The Moose With Loose PoopsChandler loves to look at and read books.  We have made it a habit to always read books before he takes naps and before bed.  We usually tell him to pick 3 or 4 and he carefully scans through them to pick the ones he likes the most.  He is getting to the stage where he is really interested in the storyline of a book.  I know that reading with your child is extremely important, and I believe that the content and what it teaches is a very important aspect of that.  The Dr. Hippo Series Books help you and your child learn about different medical issues and how to handle them in a wonderful, entertaining way.

There are 5 books in the series which include:
The Little Elephant with the Big Earache
Katie Caught a Cold
Peeper has a Fever
Sadie’s Sore Throat
The Moose with Loose Poops
The Hippocratic Press was founded by Dr. Charlotte Cowan.  She practiced for many years in Boston and noted  the different emotions and how children changed when they were sick.  She also noted how parents seemed to react the same way.  Many children and their parents didn’t understand what was going on.   As taken from the Dr. Hippo website, this is how the Dr. Hippo series was born: 
“The idea of writing stories for sick children evolved as a natural combination of her professional experience and her childhood love of reading. As a pediatrician, Dr. Cowan developed a strong intuition that children would do better with their illnesses if they both understood what was happening to them and realized that they would get better. As a fan of children’s books, she recognized that they offered the perfect medium for her message. Before long, Dr. Cowan began to write age appropriate stories for her patients. Through her animal characters, she not only entertains her audience but also combines empathy with education. Reading her stories, children and their parents will feel comforted and cared for as they face together the inevitable illnesses of childhood.”     Pros:  These books are highly captivating. The illustrations are beautiful and the text is written so that a small child can easily understand it.   Chandler’s favorite are:  The Moose with Loose Poops, and Sadie’s Sore Throat.  The title in and of itself

wants to make you read them, right?  I think a book is wonderful when it’s title can immediately capture your attention.  They are published in hardback which makes them extremely durable.  They’ve already been toted all around the house, taken to church, and even on a road trip.  They still look great.  That is definitely one thing I love about hardcover books.  
The fact that they are written written by a Pediatrician lets you know that you can trust the information, which is a huge plus!
I think the medical issues that are covered in these books are so appropriate.  Those covered include colds, fevers, ear infections, sore throats, vomiting, and diarrhea.  Although my boys are still small, we have experienced every one of these illnesses with one or the other.  
I specifically remember one time when Chandler was sick and throwing up.  After being woken in the middle of the night, we proceeded to change his bedding, give him a bath, and put him back in bed.  He started feeling terrible again, and began throwing up.  He looked at me and kept saying:  ”Help me mama!  help – what is it?”  I felt a bit helpless, not knowing how to keep it simple in explaining what happened.   The Dr. hippo series outlines easy ways to explain to your child what is happening during an illness, while telling a story at the same time.  I LOVE this.
Another strong Pro is the parent’s guides that are included in the back of each of the books.  It is a laminated fold out that outlines common questions about that illness, offers advice to parents, and guides them as to when they should call the Dr. 
To learn more about each Dr. Hippo book, click here.
I really am excited to spread the word about the Dr. Hippo series.  My youngest has had a lot of health problems that have had us in and out of the Dr.’s office.  Although I feel I am much more educated than I was to begin with, these books would have been a great starting resource for me.  
Cons:  I wish that these books were available in paperback as well.  I’d love to be able to give them as gifts, and this might make it more affordable to do so.  
The Bottom Line:  Entertaining and educational with wonderful illustrations and great text, the Dr. Hippo series are a must have in any children’s library.  
Where to Buy:  Your local bookstore, Amazon (Links to books below)
The Little Elephant with the Big Earache       Price:  $17.95

Rating:  Excellent
Want to Win the Entire Series?
Here’s How to Enter:
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Please leave each entry as a separate comment.  Contest is open to US residents only and will end at 11:59 MST on May 18th.  Winner will be chosen via random.org, and has 48 hours to claim their prize, or I will redraw. (Please leave contact information or come back and check the giveaway winners page.)
 

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