Recommended Books
This is a list of suggested books that parents can use to educate and prepare their children for hospitalization.
Doctor Visits
- Big Bird Goes to The Doctor (ages 4-8)
By: Tish Sommers, Illustrated By: Tom Cooke, 1986, Western Publishing - Pooh Plays Doctor (pre-school)
By: Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, 1997, Disney Enterprises - Doctor for A Day (pre-school)
By: DK Publishing , 2004, DK Children - The Wee Bear Who Didn’t Want to go to the Doctor (ages 4-8)
By: Laura Rice Bergen, 1995, New York Grosset and Dunlap - Doctor Maisy (pre-school)
By: Lucy Cousins - Going to The Doctor (ages 4-8)
By: T. Berry Brazelton, 2001, Candlewick - Lions Aren’t Scared of Shots: A Story for Children About Visiting the Doctor (ages 4-8)
By: Howard J. Bennett, Illustrated By: M.S. Weber, 2006, Magination Press
Hospital Visits
- Clifford Visits the Hospital (ages 4-8)
By: Norman Bridwell, 2000, Scholastic Inc. - Curious George Goes to The Hospital (ages 4-8)
By: H. Rey and M. Rey, 1966, Houghton-Mifflin - Franklin Goes to the Hospital (ages 4-8)
By: Paulette Bourgeois, Illustrated By: Brenda Clark, 2000, Scholastic Paperbacks - A Visit to The Sesame Street Hospital (ages 4-8)
By: Sesame Street, 1985, Random House Books for Young Readers
General Health
- Germs Make Me Sick (ages 6-10) By: Melvin Berger Illustrated By: Marilyn Hafner, 1995, Harper Trophy
- Who’s Sick Today (ages 4-8) By: Lynne Cherry, 1998, Voyager Books
- Arthur’s Chicken Pox: An Arthur Adventure By: Marc Brown, 1996, Little, Brown Young Readers
- Do I have to Go to The Hospital? A First Look at Going to The Hospital By: Pat Thomas, Illustrated By: Leslie Harker, 2006, Barron’s Educational Series
Emergency Room
- Hospital Workers in The Emergency Room By: Bobbie Kalman, 2004, Crabtree Publishing Company
- Maggie and the Emergency Room (ages 4-8) By: Martine Davidson, 1992, Random House Children’s Books
Tonsillectomy
- Going to the Hospital (ages 3-5) By: Anne Civardi, 2005, Usborne Books
- Good Bye Tonsils (ages 4-8) By: Craig Hatkoff and Juliana Hatkoff, 2004, Puffin
- A Big Operation: The Busy World of Richard Scarry (ages 4-8) By: Richard Scarry, 1995, Simon Spotlight
Ear Tubes
- Koko Bears Big Earache (ages 4-8) By: Vivki Lansky, 2004, The Book Peddlers
- Chris Gets Ear Tubes (ages 4-8) By: Betty Pace, 1987, Gallaudet University Press
- Tubes In My Ears: My Trip To The Hospital (ages 4-8) By: Viginia Dooley, 1996, Mondo Publishing
Eye Surgery
- Blueberry Eyes (ages 4-8) (subject – wearing glasses, eye patches and eye muscle surgery) By: Monica Driscoll Beatty, 1996, Health Press
X-Ray
- Jessica’s X-Ray (ages 4-8) By: Pat Zonta, Illustrated By: Clive Dobson, 2006, Firefly Books
Feelings
- Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day (ages 4-8) By: Jaime Lee Curtis, Illustrated By: Laura Cornell, 1998, Joanna Cotler
