The Hospital Book

Starred review from February 15, 2023
Preschool-Grade 3 *Starred Review* A young biracial girl (her mother is white, her father is Black) takes readers through her sudden illness, the trip to the hospital, and everything she experiences in that potentially scary place. The child chronicles the nine different times she cries, beginning with the stomach pain she experiences preceding her appendectomy and ending with her tears of joy when it's all over. Much of the mystery of a hospital stay is dispelled in this helpful book, which shows a male nurse taking the girl's temperature and blood pressure and inserting an IV in her arm. Her doctor, a woman, performs tests to determine the diagnosis, before the girl is prepped for surgery. The author-illustrator depicts spending a night in the hospital (with a parent sleeping nearby) and getting up to walk the next day, before going home and back to the familiar. Intricately detailed and colorful pictures use India ink and watercolors, with abundant speech bubbles throughout. Observant readers will notice that some people seen outside the hospital and in the waiting room appear again later, while adults will get a kick out of some familiar names: Dr. Zhivago, Dr. Watson, and Nurse Nightingale. Brown and her graphic-novel-inspired illustrations offer children significant insight into what might be expected if they ever need to have surgery.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from March 1, 2023
"When I went to the hospital, I cried nine times." Brown returns to the family featured in her ingenious The Airport Book (rev. 5/16); here, the now-older little sister narrates. The book follows the girl's experiences as she heads to the hospital with severe stomach pain, is diagnosed with appendicitis, undergoes an operation, and recovers. As in the earlier book, multiple subplots unfold in Brown's engrossing and detailed signature ink and watercolor illustrations; and we are treated to several amusing cameo appearances (paging Florence Nightingale and Dr. Watson!) and the return of some memorable Airport Book characters. But Brown smartly keeps a tight focus on the girl and her very relatable reactions and emotions, using as a through line the times she cries (e.g., when a doctor presses on her abdomen, getting an IV put in) versus the times she doesn't (getting an ultrasound, when she throws up her post-op Popsicle, etc.). Throughout, we meet a host of hospital workers -- doctors, nurses, orderlies, cleaners -- each one exuding a sense of caring and reassurance. Naturally and matter-of-factly, Brown incorporates a remarkable wealth of diversity -- all kinds, from skin tones to abilities to genders to cultures to types of families. Instructive, engaging, empathetic, inclusive -- Brown once again delivers an essential book about a common childhood experience. Martha V. Parravano

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from January 1, 2023
A child visits the hospital. "When I went to the hospital, I cried nine times," notes the brown-skinned narrator, who also appears in The Airport Book (2016). Her tears begin at the pain in her stomach, which causes her parents--one Black, one White--to rush her to the hospital. Other tearful moments include jostling painfully over a speed bump en route to the emergency room, fretting in a hectic waiting room, and feeling doctors press her stomach. And when she's diagnosed with appendicitis, which requires surgery, she and her parents cry a little. At night, she cries because of funny smells, beeping machines, and loneliness, though a parent snores nearby. But some things aren't scary--her hospital gown and bracelet and grippy socks, for instance. The narrator's matter-of-fact tone and step-by-step descriptions of everything from admission to discharge (a cause for happy tears) are calming, and friendly doctors and nurses offer further encouragement in speech-balloon dialogue. Cartoon illustrations gently depict procedures such as an ultrasound and IV insertion and add occasional humor, as when a passing Sherlock Holmes answers "Elementary" to a page for Dr. Watson. Framing the story by counting the number of times the protagonist cries--and doesn't cry--is an inspired choice that acknowledges fears but also bolsters readers. A bustling medley of racially diverse background characters invites readers to imagine their stories as well. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A wonderfully effective, reassuring look at an often scary experience. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 3, 2023

K-Gr 3-For children-for anyone-a visit to the hospital can be a strange and new experience. Brown (The Airport Book) gives readers an inside look into what to expect. A young girl gets a strong stomach pain and needs medical care. Her parents take her to the hospital, and she learns she will need surgery. The story follows her hospital experience from start to finish, from the waiting room to being discharged to go home. The illustrations are captivating, adding to the positive feel of the book. Whether readers have been to a hospital before, or are preparing for a planned visit, this book will put minds at ease. VERDICT Filled with information presented in a colorful and engaging way, this is a perfectly serviceable book.-Elizabeth Pelayo

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2023
"When I went to the hospital, I cried nine times." Brown returns to the family featured in her ingenious The Airport Book (rev. 5/16); here, the now-older little sister narrates. The book follows the girl's experiences as she heads to the hospital with severe stomach pain, is diagnosed with appendicitis, undergoes an operation, and recovers. As in the earlier book, multiple subplots unfold in Brown's engrossing and detailed signature ink and watercolor illustrations; and we are treated to several amusing cameo appearances (paging Florence Nightingale and Dr. Watson!) and the return of some memorable Airport Book characters. But Brown smartly keeps a tight focus on the girl and her very relatable reactions and emotions, using as a through line the times she cries (e.g., when a doctor presses on her abdomen, getting an IV put in) versus the times she doesn't (getting an ultrasound, when she throws up her post-op Popsicle, etc.). Throughout, we meet a host of hospital workers -- doctors, nurses, orderlies, cleaners -- each one exuding a sense of caring and reassurance. Naturally and matter-of-factly, Brown incorporates a remarkable wealth of diversity -- all kinds, from skin tones to abilities to genders to cultures to types of families. Instructive, engaging, empathetic, inclusive -- Brown once again delivers an essential book about a common childhood experience.

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)