Curious George (PBS Kids)

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. 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 -- such as how a clock works or what makes a boat stay afloat -- which often turn into humorous misadventures. Episodes often 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. 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.

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. The show's scripts are smart 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.