Blog Archives
Nurse Florence®, Why Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Nurse Florence®, Why Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed? is a cheerful, educational picture book that uses a friendly lunchtime chat between three girls and a school nurse to explain what wisdom teeth are, why they might need to be removed, and what the removal process involves. Written by Michael Dow and beautifully illustrated by Yiheng Fang. Aimed at children, it introduces real medical terms in a simple way, encouraging curiosity and building early science literacy.
What struck me first was how calm and approachable the tone is throughout. There’s no rush, no panic. Nurse Florence takes her time explaining everything, from why wisdom teeth might grow in crooked to how anesthesia works. It’s all delivered through conversation, which gives the book a cozy, trustworthy vibe. I especially liked the part where she talks about anxiety before surgery and how listening to music or thinking about happy places can help. That advice isn’t just for kids, and it reminded me to slow down and breathe next time I’m nervous, too.
One thing I really appreciated was the honesty. The book doesn’t sugarcoat the procedure. It says clearly that people may have swollen faces, stitches, and need to be careful about infection. But it’s done in such a matter-of-fact, caring way that it doesn’t feel scary. It’s empowering. I also liked the glossary and journal pages in the back of the book, as it’s a nice nudge for kids to reflect and ask their own questions. The book teaches facts, yes, but it also teaches curiosity and self-awareness, which I think is rare and valuable in a book like this.
What makes this book shine is how grounded and purposeful it is. It’s not flashy. It’s not trying to be silly or overly clever. It knows what it’s doing: giving kids (and maybe even adults) a solid, confident understanding of a common medical procedure. The illustrations are soft and expressive, and the layout keeps things moving while offering enough detail for kids who like to linger on each page. I even found myself smiling when the girls all responded, “You too!” in unison.
Nurse Florence®, Why Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed? is perfect for elementary school kids, especially those who are starting to hear big, scary-sounding words like “surgery” and “anesthesia” and need someone to break it all down for them in a gentle, respectful way. It would be great for parents to read with their kids before a dental visit, or even just as a way to boost science confidence. I came away impressed and a little more relaxed about my own dentist anxieties, too.
Pages: 97 | ISBN : 1304783669
Nurse Dorothea Presents Bipolar Disorder and Guidance on How to Live Well with the Mental Illness
Michael Dow’s Nurse Dorothea Presents Bipolar Disorder and Guidance on How to Live Well with the Mental Illness, illustrated by Lindsay Roberts, is an insightful and accessible guide to understanding Bipolar Disorder. What makes this book stand out is its inventive approach: it is framed as if Nurse Dorothea is teaching a classroom lesson on Bipolar Disorder. Inspired by the compassionate 19th-century nurse Dorothea Dix, who championed mental health treatment with dignity and care, the character of Nurse Dorothea embodies warmth and wisdom. Roberts’ illustrations enhance the experience, depicting the nurse in action while visually representing symptoms and concepts. These visuals make the book approachable, especially for readers less familiar with the disorder.
Dow’s writing feels like a casual chat with a friend—clear, direct, and empathetic. The tone is conversational yet informative, breaking down the complexities of Bipolar Disorder in a way that feels welcoming rather than clinical. As symptoms are explained, Dow makes a compelling effort to humanize the experiences of those living with Bipolar Disorder, helping to dispel stigma and promote understanding. Readers are guided through both manic and depressive states with simplicity and insight, creating a resource that’s both educational and deeply compassionate.
The collaboration between Dow’s words and Roberts’ illustrations is particularly effective. Each symptom is paired with visual cues that bring the discussion to life, offering clarity and relatability. From manic highs to depressive lows, the book illustrates the disorder’s dual nature while also providing thoughtful strategies for coping. As a psychology student preparing for a psychopathology exam, I found this book far more engaging and practical than traditional academic texts. It explains complex symptoms with a level of simplicity and understanding that is hard to find elsewhere.
