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Rating: 
Summary: Best of the bunch, material's getting dated
Review: I remember this book fondly from my own childhood and was happy to get a new copy for my own son. He loves it, of course, but I am sorry to admit that there are a lot better kids books out there than the George series. This one's the best in that it stays with a topic through the whole book. Gen-X parents should realize that this book was written in 1966 and the material is extremely dated, for instance no doctor makes house calls, no one has a cup of barium before an xray anymore, and certainly the xray machines don't look like big laser guns anymore. These images may frighten more than they instruct. Beware of getting book club editions of this book, such as from the Scholastic book clubs at school, which are not printed in full color.
Rating: 
Summary: My Opinion About This Book
Review: I was worried that the book would be censored, but it is as I remember it. My favorite part is when that silly little monkey gets tanked on the Ether. Ain't medicine grand?
Rating:
Summary: Some plot holes, but pretty good
Review: I'm not sure who is at fault, George for swallowing the puzzle piece, or his friend in the yellow hat for giving George the puzzle piece (monkeys are curious, especially George, and regard most things as a potential food source...the result could have been called inevitable, although George seems to be smarter than most monkeys in some regards - he has been employed, worked with rocketry and can count to ten), still, though a bit contrived the accident is merely a vehicle to get the story underway, the crux of which is George's visit to the hospital. I found this story compelling with a strong central character - George's adventures are more about the journey than the destination, and as always, it's great fun tagging along as he encounters the basic trials and tribulations of life, faces them, and overcomes them. I liked his brush with our health care system even better than his foray into corporate America, but the plucky monkey handles himself with aplomb no matter what circumstance he finds himself in. One wonders a bit why George really did eat the puzzle piece in the first place - if he's smart enough to get work you could presume he knows the difference between a puzzle piece and a viable food source, but this small matter didn't distract from my enjoyment of the piece. Oh, the kids liked it too - highly recommended for kids of all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Great book on the hospital-a few exaggerated details
Review: Poor Curious George! His friend, the man with the yellow hat, has bought him a jigsaw puzzle. But when the accident-prone monkey swallows a piece of the puzzle, he must go to the hospital to get the situation remedied. That's the set-up for "Curious George Goes to the Hospital," by Margret and H.A. Rey. Like the other volumes in the series, the book is enhanced by engaging artwork and a loveable hero. The book could also be used to help decrease children's fears of hospitals. If the book has a flaw, it's that George continues to engage in disobedient, (unintentionally) destructive, and dangerous antics. And these antics (unlike his swallowing of the puzzle piece) often have no serious consequences. So parents might want to stress to younger readers that all of George's shenanigans are not necessarily fit to be imitated. Nevertheless, "Curious George Goes to the Hospital" is a delightful book. Adults will appreciate some of the clever details and sight gags that enliven the artwork. And of course, what child can resist George? He's a classic character who has stood the test of time.
Rating:
Summary: Great book on the hospital-a few exaggerated details
Review: This was one of my favorite books as a youngster. I received it as a hand-me-down from somebody whose kid got it as a gift from the hospital. However, some details in this book are either exaggerated from reality or outdated, for instance today's floor puzzles are usually made of cardboard as opposed to wood so would probably disintegrate into tiny pieces in the stomach without requiring a trip to the hospital. And as far as I've studied, people still have barium(well, it's actually barium sulfate)before an x-ray of the digestive tract. And as far as I know, the x-ray machines have NEVER looked like laser guns. Almost everyone knows they look like cameras or picture frames. But the part when George mistakes the record player for a merry-go-round certainly has an outdated detail because records are not common anymore. I wonder if some of the procedures in this book were based on tonsil removal.
Just don't purposely imitate George's antics.
Rating:
Summary: This book reminded me of my own situation
Review: When I was four, I ended up in the hospital for playing with medicine and when I looked at this book asked, "Mom, was this like what happened to me?" and she answered yes. Eventually I compared my situation to Curious George's and found many differences, for instance I didn't go to the doctor, I didn't stay overnight, and I had an EKG, not an x-ray. This book may be great to read to a child before or after they've been in the hospital!
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