I Want to Be a Doctor

March 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 1-An unnamed narrator takes readers to the hospital emergency room with her mom, dad, and brother Jack, who has been injured in a fall. Dr. Tate examines Jack's leg and orders an X-ray. "It will show us if any bones are broken." Dr. Jones, a bone doctor explains that there are also "heart doctors, brain doctors, and skin doctors." Jack and his sister meet Dr. Kent, who "helps people walk again after an injury." And they meet Dr. Lopez, who works in the lab. The principal family and many of the doctors, nurses, and hospital staffers are people of color. The book concludes with a glossary of medical professionals, from dentist to radiologist. The illustrations are expressive, colorful and seem to flow through the different parts of the hospital. This healing journey invites readers to cultivate their reading skills as it introduces them many health-care professionals and a trip to the hospital. VERDICT A solid addition prescribed for all beginning reader and community helper collections.-Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2018
Preschool-G A girl, her parents, and her little brother, Jack, wait in the emergency room. Soon Dr. Tate examines Jack's foot, which may have a broken bone, and sends him for an X-ray. As the girl talks with several doctors and hears about others, she realizes that their jobs are varied. Some treat new babies or work in labs, while others specialize in the bones, heart, brain, or skin. An appended Meet the Doctors page briefly introduces nine medical specialties. The girl narrates the story, which unfolds quickly in a few short, large-print sentences on each page. Jaunty, stylized illustrations support the story's upbeat tone. From patients and visitors to staff, character portrayal is diverse in terms of race, age, and body type. An informative beginning-reader story from the I Can Read! series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)