Nurse Dorothea Presents Bipolar Disorder and Guidance on How to Live Well with the Mental Illness is a must-read for anyone affected by Bipolar Disorder, whether directly or through a loved one. It’s also an excellent resource for mental health professionals or anyone curious about the human mind. Dow and Roberts have created a guide that is as informative as it is heartfelt, and I hope this is just the beginning of a series that explores mental health with the same care and creativity. This book is a triumph in making mental health education accessible and meaningful.
Pages: 222 | ASIN : B0DNTL2MX5
The Importance of Getting the Vaccine
Nurse Florence: Why Do I Need the Flu Shot? is an educational children’s book that explains the flu virus and the importance of vaccination in simple, science-based terms. What inspired you to focus on explaining flu vaccines to young readers?
I think this book answers the questions even adults have. For some, it seems strange that we have to get a new vaccine every year. Some might ask, Does that mean the old vaccine doesn’t work anymore? I wanted to clearly communicate to families the importance of getting the vaccine every year and why it is needed. The virus changes over time and I wanted to try to make that clear.
How did you approach simplifying complex scientific concepts like immunology and vaccines for a children’s audience?
I keep pages simplified with a main concept every page. It is important to not overload information with children. I think even adults appreciate that approach.
The book emphasizes community protection and empathy. Why was it important for you to include this message, and how do you hope children will respond to it?
As a Registered Nurse, I’m thinking about protecting the community and using empathy to provide a therapeutic environment. I would like children to see Nurse Florence’s empathy and care for others so that they will want to imitate that behavior. We need role models and Nurse Florence can be one.
What challenges did you face when trying to make medical ideas engaging and easy to visualize through illustrations?
I trust in my illustrators’ abilities to present science concepts to kids which are visually appealing and revealing core science concepts. The Nurse Florence series is powerful because of this approach where the illustrations compliment the writing, and the writing compliments the drawings.
Nurse Florence – Why Do I Need the Flu Shot?
Nurse Florence: Why Do I Need the Flu Shot? is an educational children’s book that aims to explain the flu and the importance of flu vaccinations. Written in a conversational tone, the story follows Nurse Florence as she visits a classroom to teach kids about the flu virus, how vaccines work, and why it’s important to get vaccinated. Complete with colorful drawings and clear explanations, it breaks down complex medical ideas into digestible parts for young readers. The book also includes a glossary, which can help kids learn and remember new scientific words.
I appreciate how thorough this picture book is. There’s a real effort to make sure readers understand why the flu virus changes every year and why new vaccines are needed annually. The illustrations, like the drawing of the virus, really help to visualize these concepts, and it’s clear the author put a lot of thought into how to present science in an engaging way.
The book effectively covers basic immunology in a way that is accessible to children. Nurse Florence’s explanations are clear and informative and are designed to communicate important scientific concepts simply. For example, the section that explains how antibodies work provides a detailed and accurate description.
One part that really worked for me was the emphasis on community protection. The idea that getting vaccinated not only helps you but also safeguards vulnerable people is presented with genuine care. This message is especially valuable, and I thought it was a sweet way to teach kids about empathy and responsibility. It’s clear the book’s heart is in the right place, and I felt that sense of purpose shining through Nurse Florence’s lessons.
This children’s book is best for curious young readers who have an interest in science or for parents wanting to teach their kids about the flu vaccine in an easy-to-digest way. Teachers looking to add some educational content to their classrooms will find it useful, too.
Human Physiology
Nurse Florence®, Tell Me About the Lymphatic System offers young readers valuable information about the lymph nodes, spleen, and the thymus in easy-to-grasp language and serves as a valuable resource for families and educators. Why was it important for you to cover this topic in your children’s series?
We will be covering all basic human physiology questions in the Nurse Florence series, and it was time to do this topic.
Did you find anything interesting in your research for this installment in the Nurse Florence series?
I think this is a little-known system of the body and many families of all ages will learn many things from this book.
