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Maud the Koala
Fish Are Not Afraid of Doctors
Maud the koala knows a visit to the doctor will help keep her healthy--so why is she so scared?
Maud gets nervous waiting at the doctor's office for a checkup, so she looks to the fish tank in the waiting room for comfort. Fish don't have to go to the doctor--she wishes she could be a fish. So when Maud has to get a shot, she shuts her eyes and pretends exactly She becomes an aquatic version of herself and pretends to swim through the sea, blowing bubbles and meeting other marine life, until she hears the doctor telling her it's all done!
J. E. Morris's charming illustrations and comic-like panels make this a unique format with a narrative style perfect for storytime.
Maud gets nervous waiting at the doctor's office for a checkup, so she looks to the fish tank in the waiting room for comfort. Fish don't have to go to the doctor--she wishes she could be a fish. So when Maud has to get a shot, she shuts her eyes and pretends exactly She becomes an aquatic version of herself and pretends to swim through the sea, blowing bubbles and meeting other marine life, until she hears the doctor telling her it's all done!
J. E. Morris's charming illustrations and comic-like panels make this a unique format with a narrative style perfect for storytime.
32 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2018
5 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer E. Morris
30 books20 followersJennifer is an award winning illustrator and children’s book author. She has illustrated picture books, children’s magazines, greeting cards, party ware and educational materials. She authored and illustrated four books for Scholastic. The best selling of which, "May I Please Have a Cookie?" has sold over one million copies.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 16, 2018
Maud is at the doctor, but has an uneasy feeling about it all. She peers into the aquarium and sees all the fish, wondering if they are afraid of doctors. During her checkup, Maud passes with flying colours, but is surprised to learn that she will need a vaccination. Wondering if fish, too, receive vaccinations, Maud lets her imagination run away with her. She pretends that she is a fish and can enjoy life in the sea. Before she knows it, all is done and she’s given the choice of a sticker for being so brave! Neo remembers going to the doctor for that dreaded shot before school, though he was not afraid and did not think about being a fish. He did remind me, though, that rather than a sticker, he got a large ice cream. Who got the better deal?!
June 14, 2018
A young koala is afraid of getting her shot, but imagining herself as a fish and visualizing that becomes a form of meditation where she doesn't notice her shot, the idea being that you can use those techniques with your child. Probably more helpful to read the end note and go through the book before reading with your child.
September 18, 2019
Doctors' visits are a sensitive subject with Berry. She's been to so many on so many different occasions that sometimes just the mere mention of a doctor sends her into tears. I like to continue to introduce books about the subject, though, as a way of normalizing the experience. This one is by far my favorite. Not only does it acknowledge the anxiety a child feels before a doctor's visit, but it offers a solution! Visualization distracts the child by encouraging him/her to imagine themselves somewhere else where they feel no fear and, hopefully, calms and prevents them from reaching those higher levels of anxiety. There is a note to caregivers at the end that offers additional information and suggestions for its use. I will absolutely be using this with Berry (and Bean Sprout) at all of their future appointments!
January 2, 2024
This is another engaging book for young readers by the author, with the most charming illustrations. Maud the koala doesn't like going to the doctor, and really doesn't want a vaccination, but by using her imagination, her mind is so occupied that she doesn't feel any pain. A great example of how kids (adults too) can use distraction to deal with having shots.
November 13, 2018
https://raisethemrighteous.com/2018/1...
J.E. Morris’s new series Maud the Koala introduces early readers to a wonderfully relatable character and helps build visual literacy as well as reading confidence. The series is thoughtfully illustrated in the tradition of comics with action moving across panels and tiers. Full-page spreads allow the reader to become immersed in imagery. Fish are Not Afraid of Doctors is a delightful book about a young koala’s apprehension about visiting the doctor.
Maud the Koala and her mother go see Dr. Susan for a checkup. There is a large fish tank in the waiting room and Maud shares her anxiety about the doctor’s visit by asking her mother if fish are afraid of doctors. When her mother responds that fish do not go to the doctor, Maud exclaims that she wishes she was a fish.
Children with concerns about visiting the doctor will easily identify with Maud, and the text helps calm anxieties by allowing young readers to follow Maud on her journey through her checkup. Towards the end of the visit Dr. Susan tells Maud she is ready for her vaccination, a big word many early readers are likely to stumble over, but one Morris breaks down phonetically as Maud repeats the new vocabulary word.
A fish mobile in the office reminds Maud that she really wishes she was a fish and the reader is then taken on a creative visualization of Maud’s transformation into a fish and exploration of the sea. The visualization exercise is cleverly folded into the story and adds a range of nautical vocabulary words to the mix.
The visualization is interrupted by Dr. Susan who says, “We’re all done.” Maud is surprised because she has not felt any pain. She’s rewarded with a sticker and is no longer afraid of doctors.
An end note to caretakers explains the power of visualization to calm anxieties of children concerned about doctor visits.
I enthusiastically recommend this book! As a mother of a three-year-old I know young children can experience anxiety about the unknown. This text not only provides a good overview of visualization as a creative strategy for coping with anxiety, it walks the reader through Maud’s doctor’s visit, so there will be fewer surprises for her young readers at their checkup.
J.E. Morris’s new series Maud the Koala introduces early readers to a wonderfully relatable character and helps build visual literacy as well as reading confidence. The series is thoughtfully illustrated in the tradition of comics with action moving across panels and tiers. Full-page spreads allow the reader to become immersed in imagery. Fish are Not Afraid of Doctors is a delightful book about a young koala’s apprehension about visiting the doctor.
