H.A. ReyAUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR

PRESENTATIONLAE3414

BY: KAYLA CADENA

Hans Augusto• Born in Hamburg, Germany in 1898

• Grew up near the famous Hagenbeck Zoo

• Developed a love for animals and drawing

• Met Margret in 1935• They got married in Brazil that August

• In 1936 the two moved to Paris to

begin writing children’s literature

• Their first book was published in 1939,

“Ruffy and the Nine Monkeys” (better

known in the US as “Cecily G. and

the Nine Monkeys”)

H.A. and his wife, Margret

The Birth of Curious George• The Rey’s decided that George deserved his own

book• Thus, they immediately began working on the manuscript

• Trouble began when World War II started • Hitler aimed to take control of Paris

• Both H.A. and Margret were German Jews

• They knew Paris was not safe, they had to leave

• In 1940 H.A. reconstructed two bicycles out of spare parts and with them he and Margret fled Paris

• They headed to their predawn flight out of Paris carrying only coats, a little food, and a few manuscripts including “Curious George”

• They had escaped….or had they?

A New Life Full of Books

• The Rey’s moved to New York

• They published “Curious George” in 1941

• Many books were publish after “Curious George” including a series for the beloved little monkey

• H.A. passed away in 1977

H.A.’s Style• H.A. and Margret wrote

many books• Some just by him, some by her,

and some together

• Ideas, they said, came from “anywhere” including each other

• H.A.’s illustrations were originally done with watercolors

• However to keep printing costs low publishers made illustrators create pre-separated artwork (meaning H.A. had to create the same drawing for every ink color used to make one picture)

The Curious George Website

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/cgsite/index.shtml

H.A.’s Read Aloud

Ways to Apply this Information in the Classroom

• Use the Curious George Website to help kids learn/study math, reading, and other essential skills with fun activities and games

• Give parent(s)/guardian(s) a copy of Curious George’s Literacy Tips Sheet

• Teach kids the importance of Authors and Illustrators

• Have students research an Author/Illustrator

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/cgsite/games.shtml

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/cgsite/storyhourpdfs/curiousreader.pdf

Sources• http://www.houghtonmifflinboo

ks.com/features/cgsite/history.shtml

• http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/jungchiu/ReyHA.html

• http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1640030/bio

• http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/h-a-rey