Curious George - TV-Y
TV Rating: TV-Y
Network: PBS Kids Cast: William H. Macy, Frank Welker
Genre: Children, Cartoons, & Animation
Available on: 
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Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that George's curiosity is contagious and will probably encourage preschoolers to explore their surrounding in similar ways, which is great. But it also means that little ones need to be cautioned about certain things George does that may actually be dangerous in real life (even though they're treated with humor in the show). A little parental guidance should steer them in the right direction.
Families can talk about each of George's adventures. What did he explore or discover? What was the result? Did his curiosity get him into trouble in this episode? If so, how did he solve his problem? What did George learn? What did you learn that you didn't know before? What do you think would happen to George in the real world?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Larisa Wiseman
Based on the classic children's books by Margret and H.A. Rey and narrated by William H. Macy, the animated series CURIOUS GEORGE follows the adventures of the world's most famous monkey, who's notorious for an insatiable curiosity that almost invariably gets him into trouble.
Witty and clever, the series more than does justice to the beloved books, as George's infectious enthusiasm for exploring the world around him not only amuses tots but also introduces them to math, science, and engineering concepts.
With the help and guidance of his best friend and mentor, The Man in the Yellow Hat, and other pals such as Chef Pisghetti, Hundley the dachsund, Gnocchi the cat, Jumpy the squirrel, Professor Wiseman (who runs the Science Museum) and a teenager named Bill, George (voiced by Frank Welker) sets out each day to discover new things. Everything fascinates him, and most of his friends are willing participants in his adventures -- which often turn into humorous misadventures. (For example, on a very windy day, his curiosity about how a kite works leads him to fly away attached to the kite's string.)
But some episodes also show George cleverly and systematically solving a problem or mystery; when Chef Pisghetti suspects Gnocchi of scratching up the restaurant seats, George sets about proving Gnocchi's innocence by comparing the length and depth of Gnocchi's scratches on the door to those of the scratches on the seats. In other episodes, the clever little monkey may figure out how something works (a clock) or learn about physics (what makes a boat stay afloat?).
Each animated segment is followed by a live-action segment that features real kids exploring an aspect of the story -- such as making and flying a kite (following George's fly-away kite adventure) or visiting a discovery museum to find out how certain devices or machines work.
The show's scripts are witty and engaging, with the supporting characters providing plenty of humor and many clever twists in the storylines. The animation is sharp and colorful, but classic in the sense that it stays true to the art in the books -- which should please fans. Preschoolers will love following Curious George on his entertaining adventures and learning about the world around them.
Connie the Cow and Miffy and Friends are two other preschooler programs that teach science and math concepts and feature characters who delight in exploring their surroundings. For more George, check out the feature film.
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