Merry Christmas, Curious George

Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat set out to buy a Christmas tree, but thanks to his trademark curiosity George ends up crashing the pediatric ward of a local hospital and bringing holiday cheer to the sick children there.

Cathy Hapka's tale fits with George but feels a bit blander than the stuff the Reys usually turned out. At least Mary O'Keefe Young is able to ape (hee hee) Rey's art style quite well -- including the odd way he drew trucks -- and that was always the best part of Curious George books anyhow.

My daughter didn't find it interesting when she was six, and eighteen years later she's more inclined to wonder how dire are the illnesses that keep the children hospitalized at Christmas.

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Rated show more “Indifferent" in our old book database by Rod and Adelia. show less

Books featuring Curious George always make me smile, and this one is no exception. I first read this one some years ago in a bookstore, but I borrowed the e-book from the library this year. This is a book that was not written by the book's creators but by someone who came along many years later writing in the same style. Hapka has done a good job capturing the spirit of the character of Curious George as created by the Reys. In this installment, George climbs in a tree which is cut down and soon finds himself in a hospital. He is up to his usual antics until the man with the yellow hat comes to his rescue.

"Merry Christmas Curious George" by H.A. Rey is a wonderful book for children! The book is about a monkey named George, and he is always curious about all sorts of things. His friend, known as the man in the yellow hat, always finds George in these odd situations as a result of George being curious. In this particular book, Curious George is in a tree farm for Christmas. He ends up going from tree to tree, the curiosity getting to him. Eventually, he sees this one really big tree and decides to climb it, the problem is that someone had already bought that tree, and they cut it down and put it in the back of their truck while George was still in the tree. The tree gets taken to a children's hospital, so obviously that's where George ends show more up, causing some mischief by accident until the man in the yellow hat finds him. I think that this book is a great way to show children that it is ok to be curious, but that if you're too curious, or curious in the wrong situations, then that can lead to trouble or things that shouldn't happen. Overall, the book is pretty good, and so is the series! show less

A very sweet Curious George story that, despite not being written or illustrated by the Reys, is pretty well done. Especially the art. It's mostly the great art that makes me love it, because it brings up so much nostalgia in me.

I mean, the story itself isn't the best George normally has to offer. But he's cute and sweet and fun-loving and, of course, curious. And really, what more do you need from Curious George?

This book is a great example of a witty fantasy that will be sure to capture young reader's attention. As a personified monkey is enthralled by his first experience hunting for a Christmas tree, he mistakenly heads to the local hospital. However, he builds relationships with the children currently admitted in the hospital, and they celebrate Christmas together.

Age Appropriateness: Primary

Media: Watercolor

Another classic story of curious George and how his curiosity gets him into trouble. He gets hauled away to a hospital. And at the hospital, he creates all kinds of trouble - even though he thinks he is helping out. All of the kids bail him out because they think he is funny.

The pictures go right along with the story - showing every little thing this monkey can do. There is even one page with six different events depicted in the story. Most of the pictures are beautiful double page layouts - where the action springs from one side to the next.

It’s Christmastime! And irrepressible, excitable Curious George has just the spirit for it.