Your Nurse Florence series is extensive. Do you receive feedback about your books from schools? How are they being utilized?
The long-term plan is for there to be a set of the series in every library.
Can you give us a peek inside the next topic explored in your series?
We are about to publish books about the inner and middle ear. There are some fascinating things about the ear that I think many people will learn new things with these books. The book about the outer ear should publish next year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Sometimes it seems only a nurse can bring technical information down to an understanding that an ordinary person can grasp. The Nurse Florence(R) book series provides high quality medical information that even a child can grasp. By introducing young kids to correct terminology and science concepts at an early age, we can help increase our children’s health literacy level as well as help to prepare them for courses and jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. We need more scientists so I hope that many children will enjoy this book series and consider a job involving science. Introducing Some Medical Words to Kids in Every Book(R) A Movement of Global Health Promotion and Literacy Dow Creative Enterprises(R) Help Civilization Reach Its Potential
Medicine Continues to Evolove
In Nurse Florence®, What is Type 1 Diabetes?, you provide young readers with an introduction to Type 1 Diabetes, its causes, symptoms, and the challenges of managing the disease. What made you choose this topic for a book for children?
People usually get diagnosed with this type of diabetes when they are children. I wanted to provide an additional resource for families affected with this disease.
Nurse Florence has helped you introduce many children to complex medical conditions. What is your process for making the most difficult concepts easier to understand?
I bring the formation down to a very small unit of information and then slowly build up from there. I have faith my readers will be able to understand.
What is one misconception you think many people have about living with diabetes?
A misconception might be the way they treat the disease for the last several years may be how they will have to always deal with it. Medicine continues to advance and now people can have insulin pumps connected to a smartphone to constantly monitor blood sugar levels and automatically provide the correct amount of insulin.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from this installment of the Nurse Florence series?
Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Book Review
Signs and Symptoms
Nurse Florence, Why Do I Need to Eat Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin? teaches children about the importance of these vitamins, how they get them into their diet, and how the body uses them to function. What is the most interesting thing about B12 and Cobalamin for you?
This special vitamin is only synthesized by certain bacteria. Human symbiosis with bacteria is obvious with this necessary nutrient.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I like sharing what signs and symptoms show deficiencies of vitamins in the Nurse Florence series. This helps people start to be more aware of their bodies.
Where did the name Nurse Florence come from, and why did you decide to use this as the name of the series?
Nurse Florence is in homage to the great Florence Nightingale from England in the 1800s. She pioneered single-handedly modern nursing. She helped create the first nursing school. She advocated for cleaner and safer hospitals around the world. We owe her a lot and need to honor her.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Nurse Florence, Why Do I Need a Flu Shot? should come out by the end of November 2024.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Sometimes it seems only a nurse can bring technical information down to an understanding that an ordinary person can grasp. The Nurse Florence(R) book series provides high quality medical information that even a child can grasp. By introducing young kids to correct terminology and science concepts at an early age, we can help increase our children’s health literacy level as well as help to prepare them for courses and jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. We need more scientists so I hope that many children will enjoy this book series and consider a job involving science. Introducing Some Medical Words to Kids in Every Book(R) A Movement of Global Health Promotion and Literacy Dow Creative Enterprises(R) Help Civilization Reach Its Potential
Educating the Whole Family
Nurse Florence, What is Dementia? follows the school nurse as she speaks with a class about Dementia, explaining the symptoms, possible treatments, and preventive measures for this complex illness. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The illustrator of this book chose the topic since her dad had dementia.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I really like sharing ideas on how the family can help a person with this diagnosis.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about Dementia?
It seems that people may be unaware of medication options that can help.
What was the most challenging part of writing the Nurse Florence books, and what was the most rewarding?
The most challenging part to writing the series is ensuring all research on the disease topic is included at a child’s reading level. The most rewarding part is hearing how the books have educated a whole family.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Book Review
LITERARY TITAN 