I was reading the original Curious George book to my kids last night.

It’s not too bad.

And really, in a kid’s book that you’re going to wind up reading several dozens of times, not too bad is a HUGE victory. (May God cast his darkest cloud of vengeance down upon “Barbie’s Fairytopia,” btw.)

So I was reading Curious George, which was originally published in 1941. Given its age, you would naturally expect a few quirks.

Like when I came to the page where George and the Man With the Yellow Hat were relaxing at home and george has a “nice meal” and then . . . smokes a “nice pipe” before bed.

I have to admit I was a bit shocked to see smoking in a children’s book.

And then I realized that I’ve been reading far too many animal books to my kids because I never once formed the thought that perhaps it was even stranger that it was A SMOKING MONKEY.

As for how it all ended, and what mischief that silly little monkey might get into next, I guess you’re just going to have to read it and find out for yourself.