Nurse Florence®, How Bad are Health Problems from Agent Orange? follows curious students and a compassionate nurse as they unravel the history, science, and human cost of Agent Orange in a clear and accessible conversation. What inspired you to frame such a heavy historical and medical topic through a conversation between children and Nurse Florence?

One of my previous careers was helping Veterans with their benefits. I met people during that time who were affected by Agent Orange and thought their grandkids would be interested in knowing more about the condition.

How did you decide which Agent Orange–related illnesses to include, and how did you balance scientific accuracy with accessibility for young readers?

I used a VA education website to decide on the topics to include and tried to simplify each health condition.

What was the most challenging aspect of presenting emotionally difficult material in a calm, age-appropriate way?

Because science teaches people to observe their environment, it helps a person be less emotional through observation. I choose to focus on science facts and avoid long discussions about why there was a Vietnam War.

What do you hope young readers, educators, and families take away from this book about history, health, and the human impact of war?

War is ugly, and we should use all diplomatic channels to avoid it.

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