What do you think?
Rate this book
Curious George New Adventures
Curious George Goes to the Dentist
.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
About the author
Margret Rey
254 books122 followersMargret Elizabeth Rey (May 16, 1906 – December 21, 1996), born Margarete Elisabeth Waldstein, was (with her husband H. A. Rey), the co-author and illustrator of children's books, best known for their Curious George
Although she was born in Germany, she fled to Brazil early in her life to escape Nazism. While there, she met her future husband Hans (who was a salesman and also from Germany). They married in 1935 and moved to Paris, France that same year.
While in Paris, Hans's animal drawings came to the attention of French publisher, who commissioned him to write a children's book. The result, Rafi and the Nine Monkeys, is little remembered today, but one of its characters, an adorably impish monkey named Curious George, was such a success that the couple considered writing a book just about him. Their work was interrupted with the outbreak of World War II. As Jews, the Reys decided to flee Paris before the Nazis seized the city. Hans built two bicycles, and they fled Paris just a few hours before it fell. Among the meager possessions they brought with them was the illustrated manuscript of Curious George.
The Reys' odyssey brought them to the Spanish border, where they bought train tickets to Lisbon. From there they returned to Brazil, where they had met five years earlier, but this time they continued to New York, New York. The books were published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941, though certain changes had to be introduced because of the technology of the time. Hans and Margret originally planned to use watercolors to illustrate the books, but since they were responsible for the color separation, he changed these to the cartoon-like images that continue to feature in each of the books. (A collector's edition with the original watercolors was recently released.)
Curious George was an instant success, and the Reys were commissioned to write more adventures of the mischievous monkey and his friend, the Man in the Yellow Hat. They wrote seven stories in all, with Hans mainly doing the illustrations and Margret working mostly on the stories, though they both admitted to sharing the work and cooperating fully in every stage of development. At first, however, Margret's name was left off the cover, ostensibly because there was a glut of women already writing children's fiction. In later editions, this was corrected, and Margret now receives full credit for her role in developing the stories.
Margret and her husband moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1963, in a house close to Harvard Square. Following her husband's death in 1977, Margret continued writing, and in 1979, became a Professor of Creative Writing at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Starting in 1980, she also began to collaborate with Alan Shalleck on a series of short films featuring Curious George and more than two dozen additional books.
In 1989 Margret Rey established the Curious George Foundation to help creative children and prevent cruelty to animals. In 1996, she made major donations to the Boston Public Library and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She was also a long-time supporter of the Longy School of Music. The Reys spent twenty summers in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, to enable H.A. Rey to better observe the stars for his astronomy writing. They became an integral part of the Waterville community and their legacy is honored by The Margret and H.A. Rey Center and the Curious George Cottage located there.
Dr. Lena Y. de Grummond, a professor in the field of library science (specializing in children's literature) at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss. contacted the Reys in 1966 about the university's new children's literature collection. H.A. and Margret made a donation of a pair of sketches at the time. In 1996, after Margret's death, it was revealed in her will that the entire literary estate of the Reys were to be donated to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at Southern Miss.
Although she was born in Germany, she fled to Brazil early in her life to escape Nazism. While there, she met her future husband Hans (who was a salesman and also from Germany). They married in 1935 and moved to Paris, France that same year.
While in Paris, Hans's animal drawings came to the attention of French publisher, who commissioned him to write a children's book. The result, Rafi and the Nine Monkeys, is little remembered today, but one of its characters, an adorably impish monkey named Curious George, was such a success that the couple considered writing a book just about him. Their work was interrupted with the outbreak of World War II. As Jews, the Reys decided to flee Paris before the Nazis seized the city. Hans built two bicycles, and they fled Paris just a few hours before it fell. Among the meager possessions they brought with them was the illustrated manuscript of Curious George.
The Reys' odyssey brought them to the Spanish border, where they bought train tickets to Lisbon. From there they returned to Brazil, where they had met five years earlier, but this time they continued to New York, New York. The books were published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941, though certain changes had to be introduced because of the technology of the time. Hans and Margret originally planned to use watercolors to illustrate the books, but since they were responsible for the color separation, he changed these to the cartoon-like images that continue to feature in each of the books. (A collector's edition with the original watercolors was recently released.)
