Perfect Picture Book Friday – Daisy the Doctor

This review is part of Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book series. Visit her site to see the other books recommended.

Title: Daisy the Doctor

Author: Felicity Brooks
Illustrator: Jo Litchfield
Publisher: Usborne, 2004

Suitable for: 3 – 6 years

Themes: Jobs people do, Doctor’s Office

Opening Sentences:

“This is Daisy the Doctor, taking her son Ben to school. After she’s dropped him off, she drives to work. The traffic can be terrible.”

Synopsis:

A day in the life of Daisy the doctor. Learn how she does a check-up for a newborn, treats a toddler with an earache, and even a young boy with a bleeding arm that needs stitches. End pages contain both a glossary with medical terms such as prescription, asthma, and sprain, and a page on tips for staying healthy.

Why I Like This Book:

This book can be used by teachers/librarians when teaching about jobs, this book is a part of the “Jobs People Do” series. It can also be used by parents who want to help their kids get acclimated to the doctor’s office.

I got this book when my older daughter was two to ease her anxiety about doctor visits. I love that the book uses real medical terms like otoscope and antibiotics. Also the spread on a newborn check-up accurately mimicked my newborn’s visit to the doctor. My kids loved asking questions about things they see in the illustrations. One of their favorites is to read the doctor’s appointment schedule off of the computer screen. We also spend time on the last page talking about tips to staying healthy!

The best of quality of this book is that it a realistic depiction of the day in a life of a doctor. From the different cases they see, to the procedures, to the terminology used. The illustrations consist of clay models set against a digital picture. The usage of the 3D models further enhances the realism already conveyed through the text.

Posted on December 9, 2011 at 6:11 AM in Jobs, Picture Books | RSS feed

21 Responses to “Perfect Picture Book Friday – Daisy the Doctor”

elizabethannewrites
December 9, 2011 at 6:15 AM

Cool book! Those illustrations are incredible. Great that the receptionist is physically challenged, as well.
Susanna Leonard Hill
December 9, 2011 at 6:17 AM

This looks like a wonderful book – so informative. What a great way to help children prepare for and understand their visits to the doctor, which can seem so scary. Also nice that it shows what it’s like to be a doctor, allowing children to imagine it as a career for themselves someday. Thanks so much for sharing!
Patricia Tilton
December 9, 2011 at 8:00 AM

I really like this book and am glad you selected it as your PPB. It delivers two great messages. Funny, I was with my doctor the other day and he suggested that more books need to be written about medical careers. This certainly is a wonderful and realistic addition.
Joanna
December 9, 2011 at 8:14 AM

I love how the clay models somehow add to the authenticity of the doctor’s day. Also it is clearly a book that doesn’t speak down to the reader, but rather is educational and vocabulary building. Great choice.
Julie
December 9, 2011 at 12:11 PM

Great choice! This would go a long way toward easing the minds of kids who aren’t sure what to expect from or are afraid to go to the doctor.
Robin
December 9, 2011 at 1:52 PM

I appreciate the different skin tones of the folks in this book! Always looking for multicultural. Love that the receptionist has a different mobility to discuss with kids. And it’s a book with a woman as the main character. Thanks for suggesting it!
patientdreamer
December 9, 2011 at 7:23 PM

What a great book. Now thats the kind of book I would have wished was around all those years ago. It certainly would take away alot of anxiety visiting the doctor does cause, especially for kids. (And I’m still a big kid)
Catherine Johnson
December 10, 2011 at 4:24 AM

That’s a great idea! You could expand out and do all sorts of jobs, your repertoire would be endless 🙂
Stacy S. Jensen (@StacySJensen)
December 10, 2011 at 8:21 AM

From the pages you’ve shared, it looks like it shows diversity in many ways too. Looks like a fun series.
Darshana
December 10, 2011 at 9:58 AM

Yes the book does a great job of showing people of many races.

Other books in the series are Fred the Firefighter, Tessa the Teacher, Vicky the Vet, Sam the Chef, Fred the Farmer, and Jobs People Do.
What Do We Do All Day?
September 25, 2012 at 1:42 AM

I find books like these to be so helpful. We used a similar type of book before my son’s first dentist appointment, but I really like how this one is realistic. Thanks for linking up to The Children’s Bookshelf. I’m also going to “pin” this.
- Darshana
  September 25, 2012 at 7:19 AM
  
  I loved that this book is focusing on the doctor’s day, and through that the child gets to experience a visit to the doctor’s. I used this book when my older daughter was 2yrs old. She loved knowing the newborn check-up routine that her younger sister went through was the same as what she saw in the book.
Bethany @ No Twiddle Twaddle
September 30, 2012 at 12:31 PM

What a fascinating book. I have never read this particular book before, but it looks amazing. Thanks for sharing with The Children’s Bookshelf. I plan to feature this post tomorrow on No Twiddle Twaddle
- Darshana
  September 30, 2012 at 4:58 PM
  
  My kids loved this book when they were toddlers. So much to see and a great way for parents to start a dialogue with the child about visits to the doctor. Hope you get a chance to read the book.
Katie
April 17, 2013 at 11:59 AM

Those illustrations are so unique! Thanks for sharing this book with the Kid Lit Blog Hop!
- Darshana
  April 17, 2013 at 1:58 PM
  
  I love the illustration style. Works well for this type of book. Thanks for stopping by.
Heidi Grange
April 17, 2013 at 12:22 PM

What a delightful book! Thanks for sharing.

Geo Librarian
Kid Lit Blog Hop
- Darshana
  April 17, 2013 at 2:01 PM
  
  Thanks for stopping by! It really is a great book for toddlers who are still nervous or curious about the doctor’s office.
Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews
April 18, 2013 at 1:16 PM

Fantastic! This would be such a great book to introduce children to what happens at the doctor’s office. I also like that it’s a woman as the doctor, although in this day and age, you are equally likely to have a male or female doctor. Thanks for sharing this great book in the Kid Lit Blog Hop. You always have some of the best recommendations!
- Darshana
  April 18, 2013 at 2:06 PM
  
  I like the cultural diversity they have in the book and the inclusion of person with a disability (don’t see that too often). Glad you like my choices. Thanks.