Why I Love Curious George

First let me say that it is a good thing I do love Curious George as it is a very popular show in our house. This entertaining and educational show is on both in the morning and evening on PBS.

Let's start with the whole concept. The "Man with the Yellow Hat" (how funny is it that we don't know this guy's name?) goes to Africa and finds a monkey that he eventually decides would make a good child-like pet. He "adopts" an eternal toddler. Most parents would agree this is a brave move. Seriously, this guy has a real job in a museum, no wife or girlfriend, and yet he saddles himself with a primate who has a talent for destruction and mischief. Not only does "The Man" have the patience of Job, modeling for us parents of human toddlers unending patience and understanding, he is also fun to watch. He has extremely expressive eye brows, which remind me both of my brother and his cartoon creation - Mr. Amaze-O. http://www.thewebcomiclist.com/p/2361/mr-amazeo-the-magician

The music on the show is great. It begins with the best (imho) theme on PBS (just as cool as the "Monk" theme). During the show it reminds me of the kind of music that must run through a small child's head as they joyfully navigate a room full of toys; a cross between circus music and the jaunty melodies they used to play in the supermarket when I was a child.

Every show contains lessons in math and science introduced in such a way that young children actually pay attention and want to model long after the show is over. Parents are given real ways to help kids learn counting, measuring, magnetic force, etc. Not only do parents learn how to demonstrate these concepts, we also learn to think like a toddler who is exploring. It can become clear that what looks like a kid misbehaving is actually a child learning "what happens if I......"

The Man says, "George, be a good little monkey", then gives his pal every opportunity for trouble. Some might say that he is asking for trouble by leaving that monkey alone, but I think it is important to note that despite the "trouble" that George gets into, he IS always a good little monkey.