Hans Augusto Rey

WHEN George, the impetuous storybook monkey famous for his curiosity, finally reaches the big screen this week, there will be few outward signs that his journey into theaters has been, perhaps, his most challenging saga. In the short, simply drawn tales that have introduced him to children for 65 years, Curious George has traveled from Africa to an American zoo, gone up in a spaceship, even signed a movie contract and played himself in a biopic.

WHEN George, the impetuous storybook monkey famous for his curiosity, finally reaches the big screen this week, there will be few outward signs that his journey into theaters has been, perhaps, his most challenging saga. In the short, simply drawn tales that have introduced him to children for 65 years, Curious George has traveled from Africa to an American zoo, gone up in a spaceship, even signed a movie contract and played himself in a biopic.

Margret Rey, the co-creator of the mischievous monkey "Curious George," said Friday she celebrated her 90th birthday by donating $2 million to a Boston library and hospital. Rey and her late husband, Hans Augusto Rey, created the popular children's book character and his nameless friend, the man with the yellow hat, in the 1930s. The pair first appeared in America in 1941 and the books have since been translated into at least a dozen languages, she said in a telephone interview.

Alan J. Shalleck, who collaborated with the co-creator of "Curious George" to bring the mischievous monkey to television and publish a series of book sequels, was found dead outside his home Tuesday, and police were treating the death as a possible homicide. A maintenance man found the bloodied body of Shalleck, 76, covered in garbage bags in the driveway of his mobile home. Police said it had been there for at least a day. Police spokeswoman Sgt.

There's something delightfully simian about so many humans. Yet it is unacceptable to eyeball Uncle Lou or Baby Bob or one's spouse and comment: "You look like a monkey to me." Egos would be bruised. If, however, a particular monkey is specified--Curious George--the remark might be taken as endearment. For the past 60 years, Curious George has been the cutest, sweetest, most inquisitive and adventurous primate in children's literature. Notice, we did not say smart.