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ABC Doctor
Going to the doctor's office for a checkup can be scary, but it's easier if you know what to expect. This book goes over the ABCs of visiting the doctorfrom examinations and fevers to nurses and urine samples. Each term is accompanied by a fun and informative description, as well as a colorful, child-friendly illustration. Before they know it, young readers will be feeling "a zillion times better"! Liz Murphy's vibrant and whimsical mixed-media illustrations are sure to calm any fears about a child's next checkup.
36 pages, Hardcover
First published March 22, 2007
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Harriet Ziefert
684 books56 followersHarriet Ziefert grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Masters degree in Education from New York University.
For many years, Ziefert was an elementary school teacher. She taught most grades from kindergarten to fifth grade. "I liked it," she said, but she stopped teaching when she had her own sons. When her children were older, Ziefert wanted "a bigger arena" for her work. She went to work at a publishing company, Scholastic in New York City, developing materials for teacher's guides for kindergarten language arts and social studies programs.
"About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year.
For many years, Ziefert was an elementary school teacher. She taught most grades from kindergarten to fifth grade. "I liked it," she said, but she stopped teaching when she had her own sons. When her children were older, Ziefert wanted "a bigger arena" for her work. She went to work at a publishing company, Scholastic in New York City, developing materials for teacher's guides for kindergarten language arts and social studies programs.
"About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 26, 2016
Awards: None
Grade Level: Ages 4-6 Grades Pre K-1
Summary: This book goes through each letter of the alphabet illustrating different doctor related activities as well as procedures that kids will deal with. It shows everything from stethoscopes to bandages to checkups. It covers it all and is a good book before your child's next visit to the doctor
Review: I enjoyed this book for what it was trying to do. I liked the examples they gave for each letter of alphabet. I thought it did a great job of showing some of the things you might come across in a doctor's office as a child. I loved the illustrations and i thought it was a good book overall.
Possible in class uses: One in class use is teaching children about washing their hands and avoiding bacteria, another is to teach children the letter of the alphabet, and lastly it gives examples of words for every letter in the alphabet.
Grade Level: Ages 4-6 Grades Pre K-1
Summary: This book goes through each letter of the alphabet illustrating different doctor related activities as well as procedures that kids will deal with. It shows everything from stethoscopes to bandages to checkups. It covers it all and is a good book before your child's next visit to the doctor
Review: I enjoyed this book for what it was trying to do. I liked the examples they gave for each letter of alphabet. I thought it did a great job of showing some of the things you might come across in a doctor's office as a child. I loved the illustrations and i thought it was a good book overall.
Possible in class uses: One in class use is teaching children about washing their hands and avoiding bacteria, another is to teach children the letter of the alphabet, and lastly it gives examples of words for every letter in the alphabet.
August 5, 2018
I saw this book at a used book sale at my local public library, since it was only $1 I thought the hardback would be a nice edition to my little free library, the book filled with wonderful illustrations could help fearful children overcome their mild fears of the doctors office but once I saw that U was for urine sample and V was for Vomit I had to pass on getting it, all the fluid content became too graphic.
December 1, 2020
I found this book at my local library. I like the illustrations, and it captured daughter's attention. I knew the book was way above her reading level, but I was able to summarize the detailed text to make it approachable for her. Had to take away one star because some of the letter examples were a little much (there has to be a better word for the letter I than "inoculation").
February 9, 2019
This is one of my favorite books I have used in the classroom. It helps children learn the alphabet and learn what doctors do for us. Children can help predict what letter comes next. Each letter has something to do with the doctor. This book can help children who are afraid to go to the doctor.
February 15, 2016
Title: ABC Doctor: Staying Healthy from A to Z
Author: Liz Murphy
Illustrator:
Genre: Alphabet book
Theme(s): Alphabet
Opening line/sentence: Appointment. Doctors are busy people. If you need to see the doctor, you have to make an appointment before you go. In an emergency, if you are injured or very sick the doctor will see you right away.
