'Letterland' is a literacy scheme, and this very short paperback is part of stage 3 of the Reading at Home programme. The characters are shaped like letters, and the Hairy Hat Man is the 'H'. The emphasis is on alliteration and the learning of words and letters, but the Hairy Hat Man does indeed go to hospital after being run into by Bouncy Ben on his bike. He has broken bones in his hand and a large lump on the head. The facts are very basic - not much detail about hospitals. We don't even get an x-ray of the broken hand. But his friends rally round, and the experience is quite a good one. This should not be used for preparation, but would be a good book to have on children's wards for reinforcement of positive aspects of being in hospital. Imaginative.