Harry Goes to the Hospital: A Story for Children About What It's Like to Be in the Hospital

by Howard J. Bennett, M. S. Weber (Illustrator)

Overview

Harry gets sick and he has to go to the hospital. But he's never been there and he's scared! There are lots of new people, he gets poked with needles, and he has to stay the night in a strange place. But with his parents' comfort and the help of lots of doctors, nurses, and especially his stuffed rabbit Barney, Harry learns that the hospital doesn't have to be a big, scary place.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433803208
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	03/15/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	364,129
Product dimensions:	7.60(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

Editorial Reviews

Bennett has written a pleasant story about a trip to the hospital for Harry when he has stomach problems. Hospital procedures are explained in simple language, and Harry is comforted by both his parents and the hospital personnel. Weber's illustrations complement the text nicely. The characters are drawn in a semi-realistic fashion with expressive faces. Conscious of gender issues, Bennet and Weber portray doctors as both male and female, although most of the nurses are shown as female. The main purpose of this book is to alleviate the fear that children may have of going to the hospital. The short story is followed by pages for parents, which include helpful tips on how to support a child who is coping with the events of a hospital visit. For families who know a child is facing a trip to a hospital, this would be an excellent introductory story; for those children whose hospital visit is a surprise, as it was for Harry, pediatric wards would be wise to keep a few copies handy. For Harry, the visit was short, and he soon returned to his happy home. While this text does not discuss children with chronic illnesses, it could still be useful as a way to begin a dialogue with a child who faces more than one hospital visit. Reviewer: Wendy M. Smith-D'Arezzo

Children's Literature - Wendy M. Smith-D'Arezzo

PreS-Gr 2

When Harry gets stomach flu, he is admitted to the hospital, examined, and given an IV and a range of tests. The procedures are explained in straightforward language simple enough for young children to understand. Illustrations, done in soft colors and cross-hatching, show the details of his experiences as well as the comforting presence of parents; the boy's mother remains at his side throughout the stay. An endnote explains the critical role that family can play in preparing a child for hospitalization. This reassuring story is a good choice for public libraries.-Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY

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