Peter, the Knight with Asthma

January 1, 2010
K-Gr 2-Peter fancies himself a brave knight protecting his castle. As he prepares to charge a fierce dragon, he drops to the ground, wheezing with tightness in his chest. His Lady (Mom) gives him his rescue inhaler. In Peter's words, "the dragon got away]for the third time this week." During a visit to his doctor, his symptoms are evaluated and he answers questions about the frequency of his attacks. Peter is prescribed daily medicine so that he can fight the dragon more effectively. Using the dragon-slaying metaphor, the book introduces useful information, including some medical terms, such as "peak flow meter" and "nebulizer machine." A physician's note to parents provides more detailed facts. The helpful text is purposeful but not particularly energetic, and the watercolor illustrations are adequate. Additional."Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2009
Preschool-G Designed to introduce asthma to small children, this is about a boy named Peter who plays at being a knight in his bedroom. When his conquests are continually interrupted by coughing spells, his mother takes him to the doctor, who diagnoses his affliction as asthma. Peter and his mother are alarmed, but the doctor assures them: Now that we can name the beast, we can also tame the beast. With the proper medicine and equipment, Peter grows stronger and is able to return to his knightly conquests. The book concludes with a two-page note to parents written by a pediatric pulmonologist with brief details about asthma, including possible symptoms and treatment. Bright watercolor illustrations, which juxtapose Peters fantasies with scenes in the doctors office, make this an appealing picture book as well as a lesson on the illness. The Lion Who Had Asthma, by Jonathan London (1992), and Brianna Breathes Easy, by Virginia Kroll (2005), both cover similar territory.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)