- The Way I Feel (ages 4- 8) By: Janan Cain, 2000, Parenting Press
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Bad Day (ages 4-8) By: Judith Viorst, Illustrated By: Ray Cruz, 1987, Aladdin
- I Was So Mad (ages 4-8) By: Mercer Mayer, 2000, Random House Books for Young Readers
- Muppets Kids in I Am Mad at You (ages 4-8) By: Louise Gikow, Illustrated By: Manhar Chuahan, 1992, Longmeadow Press
- Don’t Be Shy (Sesame Street) (ages 4-8) By: Anna H. Cooke and Tom Dickson, 1987, Golden Press
- The Feelings Book (ages 4-8) By: Todd Parr, 2005, L,B Kids
- Lots of Feelings (ages 4-8) By: Shelley Rotner, 2003, Millbrook Press
- What to Do When You’re Scared and Worried: A Guide For Kids (ages 9-12) By: James J. Crist, 2004, Free Spirit Publishing
- The Feelings Book: The Care and Keeping of Your Emotions (American Girl) (ages 9-12) By: Dr. Lynda Madison, Illustrated By: Norm Bendell, 2002, American Girl Publishing
Self – Esteem
- I Like Me (ages 4-8) By: Nanacy Carlson, 1990, Puffin
- I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off A Little Self-Esteem (ages 4-8) By: Jaime Lee Curtis, Illustrated By: Laura Cornell, 2002, Joanna Cotler
- What I Like About Me (ages 4-8) By: Allia Zobel Nolan and Miki Sakamoto, 2005, Readers Digest
Human Body
- Look Inside Your Body (ages 4-8) By: Gina Ingoglia, 1998, Grosset and Dunlap
- What’s Inside My Body (ages 4-8) By: DK Publishing, 1999, DK Children
- Looking Into My Body (ages 4-8) By: Nigel Nelson, Illustrated By: Simon Able, 1996, Readers Digest
- Big Book of the Human Body (ages 4-8) By: DK Publishing, 2006, DK Children
- The Magic School Bus Inside The Human Body (ages 6-10) By: Joanna Cole, Illustrated By: Bruce Degen, 1990, Scholastic Press
- Uncover the Human Body (ages 9-12) (available in Spanish) By: Luann Colombo and Jennifer Fairman, 2003, Silver Dolphin Press
For Siblings
- When Molly was in the Hospital: A Book for Brothers and Sisters of Hospitalized Children (ages 4-8) By: Debbie Duncan, Illustrated By: Nina Ollikainen, 1994, Rayve Productions Inc.
Pre School
- Doctor Maisy (pre-school) By: Lucy Cousins
- Pooh Plays Doctor (pre-school) By: Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, 1997, Disney Enterprises
- Doctor for A Day (pre-school) By: DK Publishing , 2004, DK Children
3 to 5
- Going to the Hospital (ages 3-5) By: Anne Civardi, 2005, Usborne Books
4 to 8
- Big Bird Goes to The Doctor (ages 4-8) By: Tish Sommers, Illustrated By: Tom Cooke, 1986, Western Publishing
- The Wee Bear Who Didn’t Want to Go to the Doctor (ages 4-8) By: Laura Rice Bergen, 1995, New York Grosset and Dunlap
- Going to The Doctor (ages 4-8) By: T. Berry Brazelton, 2001, Candlewick
- Lions Aren’t Scared of Shots: A Story for Children About Visiting the Doctor (ages 4-8) By: Howard J. Bennett, Illustrated By: M.S. Weber, 2006, Magination Press
- Clifford Visits the Hospital (ages 4-8) By: Norman Bridwell, 2000, Scholastic Inc.
