Review Detail

'Pete the Kitty Goes to the Doctor' by Kimberly & James Dean is a great addition to any child's “I Can Read” library. These books focus on basic language, word repetition, and whimsical illustrations, so there is something that all kids can find interesting. The story follows Pete as he starts feeling ill. His dad wants to take him to the doctor, but he is reluctant to go. Little does he know that while he's there, he'll learn that going to the doctor isn't such a scary thing, and there is actually much to be learned that will help with the overall process of feeling better.

This book does a nice job of focusing on the relationship between a parent and child as well as the relationship between a child and his doctor. It shows that even what seems troublesome might not be so bad. Our worries sometimes get in the way of our ability to process what is happening, and this can lead to uncertainty and misunderstandings. Also, leaving our comfort zone and everything that makes us feel good for the uncertainty of what might happen (for example, what the doctor might say) is not always easy. Pete finds, through his own sickness and trip to the doctor, that everything isn't always what it seems and there might be something positive that can come out of something that originally seemed negative.