Curious George in the Big City

August 27, 2001
Presumably seizing this anniversary opportunity, a pair of titles neither written nor illustrated by either of the Reys debut this fall: Margret & H.A. Rey's Curious George in the Big City and Margret & H.A. Rey's Curious George Goes to a Costume Party, both "illustrated in the style of H.A. Rey by Martha Weston." In the first offering, the little monkey gets lost in the big city. Alas, the cover illustration shows George clinging to the top of the Empire State Building, the New York City skyline behind him, with the World Trade Center towers rising majestically on the horizon. In the second, the fellow puzzles over what disguise to wear until he gets tangled in a sheet and winds up a ghost.

January 1, 2002
These books faithfully, although tiredly, follow the pattern of the original adventures of Curious George. In "Costume, " George goes to a neighbor's Halloween party, and in "Big City" he visits New York City; in both stories he gets into a bit of trouble because he is curious but extricates himself easily. The art is a pale copy of Rey's lively sketches, and the only appeal here is familiarity. [Review covers "Curious George Goes to a Costume Party, " and "Curious George in the Big City". ]

(Copyright 2002 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)