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Quick answer: If you loved Curious George, try Curious George Takes a Job, Curious George Rides a Bike, The Cat in the Hat, Olivia, No, David! and Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Each one is a fun picture book about a curious, mischievous hero whose adventures always lead to trouble and laughs.
H.A. and Margret Rey's 1941 picture book introduces George, a curious little monkey brought from Africa to the big city by the Man with the Yellow Hat. George can't help exploring, and his curiosity lands him in trouble with phones, fire engines, balloons and more, though he always ends up safe. The Reys famously escaped Paris by bicycle in 1940 with the manuscript. These books share its mischief and its fun.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curious George Takes a Job | H.A. Rey | 3-7 | readers who want more George |
| Curious George Rides a Bike | H.A. Rey | 3-7 | readers who like George's antics |
| The Cat in the Hat | Dr. Seuss | 3-7 | readers who like mischief |
| Olivia | Ian Falconer | 3-7 | readers who like energetic heroes |
| No, David! | David Shannon | 3-6 | readers who like naughty kids |
| Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes | Eric Litwin | 3-6 | readers who like cool cats |
| Paddington | Michael Bond | 6-9 | readers who like accident-prone animals |
| Tacky the Penguin | Helen Lester | 3-7 | readers who like odd heroes |
| Max and Ruby | Rosemary Wells | 3-6 | readers who like siblings |
| Clifford the Big Red Dog | Norman Bridwell | 3-6 | readers who like big pets |
| Arthur's Nose | Marc Brown | 4-7 | readers who like Arthur |
| If You Give a Mouse a Cookie | Laura Numeroff | 3-6 | readers who like chain reactions |
| Bad Kitty | Nick Bruel | 6-9 | readers who like naughty pets |
| Fancy Nancy | Jane O'Connor | 4-8 | readers who like flair |
| Spot | Eric Hill | 1-4 | toddlers |
1. Curious George Takes a Job by H.A. Rey
George's adventures in the city.
Best for: readers who want more George.
2. Curious George Rides a Bike by H.A. Rey
George delivers newspapers on a bike.
Best for: readers who like George's antics.
3. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
A cat turns a rainy day upside down.
Best for: readers who like mischief.
4. Olivia by Ian Falconer
A pig who wears everyone out.
Best for: readers who like energetic heroes.
5. No, David! by David Shannon
A boy is always in trouble.
Best for: readers who like naughty kids.
6. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin
A cat's shoes change color.
Best for: readers who like cool cats.
7. Paddington by Michael Bond
A bear in London.
Best for: readers who like accident-prone animals.
8. Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
An odd penguin saves his friends.
Best for: readers who like odd heroes.
9. Max and Ruby by Rosemary Wells
Bunny siblings' adventures.
Best for: readers who like siblings.
10. Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
A girl's huge red dog.
Best for: readers who like big pets.
11. Arthur's Nose by Marc Brown
Arthur worries about his nose.
Best for: readers who like Arthur.
12. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
A mouse wants more and more.
Best for: readers who like chain reactions.
13. Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel
A kitty throws tantrums.
Best for: readers who like naughty pets.
14. Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor
A girl loves everything fancy.
Best for: readers who like flair.
15. Spot by Eric Hill
Lift-the-flap books with a puppy.
Best for: toddlers.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Curious George: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Curious George. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
Continue with more Curious George books. For more mischief, The Cat in the Hat and No, David! are favorites. If your child likes chain reactions, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is perfect. Paddington is great for slightly older readers who like accident-prone heroes.
Related: No, David! by David Shannon: Summary and Key Takeaways · If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Curious George about?
A curious monkey's mischief gets him into trouble in the city.
Who wrote Curious George?
H.A. Rey and Margret Rey.
How did the Reys escape Paris?
They fled on bicycles in 1940, carrying the manuscript.
What age is it for?
It suits children about 3 to 7.
Who is the Man with the Yellow Hat?
George's friend and caretaker.
Is there a TV show?
Yes. A PBS animated series began in 2006.
What should my child read next?
Curious George Rides a Bike.