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This story uses amusing dialogue & colorful, silly images to quieten fears regarding Ear Tubes: a common childhood surgery.
Olivia’s got a big problem! A dinosaur has filled her ears with water to play in. And there's only one way to get that silly dinosaur out: with special drains called Ear Tubes.
Young children and toddlers about to get ear tubes will gently learn what to expect through the fun imagination of a little girl – with the focus on catching a dinosaur, rather than surgery.
When Olivia learns her earaches are caused by a dinosaur splashing around in her ear, her imagination runs wild. Join her on an adventure as she prepares to meet the Dinosaur Catchers, who will give her ear tubes and capture that silly little dinosaur.
With just the right mix of information and humor, colorful illustrations, and a unique, kid-friendly concept, this fantasy story is designed to help parents guide their little ones through ear tube surgery and recovery in a playful, imaginative way.
Ear pain is no laughing matter for anyone, but more so for kids. In There's a Dinosaur in My Ear, Nat Gibson found a creative and silly way to explain what is causing the little girl's ear pain and what to expect before, during, and after surgery.
Like many kids around the world, Olivia suffers from chronic ear pain. The doctor informs her she has A LOT of water in her ear. She questioned how water got in her ear. This is where the silliness begins. The doctor blames it on a little dinosaur, an EAR-O-SAURUS, who readers will see splashing around in an inflatable pool. Very cute drawing! Luckily for Olivia, the doctor will enlist the help of the Dinosaur Catchers, who will put tiny tubes in the child's ears to drain the water and capture the dinosaur, so her ears will be pain-free.
As Olivia slept, her world transformed into a wild, imaginative scene. Instead of a stuffy backdrop, Olivia is wadding through waters and peeking through bushes with wild animals nearby. Young readers will follow Olivia's journey from admissions (getting a nature-inspired bracelet) to the comedic picture of her bending the "weigh station." Dinosaurs in the ear add extra pounds! After vitals and a cute costume change, Olivia and the readers meet the Dinosaur Catchers.
Anyone's anxiety level will rise when they face surgery or a hospital stay, especially if it's your first time. Like with Nat Gibson's There's a Stegosaurus in My Tonsils, the author takes the guesswork out of the procedure. Using simple text and highlighting keywords, the writer helps kids understand that they are in good hands with the Dino team (the doctors and nurses). And when Olivia woke up, the Ear-o-sarus was by her side, ready to have fun - outside Olivia's ear, of course!
While this story simplified the procedure and medical issue, it didn't cover questions (I believe) readers will have. What do the tubes look like? How big are they? Can the tubes fall out? What the author presented was creative, funny, entertaining, and informative. I highly recommend sharing this book with your child before their procedure!
Amazon has the story marked for children between 2-6 years of age.
That is an excellent age bracket!
Reviewed by
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Synopsis
Olivia’s got a big problem! A dinosaur has filled her ears with water to play in. And there's only one way to get that silly dinosaur out: with special drains called Ear Tubes.
Young children and toddlers about to get ear tubes will gently learn what to expect through the fun imagination of a little girl – with the focus on catching a dinosaur, rather than surgery.
When Olivia learns her earaches are caused by a dinosaur splashing around in her ear, her imagination runs wild. Join her on an adventure as she prepares to meet the Dinosaur Catchers, who will give her ear tubes and capture that silly little dinosaur.
With just the right mix of information and humor, colorful illustrations, and a unique, kid-friendly concept, this fantasy story is designed to help parents guide their little ones through ear tube surgery and recovery in a playful, imaginative way.
About the author
Nat Gibson lives in California with her husband and two children, both of whom had surgery before turning 4 years old. Her books are designed to help parents engage their child’s imagination as they go through new or difficult experiences. view profile
Published on August 17, 2024
Published by Gibaria Publishing
0-1000 words
Worked with a Reedsy professional 🏆
Genre: Picture Books
Reviewed by
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