Brief Book Summary: This book is an Alphabet book that explains tools and concepts related to going to the doctor's office. It includes a short summary of what the object or term is on each page so the reader knows what its function and purpose is. it also includes things like hand hygiene and germs so it extends a little further past the common tools doctor's and nurses use.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 6))
A straightforward alphabet book introduces each letter and pairs it with a medical term. Murphy features a wide range of medical terms reviewed by an M.D. ranging from "joint" to "otoscope," and includes a short sentence or two of further explanation. While aiming to keep kids "staying healthy from A to Z," letter pairings also include subjects like "hand hygiene" that gently encourage good health habits and succeed in not straying into didacticism. Funky, colorful mixed-media illustrations add texture and humor without diminishing the importance of the topics. Some readers may want to take an up-close look at the several imbedded illustrations, like the vintage anatomical diagrams. The illustrations also shed light on some of the routine practices of a check-up, and so for young readers nervous about doctor appointments, this text might just be the thing for what ails them. 2007, Blue Apple, 36p, $15.95. Category: Picture book. Ages 4 to 7. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(PUBLISHER: Blue Apple Books (Maplewood N.J.:), PUBLISHED: 2007.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Murphys perky text and illustrations are designed to help young children feel comfortable with the ABCs of going to the doctor, with an emphasis on well patient check up routines and routine procedures such as fever (F) and x-ray. Each letter and word gets a page of child friendly explanations such as Inoculation -- No body likes to get a shot, but inoculations (getting special medicine under your skin) keep you from getting serious diseases. Some of the drawings are complemented with collage sidebars of anatomical drawings, so that the entry for joints shows arm joints. This could be a useful addition to a classroom library for pre-k, kindergarten, and primary classrooms, ready for consulting as the children deal with the predictable ups and downs of childhood disease. It is too bad there was not room for a few more children of color or for chronic conditions like asthma and ear infections that are almost epidemic in some communities. 2007, Blue Apple Books, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8.
(PUBLISHER: Blue Apple ;Ragged Bears distributor] (New York:) ([Enfield:), PUBLISHED: c2007.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both of these reviews talked about the illustrations and how vibrant they were. They also discussed how the author included little blurbs about each vocabulary word which is very helpful for the readers. I liked how to second review pointed out the lack of cultural diversity and offered up some suggestions of what might make the book a little more well rounded for children.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The illustrations in this book match the text very well; both are happy and bright. The objects are also presented clearly throughout the book but they are not by themselves. The illustrator created a scene for each object or term. This book would be good for a variety of classrooms I think because it is an alphabet book, therefore is suited for younger children. However, there are short descriptions for each word and those are more suited for older students like second grade.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
For this story, I think it would be a good idea to have children think about a time they went to the doctor’s and then have them draw a picture of that. I would then re the story out loud again and have them see how many things were in their pictures that were also inside of the story. I would then take a trip to the nurse’s office and explain how they are similar and the nurse can help take care of you when you are sick at school.
Author: Liz Murphy
Illustrator:
Genre: Alphabet book
Theme(s): Alphabet
Opening line/sentence: Appointment. Doctors are busy people. If you need to see the doctor, you have to make an appointment before you go. In an emergency, if you are injured or very sick the doctor will see you right away.
Brief Book Summary: This book is an Alphabet book that explains tools and concepts related to going to the doctor's office. It includes a short summary of what the object or term is on each page so the reader knows what its function and purpose is. it also includes things like hand hygiene and germs so it extends a little further past the common tools doctor's and nurses use.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 6))
A straightforward alphabet book introduces each letter and pairs it with a medical term. Murphy features a wide range of medical terms reviewed by an M.D. ranging from "joint" to "otoscope," and includes a short sentence or two of further explanation. While aiming to keep kids "staying healthy from A to Z," letter pairings also include subjects like "hand hygiene" that gently encourage good health habits and succeed in not straying into didacticism. Funky, colorful mixed-media illustrations add texture and humor without diminishing the importance of the topics. Some readers may want to take an up-close look at the several imbedded illustrations, like the vintage anatomical diagrams. The illustrations also shed light on some of the routine practices of a check-up, and so for young readers nervous about doctor appointments, this text might just be the thing for what ails them. 2007, Blue Apple, 36p, $15.95. Category: Picture book. Ages 4 to 7. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(PUBLISHER: Blue Apple Books (Maplewood N.J.:), PUBLISHED: 2007.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Murphys perky text and illustrations are designed to help young children feel comfortable with the ABCs of going to the doctor, with an emphasis on well patient check up routines and routine procedures such as fever (F) and x-ray. Each letter and word gets a page of child friendly explanations such as Inoculation -- No body likes to get a shot, but inoculations (getting special medicine under your skin) keep you from getting serious diseases. Some of the drawings are complemented with collage sidebars of anatomical drawings, so that the entry for joints shows arm joints. This could be a useful addition to a classroom library for pre-k, kindergarten, and primary classrooms, ready for consulting as the children deal with the predictable ups and downs of childhood disease. It is too bad there was not room for a few more children of color or for chronic conditions like asthma and ear infections that are almost epidemic in some communities. 2007, Blue Apple Books, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8.
(PUBLISHER: Blue Apple ;Ragged Bears distributor] (New York:) ([Enfield:), PUBLISHED: c2007.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both of these reviews talked about the illustrations and how vibrant they were. They also discussed how the author included little blurbs about each vocabulary word which is very helpful for the readers. I liked how to second review pointed out the lack of cultural diversity and offered up some suggestions of what might make the book a little more well rounded for children.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The illustrations in this book match the text very well; both are happy and bright. The objects are also presented clearly throughout the book but they are not by themselves. The illustrator created a scene for each object or term. This book would be good for a variety of classrooms I think because it is an alphabet book, therefore is suited for younger children. However, there are short descriptions for each word and those are more suited for older students like second grade.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
For this story, I think it would be a good idea to have children think about a time they went to the doctor’s and then have them draw a picture of that. I would then re the story out loud again and have them see how many things were in their pictures that were also inside of the story. I would then take a trip to the nurse’s office and explain how they are similar and the nurse can help take care of you when you are sick at school.