Curious George was an instant success, and the Reys were commissioned to write more adventures of the mischievous monkey and his friend, the Man in the Yellow Hat. They wrote seven stories in all, with Hans mainly doing the illustrations and Margret working mostly on the stories, though they both admitted to sharing the work and cooperating fully in every stage of development. At first, however, Margret's name was left off the cover, ostensibly because there was a glut of women already writing children's fiction. In later editions, this was corrected, and Margret now receives full credit for her role in developing the stories.
Margret and her husband moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1963, in a house close to Harvard Square. Following her husband's death in 1977, Margret continued writing, and in 1979, became a Professor of Creative Writing at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Starting in 1980, she also began to collaborate with Alan Shalleck on a series of short films featuring Curious George and more than two dozen additional books.
In 1989 Margret Rey established the Curious George Foundation to help creative children and prevent cruelty to animals. In 1996, she made major donations to the Boston Public Library and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She was also a long-time supporter of the Longy School of Music. The Reys spent twenty summers in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, to enable H.A. Rey to better observe the stars for his astronomy writing. They became an integral part of the Waterville community and their legacy is honored by The Margret and H.A. Rey Center and the Curious George Cottage located there.
Dr. Lena Y. de Grummond, a professor in the field of library science (specializing in children's literature) at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss. contacted the Reys in 1966 about the university's new children's literature collection. H.A. and Margret made a donation of a pair of sketches at the time. In 1996, after Margret's death, it was revealed in her will that the entire literary estate of the Reys were to be donated to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at Southern Miss.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 15, 2024
As my grandson recently went to the dentist, this book has personal interest. Fortunately, he did not create quite so much excitement in the office as George did but according to my daughter, he also refused to open his mouth. 😖
Well, at least we are reading about going to the dentist, he is only three and his parents limit sweets, so all in due time. He was the one who chose the book, so at least he is thinking about it ... and he liked the idea of the tooth fairy! 😉😁
Well, at least we are reading about going to the dentist, he is only three and his parents limit sweets, so all in due time. He was the one who chose the book, so at least he is thinking about it ... and he liked the idea of the tooth fairy! 😉😁
August 11, 2020
that feeling when you know you're about to get your teeth done . .
May 25, 2025
When George bites into an apple his neighbor has on the table without her permission, it turns out to be a wax apple and one of his teeth hurts all the time afterward. He has to go to the dentist, but he's scared it will hurt. He runs around the dental clinic and causes trouble, but in the end he finds out that he just has a loose tooth: no cavities! He knows to brush his teeth twice every day!
It's weird to think that George is still a juvenile monkey. Already in the Reys' original books, he celebrated the third anniversary of the day the Man in the Yellow Hat abducted him from the jungle, and even there we didn't see him living with his mother.
Little literary merit, but it's a nice book to read your toddler/preschooler to validate their feelings when they need to go to the dentist.
It's weird to think that George is still a juvenile monkey. Already in the Reys' original books, he celebrated the third anniversary of the day the Man in the Yellow Hat abducted him from the jungle, and even there we didn't see him living with his mother.
Little literary merit, but it's a nice book to read your toddler/preschooler to validate their feelings when they need to go to the dentist.
May 27, 2022
Another joy of reading Curious George book that we were introducing the kids to the famous character. The illustrations in this book are so well down that they are colorful that it attracts kids to the pages. I love how they talk about how nervous the Dentist makes Curious George but also the other kids. That gives permission to kids everywhere that it's okay to be nervous. I also love how they introduce the steps of the dentist. I find the more familiar my kids are before a new experience the less they react inappropriate. I really enjoy this book and I can't wait to check out more Curious George books.
June 24, 2023
Here's the central problem of this book, all summarized in one neat paragraph:
The man (in the yellow hat) explained that the dentist was a doctor for teeth, but George didn't want anyone to touch his tooth. What if it hurt?
Knowing George, would you be surprised if at one point he were to run away? And then get into trouble???
It strikes me that the exhausted parents of toddlers might find it downright relaxing, learning about the incessant adventures of irrepressibly curious George. At least they don't have to take care of HIM, nor pay for the wreckage he leaves in his wake.
The man (in the yellow hat) explained that the dentist was a doctor for teeth, but George didn't want anyone to touch his tooth. What if it hurt?
Knowing George, would you be surprised if at one point he were to run away? And then get into trouble???
It strikes me that the exhausted parents of toddlers might find it downright relaxing, learning about the incessant adventures of irrepressibly curious George. At least they don't have to take care of HIM, nor pay for the wreckage he leaves in his wake.
