Hospital Stay

by Sara Bonnett Stein

Book Overview

An exceptional set...on vital subjects. -- PW. 1979

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802761739
• ISBN13: 9780802761736
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: Walker & Company
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 9.2" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 6 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 1 and higher

Customer Reviews

A Timeless Book for Parent and Child

With this book, my sister taught me to read at age 4. I am 22 now, and never forgot what it taught me, or how it helped me with my fear of hospitals. Within a year of completing the book (and learning to read!) I was attacked by a dog that dragged me through the yard by my face. This led me to a most dreaded place - the Hospital. A place which had terrified me to tears, even with a check-up or regular shot. I was still uneasy as well as terribly unhappy about being there.... But that book helped me realize that the people there intended to help me, not hurt me.... They work to take that pain away. I am dissapointed in the disgruntled reviews... and being that I was a child this book was read to I can speak better than anyone about how it affects a child. It sparked my compassion and concern for other people that have been hurt or handicapped, allowed me the dialogue with my mother and sister to express my fears and reservations, and the parent reading alongside the story in fine print helped my mother better explain to me the stitches on my face and head, and about the scars I would have....what the doctors would do to try and fix it like it was never there. This book is a thing I have cherished throughout my life, and I still have that very book this day - so when I have my own children I may read it with them as well. If your child has a fear of hospitals, doctors, blood, getting shots.... read this book WITH him or her. It will encourage a closer more open relationship with your child, as well as the other wonderful books in this series.... they help children understand handicaps and even death.... by opening the doors to such emotional and curious things at a young age - they will never lose the ability to confide in you, approach you, or express themselves openly and honestly with you... a trusting bond such as this can never be broken. I suggest this book to anyone, regardless if your child is expecting surgery or not, as well as the other books in the series.... the very best books to read with your children, to teach them understanding and compassion for all living things.

A thoughtful book to prepare children for hospital stays

Although the book is a bit dated, it provides children and their parents a simple and honest look at one little girl's hospital experience (in this case, tonsillectomy). The book has a very brief story for children and guidelines for parents to help their children express and accept their fears and worries about upcoming procedures. What I like most about this book was that the little girl did not "enjoy" her stay (there is a list of all the things she does not like), but at the end, she is "fine" although the book recognizes the possibility of lasting trauma (her doll continues to have "operations"). I'm not sure just which book the other reviewer read, but my daughter and I have found this book to be very helpful in providing the space for my daughter to verbalize her fears about her upcoming surgery. And given the paucity of children's books about surgery, I wouldn't pass this one up if your child faces an operation.