They are most definitely a departure for the Curious George books of old. The new soft cover books are extremely colorful - very bold and bright primary colors - with images directly from an episode. The writing is stronger, more action verbs and less repetitiveness about George's curiosity. The books don't open with the standard lines: "This is George. He lived with his friend, the man with the yellow hat. He was a good little monkey ...." Instead , they move right into the plot.
Today, we read Curious George Up, Up, and Away
and I was immediately drawn in by the writing which was clear and moved the action along at a pleasing pace. The pictures from the show were well chosen; they accompanied the text perfectly. I loved the bold hues of the images, and how the text was separated at the bottom of the page. I also appreciated the activities at the back of the book.
and I was immediately drawn in by the writing which was clear and moved the action along at a pleasing pace. The pictures from the show were well chosen; they accompanied the text perfectly. I loved the bold hues of the images, and how the text was separated at the bottom of the page. I also appreciated the activities at the back of the book.
My daughter was less enthused, however.
She much prefers some of the Curious George books from over the last couple of decades (not the original books). She likes the standard opening, and will request Curious George's Dinosaur Discovery
or Curious George and the Firefighters
. She loves to hear about George's antics, and she's not interested in the abbreviated new books where the action is constant. She'd rather linger at the dinosaur dig or at the firehouse.
or Curious George and the Firefighters. She loves to hear about George's antics, and she's not interested in the abbreviated new books where the action is constant. She'd rather linger at the dinosaur dig or at the firehouse.
Just by looking at these two images, you can tell how different the contents are.
Reading these books is a good reminder that as adults we bring something, perhaps just opinions, but a different perspective to children's picture books. That's why I suspect that some of today's best sellers are a little too sarcastic, a little too sophisticated for kids. But it's the parents doing the buying. In the end, I'm going to go with the books that she constantly requests. And as much as I like the new Curious George books, the preponderance of our Curious George book purchases will be the older books. (I'd like to devote another post later as to the quality of the older set which I find to be of uneven quality.)
Reading these books is a good reminder that as adults we bring something, perhaps just opinions, but a different perspective to children's picture books. That's why I suspect that some of today's best sellers are a little too sarcastic, a little too sophisticated for kids. But it's the parents doing the buying. In the end, I'm going to go with the books that she constantly requests. And as much as I like the new Curious George books, the preponderance of our Curious George book purchases will be the older books. (I'd like to devote another post later as to the quality of the older set which I find to be of uneven quality.)
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