October 1, 2025
We're so proud of you for reading about Curious George at the dentist! You learned something really important - that going to the dentist doesn't have to be scary, just like George discovered. Taking care of your teeth by brushing them every day keeps them strong and healthy. George was curious and brave, and so are you! Next time you visit the dentist, you can remember George's adventure and feel brave too. Great job reading, sweetie! We love you so much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2026
The best of the dentist books we got from the library. There's an actual cute story with a plot, and it's not just propping up the trip to the dentist. None of the others dealt with nerves or fear, and I liked that it was an adult, the man with the yellow hat, who had a cavity, not a kid. That said, it (like EVERY SINGLE dentist book I've read!) doesn't mention some of the more intimidating tools, like the xray machine or the spit sucker. No tooth cleaning, either.
January 26, 2019
Typical Curious George getting into trouble and everyone being amused at his antics. A simple story to combat the fear of going to the dentist. Although not all that much time is spent explaining what goes on at the dentist and what young children should expect.
March 1, 2024
I want to give this one 3 stars, but my daughter really did enjoy it. It was one of the books we picked up before her dental check up and when the time for her appointment came, she recalled lots of details from the book.
March 22, 2024
We’re Curious George fans. While George gets into his usual monkey hijinx while visiting the dentist with a loose tooth, the man in the yellow hat discovers he needs a filling.
Notably, this installment has no glaring red flags about the community that some other George tales do.
Notably, this installment has no glaring red flags about the community that some other George tales do.
March 5, 2018
Curious George goes to the dentist and helps little Melissa get over her fear of the dentist.
May 22, 2021
Curious George saves the day at the dentist.
May 16, 2023
An excellent resource for the unit we are studying, the children loved this book.
January 25, 2026
My parents are alwayyyyys talking about this Dr. Wang lady. She’s very concerned about me brushing twice a day, every day, and very thoroughly.
April 13, 2019
We love Curious George books!
February 2, 2015
Curious George is back with another adventure! George tried to eat an apple that isn't real and ends up with a wobbly tooth. He is nervous to visit the dentist for the first time but soon finds out there is nothing to be afraid of and that he learns about how to take care of his teeth better. Readers will enjoy George's entertaining antics and realize the dentist really isn't that scary after all!
March 17, 2016
"Curious George Visits the Dentist" - written by Monica Perez and published in 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The Curious George characters of H A and Margret Rey have been kept alive and included in new stories, of course with new illustrators and authors. This cute story incorporates the little monkey's curiosity, high spirits and tendency to get into trouble along with a quick lesson on dentists. An obvious attempt was made to include diversity.
July 25, 2016
That curious monkey has learned an important lesson, the hard way: Don't eat wax fruit. After biting into a non-apple George experiences pain in his teeth and has to visit the dentist; a scary place with shiny pokey things. Fans of this series will enjoy this necessary adventure with George and hopefully feel better about their own next trip to the dentist.
October 15, 2012
Classic silly little monkey!
Curious George accompanies his friend to the dentist's office and helps alleviate a girl's fear of the chair.
Subjects
Monkeys -- Fiction
Dental care -- Fiction.
Curious George accompanies his friend to the dentist's office and helps alleviate a girl's fear of the chair.
Subjects
Monkeys -- Fiction
Dental care -- Fiction.
July 2, 2014
This is a typical installment in the line of Curious George stories. George learns all about taking care of his teeth in this one, what the dentist is like, and what it means to have a loose tooth. Good to read to kids who are experiencing these things for the first time.
July 14, 2015
There is, of course, a formula to every Curious George book: George is curious. George causes trouble. The trouble always somehow works out to be a benefit. George is rewarded. This book works better than others. This illustrations, however, are always perfect.
January 5, 2012
While some are too long, this seemed too short as George makes a scared girl feel better about the dentist as he spins her mother around in the dentist's chair.
April 14, 2013
Monkey are curious not as curious as George. George can be helpful. If you read it'll blow your mind. How well read the book?
September 10, 2013
I love curious George and I'm 26. Takes me back to my childhood and I think they also mean more because I can read them myself as an adult. :)
February 8, 2016
Visiting for pain. Not helpful for initial visitor to dentist
Read
October 2, 2008Book appropriate up to third grade. Teaches children not to be afraid of the dentist.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews