Preparing Children for surgery
These books may be useful:
Toddlers and preschoolers
- Barbara Taylor Cork. 2002. Katie Goes to the Hospital. (Available at Amazon.com.). Katie goes to the hospital for ear tubes and spends the night. Pretty, colorful drawings illustrate this British view of the pediatric surgical experience. The book covers some aspects of surgery such as having vital signs taken, being NPO, and being wheeled to the operating room. It also depicts the hospital as child-friendly.
- Deborah Hautzig. 1985. A Visit to the Sesame Street Hospital. (Available at Amazon.com.) Grover and his mother take a tour of the Sesame Street Hospital prior to his surgery. This is not a realistic depiction, but is reassuring for little ones.
- Sharon Jennings. 2000. Franklin Goes to the Hospital. (Available at Amazon.com.). A fearful Franklin the turtle must undergo an operation and a stay at the hospital to repair a crack in his shell after he was injured while playing soccer with his friends. This book’s colorful illustrations follow Franklin inside the hospital, including the operating room where he meets the friendly staff. All ends well.
- Roberta Karim. 2002. This is a Hospital, Not a Zoo! (Available at Amazon.com.)
- Margaret and H. A. Rey. 1966. Curious George Goes to the Hospital.(Available at Amazon.com.)
- Fred Rogers. 1997. Going to the Hospital. (Available at Amazon.com.)
- Anne Civardi. 2002. Going to the Hospital. (Available at Amazon.com.)
- Virginia Dooley. 1996. Tubes in My Ears: My Trip to the Hospital. (Available at Amazon.com.)
- Deborah Hautzig. 1985. A Visit to the Sesame Street Hospital. (Available at Amazon.com.)
- Sharon Jennings. 2000. Franklin Goes to the Hospital. (Available at Amazon.com.)
- Roberta Karim. 2002. This is a Hospital, Not a Zoo! (Available at Amazon.com.)
- Marianne Johnston. 1998. Let’s Talk About Going To The Hospital. (Availableat Amazon.com.)
- Lisa Ann Marsoli. 1985. Things To Know Before You Go To The Hospital.
- Margaret and H. A. Rey. 1966. Curious George Goes to the Hospital. George, the lovable monkey, accidentally swallows part of a jigsaw puzzle, requiring a trip to the hospital for an x-ray and removal of the offending piece while he goes under anesthesia. This is an old-fashioned but child-friendly view of hospital life (nurses in caps, old-style beds), but George’s fears are addressed and he recovers.
- Fred Rogers. 1997. Going to the Hospital. (Available at Amazon.com.)
- Claire Cilotta and Carole Livingston”Why Am I Going to the Hospital?” (For 6yo and up)
- Judy Monnig. 1987. Coping With A Hospital Stay. (Available at Amazon.com.)
Books for Siblings
- “What About Me? When Brothers and Sisters Get Sick” by Allan Peterkin, MD illustrated by Frances Middendorf (Laura talks about what it’s like when her younger brother gets sick and has to go to the hospital)
- “When Molly Was in the Hospital: A Book for Brothers and Sisters of Hospitalized Children” by D. Duncan (ages 4 to 7). Anna’s little sister Molly is admitted to the hospital for surgery and a week-long stay. Anna worries that her thoughts had made Molly ill, but Grandma reassures her. This book depicts ways in which having a hospitalized child in the family can affect siblings in both positive and negative ways.
- “My Brother Needs an Operation” by Anna Jowarski. (Available at Amazon.com.). This book fills several important functions. First, the introduction and tips for parents at the bottom of some pages offer useful suggestions for helping siblings cope with this stressful situation. Words in italics are questions the reader can pose to the child to draw him or her into the story. Second, its gentle story of Joey’s experience of his little brother’s hospitalization skillfully describes Joey’s feelings of worry and sadness, but ends happily. Finally, activity pages and a hospital diary at the end of the book help siblings record their experiences and pass the time.
Other
- Bridwell, N. (2000). Clifford visits the hospital (Clifford the Big Red Dog). Cartwheel Books. Ages 4-8. Also available in Spanish (Scholastic). As a puppy, Clifford stows away in a basket of cookies intended for Grandma, who is hospitalized. He finds the children’s playroom, which shows kids in wheelchairs and with injuries. Clifford gets into mischief but all is happy at the end. It depicts the hospital as a child-friendly place
- “Hear Your Heart” by Paul Showers (Ages K+)
- “How Does Your Heart Work?” (Ages: 8yo+)
- “The Hospital Book” by Mal Warshaw and James Howe
- “A Big Operation” by Richard Scarry
- “Henry Goes for Surgery” by Renita DeChellis
- Lisa Ann Marsoli. 1984. Things To Know Before You Go To The Hospital. Silver Burdett Co.
- Virginia Dooley and Miriam Katin. 1996. Tubes in My Ears: My Trip to the Hospital. Mondo Publishing. ages 5 to 7)
- Marianne Johnston and Erin Mckenna. August, 1997. Let’s Talk About Going To The Hospital. The Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated. (ages 8 to 9)
- Francine Paschal. 1991. Twins Go To The Hospital: Sweet Valley Kids Series #20.Bantam Books. (ages 6 to 8 )
- Juliana Lee Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, Marilyn Mets (Illustrator). 2001. Good-Bye Tonsils!. Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. (ages 4-8 )
- Joanna Cole and Bruce Degar. 1989. The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body. Scholastic, Incorporated. (ages 6 to 9)
- Anne Civardi and Michelle Bates. 2002. Going to the Hospital. Sagebrush Education Resource. (ages 4 to 8 )
Preparing parents
- “Your Child in the Hospital; A Practical Guide for Parents” by Rachel Prentice and Nancy Keene (This is an excellent book for parents and family members.)
- “Cardiac Kids: A book for families who have a child with heart disease” by Vicci Elder (Written from the perspective of a sibling. Discusses more pre-operative tests then what happens after heart surgery)
- Judy Monnig. 1987. Coping With A Hospital Stay. (Available at Amazon.com.)
- A.J. Hill. 1999. The Patient’s Guide To Anesthesia. (Available at Amazon.com.)
Useful links:
Information on VSD
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