Margret Waldstein Rey

author · illustrator

b. 16 May 1906, Hamburg, Germany^[1] d. 21 December 1996^[1] active 1935–1996

Margret Waldstein Rey (born Margarete Elisabeth Waldstein) was a German-born author and illustrator who co-created the character Curious George. Born in Hamburg in 1906, she studied at Bauhaus and worked as an advertising copywriter before moving to Brazil in 1935 to meet Hans Reyersbach. They married and settled in Paris, where they began their career in children's literature. While Hans provided many of the illustrations, Margret was primarily responsible for writing the text of their books. After fleeing Nazi-occupied France in 1940, they settled in New York City and published several successful titles. She managed the Curious George merchandising enterprise following her husband's death in 1977.^[1]

• children's literature
• advertising
• illustration