Going To The Doctor
Ages 3^-6. The contemporary guru of pediatrics, whose booksInfants and Mothers,To Listen to a Child, etc., have advised parents on the raising of children, here addresses children themselves. Each double-page spread, framed by a colorful border, focuses on one aspect of the physical exam conducted by a doctor or a nurse-practitioner. The conversational, informative text (pneumonia sounds like Rice Krispies crackling in the lungs of ill patients) is presented with sketches revealing a child's (Brazelton's grandson's) point of view and with beautifully composed photos of "Dr. B" talking with and examining his young patients. In addition to his concise explanations and reassurances about the purpose of checking blood pressure and private parts and the need for shots and medicines, Brazelton talks to parents in the afterword, giving advice on how to dispel the fears and discomforts that attend visits to the doctor. Brazelton was prodded to write this book when a six-year-old asked, "What are you looking for when you check children? Are you looking for their badness?" and he has hit on just what the doctor ordered to alleviate such anxieties.Ellen Mandel