Silly Story
To Ease Fears of White Coat Visits
Book Blurb
On the way to a doctor checkup, a young child asks an important question: Do animals that live in really cold places ever get sick? From the same author as Did Dinosaurs Have Dentists?, this picture book uses Arctic and Antarctic creatures to lessen anxiety about the doctor. Can penguins catch pneumonia? Can a caribou get chicken pox? By introducing ailments through charmingly drawn animals, this humorous look at common childhood illnesses will ease the fears and worries many kids have about visiting the doctor. The colorfully illustrated story contains 14 common terms related to children’s health, as well as a glossary of fun, scientific facts about each of the animals featured.
Details
Do Penguins Have Pediatricians?
Author Patrick O’Donnell
illustrated by Erik Mehlen
Publication Date: October 28, 2019
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
My Thoughts
This is a very cute, colorful, mostly nonsensical book. But it offers a wonderful way to lighten a doctor’s visit with silly questions, a few facts about a visit, and a little something more meaningful at the very back.
After several pages of questions like those above, the story takes a different direction.
THE LAST TIME I SAW THE DOCTOR, SHE SAID, “YOUR QUESTIONS ARE REALLY GREAT!”
The next few pages give general answers to the questions, such as the fact that any animal can get sick, but they won’t be seeing pediatricians, rather vets. Then the last pages have a short informational glossary of scientific facts about each of the featured animals.
What Concerned Me
The things that bothered me were more of personal preference. I would probably change the title of the book to fit the story a little better. And I would incorporate the glossary facts with the corresponding animal so that the child could look at the animal while learning.
What I Liked Best
This is such a cute book with colorful illustrations. The hardcopy seems very durable and a convenient size to take along as a special treat when going to visit a doctor.
It’s a sure way to bring smiles and giggles to little faces!
My thanks to Schiffer Publishing for a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my opinion.
Rating
About the Author and Illustrator
Patrick O’Donnell has been writing stories since he was eight years old, and he’s been known to resist going to the doctor when he’s sick. He’s held many jobs, including copy editor, cook, landscaper, photographer, and even small-engine mechanic—but his favorite two jobs are writer and father. His two boys had their own fears about going to the pediatrician, especially if the visit involved needles! Things they’re not afraid of, in no particular order, include Hot Wheels, reading, video games, leaving laundry and Legos on the floor, and story time.
Raised by wolves in the deep jungles of India after a tiger attack separated him from his family . . . wait, sorry, wrong bio. Here we go: Erik Mehlen is an American illustrator who has won multiple awards, including three ADDYs and accolades from the Society of Illustrators. He studied at Atlanta College of Art and earned his BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design. He lives in San Antonio, Texas.
