monkey business game from imagine learning

Margret, who was far less warm and fuzzy, but no less accomplished, is remembered for her feistiness, her devotion to Hans, and her savvy. A loving, guileless genius, Hans opened his arms to the children of Waterville and those children, now well into adulthood, have wondrous memories of him. There, Curious George became their 'son.' Filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki's research, interviews with the Reys' longtime Waterville, New Hampshire, neighbors, and lots of footage of Hans and Margret themselves celebrates the couple, their courage, and their uniqueness. Having fled from the scourge of Nazism, the devoted husband and wife, who had no children of their own, ultimately made their way to the United States. Both born into affluent Jewish families in Germany and having lived an adventurous young adulthood that took them to France, Brazil, and back again to Paris, Hans and Margret made a desperate escape on bicycles to safety in early 1940. Hans and Margret Rey are the subjects of MONKEY BUSINESS: THE ADVENTURES OF CURIOUS GEORGE'S CREATORS. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.

For middle grades and up, the film is recommended for family viewing and should provide ample opportunity for discussion of a critical historical era, as well as a celebration of two unique people whose life journey left an indelible mark on children's literature. Much of the actual footage focuses on the exodus of citizens from the city.

Still, expect some shots of bombs falling, the aftermath of battles, and Hitler leading his followers. There are no frightening or graphic scenes, no atrocities shown or referenced. In spite of the horrors of European wartime and occupation, the film can serve as a manageable introduction to the rise of Nazism and onset of World War II. Making the story even more accessible, charming animation by artist Jacob Kafka is superimposed on the newsreel film, so that young audiences see Hans and Margret as cartoon heroes amid the crowds. The Reys' true tale is handled in a gentle, positive way. Their grand creation - Curious George - is a curious, funny little monkey who has graced the pages of storybooks and delighted children for more than half a century. Parents need to know that Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George's Creators is a documentary that uses interviews, archival footage, and animation to tell the story of Hans and Margret Rey, German artists who escaped the Nazi occupation of Paris in 1940.

Monkey business game from imagine learning