'Monkey See, Monkey Learn: The Curious World of Curious George'

Hans and Margaret Rey’s Curious George series is one of the most beloved and successful picture-book series of all time. The texts’ enduring power stems partly from the timeless beauty of Hans Rey’s illustrations, and partly from the (cautious) celebration of the title character’s curiosity, and, by extension, the celebration of childhood innocence. This talk will frame the Curious George series in the larger context of mid-twentieth century children’s picture books, and also, in the context of the Reys’ remarkable success story as Jewish refugees and immigrants who went on to live the American dream.

This lecture coincides with the theatre show Curious George: The Golden Meatball, on stage from July 25–August 2, 2026.

Themed Cocktail: Cheeky Monkey
Lecturer: Marc Napolitano, Assistant Professor of English, United States Air Force Academy
Tickets: $24 ($18 for FAC Members), includes your first drink

About Libation Lectures
Libation Lectures is a lecture series offering an educational twist to the traditional happy hour. Each lecture explores an aspect of the amazing art and artists from various FAC exhibitions and theatre shows, served up with a themed drink to help you really dive deep into the topic!

This lecture is part of the Libation Lectures Spring Series, which includes four lectures:

Rebels, Rascals, and Geniuses: The Characters of the Broadmoor Art Academy, Friday, March 13
Monkey See, Monkey Learn: The Curious World of Curious George, Friday, March 27
Food Forests: Turn Your Yard into an Edible Willy Wonka Wonderland, Friday, April 10
You Oughta Know: Alanis Morissette & the Women Who Rocked, Friday, May 8, 2025

This calendar listing is brought to you by Peak Radar, the Pikes Peak region's one-stop, online website for arts and entertainment events, powered by the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region.