Hans Augusto Rey (1898–1977) was a German-born American author and illustrator, best known for his Curious George series of children's picture books that he created with his wife, Margret Rey. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, and studied philology and natural science at the University of Hamburg. He and Margret moved to Paris in the 1930s, where he wrote and illustrated children's books. The Reys escaped to the United States in 1940, bringing the manuscript for Curious George with them.