March 24, 2014
This bright, informative ABC book covers everything from appointments and germs to inoculations and otoscopes. Harriet Ziefert has integrated an incredible amount of knowledge and new vocabulary into these pages in an accessible way. This is a wonderful book to share with a young child before you head to the doctor, especially if they tend to worry about the doctor. It was a great conversation starter for our two year olds and ends on the uplifting note of feeling "a zillion times better." Liz Murphy's mixed media illustrations add a touch of whimsy to the book. She creatively blends texture and pattern into her illustrations in a way that is both colorfully optimistic and intriguing to the reader. A great pick for your next doctor visit or for the budding physician you know.
March 30, 2013
ABC Doctor is a great book to further your childs learning with the alphabet, and to talk to them about doctors visits, especially if they seem a little uncertain. The illustrations are very cool, they appear to be watercolor and some pages are painted on recycled paper. It adds some familiarity to the book, it makes it less formal which can put a child at ease on the topic of doctors visits.
This book is appropriate for ages 4+
I enjoyed this book, it lets kids know a little bit about their bodies and how going to the doctor doesn't have to be intimidating. It also highlights the letters of the alphabet which will be helpful to a young learner.
This book is appropriate for ages 4+
I enjoyed this book, it lets kids know a little bit about their bodies and how going to the doctor doesn't have to be intimidating. It also highlights the letters of the alphabet which will be helpful to a young learner.
October 29, 2012
Aside from teaching children about their ABC's, Murphy also talks about how to stay healthy! I liked how she integrated both of these topics without making the reader really aware that there were two things going on. The book is really well illustrated. It looks like a child did the drawings so I think children would like to look at the pictures and relate to them. She also explained what each word meant so if a parent was reading the book, she or he could read to the child what the uncommon word meant.
October 11, 2011
After reading this book I realized that i never read a ABC book before. This one in specific i liked because i know that when i was a little girl i was terrified on doctors and i thought every time i was visiting the doctor it was going to be painful but the book says positive things that a doctor does and also teaches children the ABC and uses the letter for a word. Also the images are very colorful and it was an easy book to follow.
September 1, 2011
This book can be used to teach the ABC's and about a check up at the doctor's office. A lot of children are afraid to go to the doctor, but with this heads up they will know what to expect. It also teaches students about germs and hygiene.
December 8, 2012
One of the very few alphabet books where X for X-ray makes good narrative sense. Ziefert is a genius, and Murphy's illustrations are delightful. Extra points for ethnic and gender diversity in the professionals as well as the patients!
March 13, 2017
This is not only a good book for ABC but a good informational book. Maybe for more of k-2nd. Gives examples of words that start with each letter in the alphabet but that are related to going to the doctor. Even explains what those things are and do.
July 29, 2009
This book should be in every family doctor's office! Not only does it cleverly show the alphabet with some "hard" words like O for Otoscope but V for vomit which will surely make kids giggle.
August 26, 2011
The book goes through the whole alphabet, with each letter representing a element at the doctor's or related to being sick or healthy.
December 11, 2011
Information book: Published: 2007
Good read for kids to help ease their fears about going to the doctor. My son loves any kind of ABC book.
Good read for kids to help ease their fears about going to the doctor. My son loves any kind of ABC book.
September 8, 2011
gave me a chance to talk to Nathan about things that happen at the doctor's office
Read
August 1, 2015Fun. Perfect for the budding hypochondriac.
February 1, 2017
An abc book of all things associated with visiting the doctor. Each page is one paragraph associated with that letter. Creative. Preschool and up or one on one for length and complexity.
Read
March 5, 2018Harriet Ziefert’s book titled "ABC Doctor" uses common medical terminology in presenting the ABCs to readers. The majority of the terms used would be beneficial for children to know about before going to their first doctor’s visit. Similarly to the manner each word is explained, the illustrations, which were created by Liz Murphy, are often playful and stylistic. Ziefert is an American author who has written hundreds of books. This size and layout of this book make this book a recommended choice for small groups of people (early elementary grades). The bright colors used in the illustrations makes not only the text appear easier but also the image itself. For easy reference, all of the words discussed in the book are listed on the back of the book. Whether it’s a visit to the doctor, dentist, or just a book to read in class "ABC Doctor" is a concise combination of knowledge, literature, and art all rolled into one. This is definitely worth a purchase for a family or for a reference book in an elementary school.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews