When Molly Was in the Hospital: A Book for Brothers and Sisters of Hospitalized Children (Minimed Series : Volume 1)

Rating:
Summary: Kind-hearted, intelligent, and such a delight.
Review: The moving story of Molly's illness and her family's loving, worried response informs children about what a hospitalization means. What's more, it validates the feelings that come when a loved one needs help. Duncan beautifully evokes the atmosphere of a hospital -- not just the physical place but the environment of caring professionals, friends, and family members who work together to get someone better. For kids who've experienced hospitalizations (their own or others) or who are trying to imagine what things are like at the hospital (whether or not someone they love is in the hospital now), this book rings equally clear and true. Brava!

Rating:
Summary: Superb illustrations accompany a story for siblings
Review: This sensitive book describes the feelings of an older sibling and a family when a young child is hospitalized for a severe medical problem. It helps normalize the feelings that a sibling might have, and indicates that adults are available for support. The black and white drawings do a good job of being accurate, but still showing warmth and emotion.

This book is specifically aimed at children who are about four to eight years old. When one of my own children was hospitalized and had surgery, I thought of this book and brought it out for my other children.

This book tells the story of a young girl, whose baby sister is admitted into a hospital. The baby sister needs surgery, and the older girl is very unhappy. The older sister is initially angry at how Molly is getting all the attention. Later, she feels guilty and wonders if she somehow caused Molly's illness.

The author had a child who had a chronic condition and underwent surgery. She saw how her older children experienced the sibling's illness. The illustrator is a physician who left the clinical practice of medicine to pursue her artwork and to raise her own family. Her medical background may help account for the superb, sensitive illustrations.

Rating:
Summary: Superb illustrations accompany a story for siblings
Review: This sensitive book describes the feelings of an older sibling and a family when a young child is hospitalized for a severe medical problem. It helps normalize the feelings that a sibling might have, and indicates that adults are available for support. The black and white drawings do a good job of being accurate, but still showing warmth and emotion.

This book is specifically aimed at children who are about four to eight years old. When one of my own children was hospitalized and had surgery, I thought of this book and brought it out for my other children.

This book tells the story of a young girl, whose baby sister is admitted into a hospital. The baby sister needs surgery, and the older girl is very unhappy. The older sister is initially angry at how Molly is getting all the attention. Later, she feels guilty and wonders if she somehow caused Molly's illness.

The author had a child who had a chronic condition and underwent surgery. She saw how her older children experienced the sibling's illness. The illustrator is a physician who left the clinical practice of medicine to pursue her artwork and to raise her own family. Her medical background may help account for the superb, sensitive illustrations.

Rating:
Summary: Mom/Teacher Highly Recommends;Outshines all Others!
Review: When our baby was suddenly and unexpectedly whisked off to the operating room, it was all my husband and I could do to retain our compsure and strength. Despite my extensive training and experience in early childhood, we had a hard time knowing where to begin with helping our three-year-old understand and cope. I knew from experience that books can be a great tool and came across this one and ordered it. What an amazing book!
Duncan tells of her baby's hospitalization through the eyes of an older sibling. It is filled with enough detail to be satisfying and at the same time is general enough that most everyone can find something to identify with. We found it to be a great starting point for meaningful and informative discussions with our three-year-old. It even brought up the issue of the sibling feeling he/she caused the illness in the sick child and the feelings of resentment that some siblings have toward critically ill brothers and sisters. We were also able to put to rest the fears that 'this will happen to me' in our preschooler and her friends. It is much more realistic and accurate than any other book on this subject that I have read.
Ollikainen's illustrations reinforce and support this touching, informational story. I felt that even our baby, at one year, could look at some of them and identify elements from his hospital stay. The illustrations are authentic, timeless, meaningful and so telling they could stand on their own.
I cannot say enough possitive things about this book. As an educator and as a parent I highly recommend it to families attempting to cope with ill children, preparing a child for hospitalization or as an informational resource for anyone in the elementary age range. No collection is complete without it! It truly sets the standard all others will have to live up to for me.