C – Curious George 

Curious George Goes to the Hospital was originally published in 1966 in collaboration with Boston Children’s Hospital. Written by Margret and H.A. Rey, it was modeled after the 1953 book Johnny Goes to the Hospital, by Josephine Abbott Sever. Both stories were inspired by Boston Children’s and are featured in this exhibit. 

While living in Cambridge, Margret and H. A. Rey befriended Myra Fox, who was a pioneer in the field of Child Life Specialists. During her 44 year tenure at Boston Children’s, Myra Fox devoted herself to the care and welfare of thousands of children and families. She began her career at Boston Children’s Hospital in 1964 as a “play lady” and later founded the Department of Child Life Services, where she was Director until her retirement in 2008. Fox was the first at Boston Children’s to organize activities “to help children keep their minds off their illnesses.” 

When Fox asked the Reys to write a story that would help prepare a child for a visit to the hospital, she invited them to visit. Fox led them on a tour of the playrooms and the Reys expanded their research to collaborate with the rest of the healthcare team at the hospital to ensure the story would be authentic. Curious George Goes to the Hospital was an immediate success and it continues to be read and loved by millions of children and their parents throughout the world. 

In her role as a child life specialist, Fox worked tirelessly to improve the healthcare experience for patients by providing play, preparation, and educational programs. These services ensure the emotional stability and healthy development of hospitalized children, while mitigating the fear and pain often associated with treatment. Fox was an early and ardent advocate of frequent family visits and parental participation in the care of the child. This progressive philosophy was the precursor of family-centered care. Today, child life specialists are an integral part of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, working to enhance patients’ emotional, social, and cognitive growth during their time at the hospital, taking into consideration each child’s family, culture, and developmental needs.