unexperienced actions to answer our curiosities can sometimes lead us into danger.

Young people (and young animals) can’t be expected to remember and follow all the warnings and instructions they have been given.  They will make mistakes in exploration of their curiosities.

Sometimes when you try to do things beyond your aptitudes, you will fall, and others will be needed to rescue you.  (Curious George trying to fly like a bird)

Don’t punish your children (or charges) for being curious.  Reward and shape their curiosities.

Humorous Highlights:                                                 

When you are taken away from your home, community, and country by a strange man in a yellow hat, sometimes the best thing you can do is make friends and explore your curiosities.

If you give a monkey a pipe, he will smoke it.

If you give a monkey a phone, the odds are he will dial the fire department.

Monkeys and bright balloons = a high flying good time.

Clichés and Assumptions The Story Challenged:         

Children have an evil nature and want to get into trouble.

Curiosity killed the cat.

You should punish people for exploring their curiosities.

A Question For You Is:                                               

What other moral, humorous, or innovative ideas did you find in this story?

Curious George on Wikipedia 

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