- Curious George Goes to The Hospital (ages 4-8) By: H. Rey and M. Rey, 1966, Houghton-Mifflin
- Franklin Goes to the Hospital (ages 4-8) By: Paulette Bourgeois, Illustrated By: Brenda Clark, 2000, Scholastic Paperbacks
- A Visit to The Sesame Street Hospital (ages 4-8) By: Sesame Street, 1985, Random House Books for Young Readers
- Who’s Sick Today (ages 4-8) By: Lynne Cherry, 1998, Voyager Books
- Maggie and the Emergency Room (ages 4-8) By: Martine Davidson, 1992, Random House Children’s Books
- Good Bye Tonsils (ages 4-8) By: Craig Hatkoff and Juliana Hatkoff, 2004, Puffin
- A Big Operation: The Busy World of Richard Scarry (ages 4-8) By: Richard Scarry, 1995, Simon Spotlight
- Koko Bears Big Earache (ages 4-8) By: Vivki Lansky, 2004, The Book Peddlers
- Chris Gets Ear Tubes (ages 4-8) By: Betty Pace, 1987, Gallaudet University Press
- Tubes In My Ears: My Trip To The Hospital (ages 4-8) By: Viginia Dooley, 1996, Mondo Publishing
- Blueberry Eyes (ages 4-8) (subject – wearing glasses, eye patches and eye muscle surgery) By: Monica Driscoll Beatty, 1996, Health Press
- Jessica’s X-Ray (ages 4-8) By: Pat Zonta, Illustrated By: Clive Dobson, 2006, Firefly Books
- Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day (ages 4-8) By: Jaime Lee Curtis, Illustrated By: Laura Cornell, 1998, Joanna Cotler
- The Way I Feel (ages 4- 8) By: Janan Cain, 2000, Parenting Press
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Bad Day (ages 4-8) By: Judith Viorst, Illustrated By: Ray Cruz, 1987, Aladdin
- I Was So Mad (ages 4-8) By: Mercer Mayer, 2000, Random House Books for Young Readers
- Muppets Kids in I Am Mad at You (ages 4-8) By: Louise Gikow, Illustrated By: Manhar Chuahan, 1992, Longmeadow Press
- Don’t Be Shy (Sesame Street) (ages 4-8) By: Anna H. Cooke and Tom Dickson, 1987, Golden Press
- The Feelings Book (ages 4-8) By: Todd Parr, 2005, L,B Kids
- Lots of Feelings (ages 4-8) By: Shelley Rotner, 2003, Millbrook Press
- I Like Me (ages 4-8) By: Nanacy Carlson, 1990, Puffin
- I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off A Little Self-Esteem (ages 4-8) By: Jaime Lee Curtis, Illustrated By: Laura Cornell, 2002, Joanna Cotler
- What I Like About Me (ages 4-8) By: Allia Zobel Nolan and Miki Sakamoto, 2005, Readers Digest
- Look Inside Your Body (ages 4-8) By: Gina Ingoglia, 1998, Grosset and Dunlap
- What’s Inside My Body (ages 4-8) By: DK Publishing, 1999, DK Children
- Looking Into My Body (ages 4-8) By: Nigel Nelson, Illustrated By: Simon Able, 1996, Readers Digest
- Big Book of the Human Body (ages 4-8) By: DK Publishing, 2006, DK Children
- When Molly was in the Hospital: A Book for Brothers and Sisters of Hospitalized Children (ages 4-8) By: Debbie Duncan, Illustrated By: Nina Ollikainen, 1994, Rayve Productions Inc.
6 to 10
- Germs Make Me Sick (ages 6-10) By: Melvin Berger Illustrated By: Marilyn Hafner, 1995, Harper Trophy
- The Magic School Bus Inside The Human Body (ages 6-10) By: Joanna Cole, Illustrated By: Bruce Degen, 1990, Scholastic Press
9 to 12
- What to Do When You’re Scared and Worried: A Guide For Kids (ages 9-12) By: James J. Crist, 2004, Free Spirit Publishing
- The Feelings Book: The Care and Keeping of Your Emotions (American Girl) (ages 9-12) By: Dr. Lynda Madison, Illustrated By: Norm Bendell, 2002, American Girl Publishing
- Uncover the Human Body (ages 9-12) (available in Spanish) By: Luann Colombo and Jennifer Fairman, 2003, Silver Dolphin Press
Any Age Group
- Arthur’s Chicken Pox: An Arthur Adventure By: Marc Brown, 1996, Little, Brown Young Readers
- Do I Have to Go to The Hospital? A First Look at Going to The Hospital By: Pat Thomas, Illustrated By: Leslie Harker, 2006, Barron’s Educational Series
- Hospital Workers in The Emergency Room By: Bobbie Kalman, 2004, Crabtree Publishing Company