Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is hoping that a month-long activity challenge led by its famous character, Curious George, will nourish kids’ creativity from home during a challenging time. Throughout the month of April, the Curious George Challenge is guiding children and families through a series of home activities, from planting an herb garden to taking a virtual tour of a museum.
The idea for the challenge was planned long before the new coronavirus hit, and arose out of conversations at HMH about creating a children’s-themed set of activities based around doing acts of kindness and being curious about the world. That led to the choice of Curious George to lead readers through a series of creative activities. “We wanted Curious George to encourage children to be adventurous and spark curiosity through a month-long Curiosity Challenge,” HMH said in a statement to PW.
As it became clear that the coronavirus would have an impact on the learning and lives of readers, HMH adjusted some aspects of the challenge to ensure that it adheres to social distancing norms. The initiative can be found on a dedicated website and is also being promoted by HMH on social media. With the month already underway, readers can find earlier activities on a themed calendar as well as new ones each day. The site also includes a reading list for children to further explore the challenges they take up each day. At the end of the month, they can print a Curiosity Award for completion.
