PBS Curious George Review

A Very Monkey Christmas If anyone knows how to tap into their inner child, it’s Curious George. What’s not to love about this little guy? No matter how young or old you are, the Man with the Yellow Hat and our inquisitive, infamous monkey remain popular and iconic to everyone. George is especially loved by children because he can get away with what every child wishes he could do, and this little guy never fails to have the most amazing adventures that even an adult would envy.

I’ve genuflected to the glory of PBS and their dedication to the development of the whole child for 40 years. Their newest program,“A Very Monkey Christmas” takes our favorite monkey friend and the Man with the Yellow Hat on yet another adventure, embracing the spirit and joy of the holidays. From tree trimming disasters, to the snow machine that wouldn’t stop, to the mystery of what to give one another for Christmas, this duo manages to embed a lot of fun loving small moments, until it concludes with the discovery of what is most important about Christmas – love and understanding.

We had a screening party and the children delighted in all of George’s antics. I kept wishing I could be George and have a magnificent adventure for myself. The story element that touched the teacher in me the most was communication. George and the Man with the Yellow Hat used pictures to tell a story and to effectively communicate their ideas. The Man With the Yellow Hat grew frustrated because he desperately wanted to decode George’s pictures to understand what he wanted for Christmas. Like George, children convey a lot of meaning through scribbling and drawings. As a teacher, one of my favorite conundrums is cracking the code of what children are truly trying to say.

I love PBS and all their endeavors to maintain the integrity of what is truly important in early childhood development. “A Very Monkey Christmas” not only celebrates the holidays with frivolity and fun, it also models through our favorite monkey how drawings can represent writing and communication for young children. Illustrations do tell a story and can convey even some rather complicated ideas. When The Man With the Yellow Hat finally understood George’s illustrations, I felt his success right along with him.

The early writing process is wonderfully illustrated in this holiday special, along with other important author’s messages. Hip Hip Hooray for PBS and “A Very Monkey Christmas.” Be sure to catch the special on PBS after November 25 and give your holiday the kick start it needs, while celebrating the writing process in the true spirit of Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat.