Going to the Hospital

School Library Journal

K-Gr 1–Children in kindergarten will enjoy these books as read-alouds (large, clear color photos make the volumes appropriate for group sharing) while those at the end of first grade will be able to read them independently. The writing is straightforward and reassuring, and the content provides a realistic view of what youngsters might experience in each environment. In School, for example, the author discusses the activities of a typical day as well as feelings of sadness or loneliness that may occur. Hospital discusses sickness, admission and surroundings, fasting for surgery, and blood tests. Baby explains that new siblings keep parents very busy, but that they will still have time to do special things with older children. House mentions the possibility of feeling strange in the new environment, but also discusses how quickly the child will adjust and make new friends. Although Barber mentions the potentially scary or unhappy aspects of these experiences, the books are optimistic overall and set the stage for meaningful discussions. There are several simple sentences on each page, printed in fairly large type. These excellent resources offer meaningful information on attractively designed, colorful pages.–Lynda Ritterman, formerly at Atco Elementary School, NJ