Maud the Koala and her mother go see Dr. Susan for a checkup. There is a large fish tank in the waiting room and Maud shares her anxiety about the doctor’s visit by asking her mother if fish are afraid of doctors. When her mother responds that fish do not go to the doctor, Maud exclaims that she wishes she was a fish.
Children with concerns about visiting the doctor will easily identify with Maud, and the text helps calm anxieties by allowing young readers to follow Maud on her journey through her checkup. Towards the end of the visit Dr. Susan tells Maud she is ready for her vaccination, a big word many early readers are likely to stumble over, but one Morris breaks down phonetically as Maud repeats the new vocabulary word.
A fish mobile in the office reminds Maud that she really wishes she was a fish and the reader is then taken on a creative visualization of Maud’s transformation into a fish and exploration of the sea. The visualization exercise is cleverly folded into the story and adds a range of nautical vocabulary words to the mix.
The visualization is interrupted by Dr. Susan who says, “We’re all done.” Maud is surprised because she has not felt any pain. She’s rewarded with a sticker and is no longer afraid of doctors.
An end note to caretakers explains the power of visualization to calm anxieties of children concerned about doctor visits.
I enthusiastically recommend this book! As a mother of a three-year-old I know young children can experience anxiety about the unknown. This text not only provides a good overview of visualization as a creative strategy for coping with anxiety, it walks the reader through Maud’s doctor’s visit, so there will be fewer surprises for her young readers at their checkup.
June 5, 2018
Morris, J.E. Fish Are Not Afraid of Doctors (Maud the Koala). PICTURE BOOK. Penguin Random House, 2018. $9. 9871524784430
Maud is anxious while awaiting her annual checkup. She finds herself desperately wishing to be one of the fish in the waiting room tank so she won't have to go through with her appointment. She imagines what it would be like to swim in the ocean and breathe like a fish. Before she knows it, the appointment is over, and so is the vaccination she was due to receive! An afterword talks more about using deep breathing and visualization to reduce anxiety about occasions such as doctor visits.
Preschoolers will likely sympathize with Maud's anxiety, and the way she accidentally reduces her fear is a good lesson for children.
Pre-K -- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Maud is anxious while awaiting her annual checkup. She finds herself desperately wishing to be one of the fish in the waiting room tank so she won't have to go through with her appointment. She imagines what it would be like to swim in the ocean and breathe like a fish. Before she knows it, the appointment is over, and so is the vaccination she was due to receive! An afterword talks more about using deep breathing and visualization to reduce anxiety about occasions such as doctor visits.
Preschoolers will likely sympathize with Maud's anxiety, and the way she accidentally reduces her fear is a good lesson for children.
Pre-K -- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
May 8, 2018
A cute, if strange, little volume about dealing with anxiety--in this case, the main character is afraid of visiting the doctor for a checkup. She sees the fish tank in the waiting room and wishes she were a fish so she wouldn't have to go to the doctor. Once she enters the doctor's office, the book does a good job of explaining basics of a checkup/basic visit to see a doctor. The fish turn out to be a good distraction for Maud and a way to distract her thoughts and transfer her anxiety during the vaccination part of the visit. Also included is a helpful page with a note to caregivers after the end of the story, which talks about strategies for working through anxiety.
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers for providing a review copy of the book.
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers for providing a review copy of the book.
December 15, 2021
Maud is a little worried about visiting the doctor for a check up and wishes she were a fish, then she wouldn't have to go to the doctor or get shots.
A cute, quick graphic novel picture book that introduces a helpful way for stressed kids to handle a doctor's visit better (visualizing/imagining they were somewhere/someone else). The back of the book includes even more ideas of how to really help a child anxious about a shot.
A cute, quick graphic novel picture book that introduces a helpful way for stressed kids to handle a doctor's visit better (visualizing/imagining they were somewhere/someone else). The back of the book includes even more ideas of how to really help a child anxious about a shot.
June 4, 2021
My kids got to pick their own books at the last library visit. I wouldn't have picked this. My kids haven't ever been afraid of (nor expressed any issue with) going to the doctors. It's only after reading books that they suddenly have an idea that they SHOULD be afraid of going.
This annoys and frustrates me immensely.
This annoys and frustrates me immensely.
January 2, 2019
A young animal is afraid to go the doctor and tries many ways to not go into the office. What will she do when she is told she needs a shot? Preschool and up. I really liked this easy reader and found it great for preping a child for their first shot.
January 22, 2020
Shots are a real fear amongst kids and this is a book that addresses that without belittling it or making it seem imensely more scary and walks through some coping skills. It even includes an end note explaining all this and how to use it effectively with one's own child. A winner.
April 14, 2021
A nice book which helps explain what going to the doctor for a checkup and shot entails. At the end it also offers some tips for things your child can try to help alleviate or manage the stress of getting a shot.
May 1, 2018
What a great book for learning how to face things that scare us.
May 13, 2018
Interesting new series - each book has a note at the end for parents that addresses the topic at hand.
Young readers will like the graphic novel frames that some of the pages feature.
Young readers will like the graphic novel frames that some of the pages feature.
May 17, 2018
Lovely little story about a little koala who is afraid of the doctor but learns to face her fears.
June 17, 2018
Children do not like to get shots at the doctors. This book reminds them that it is ok.
June 18, 2018
Great illustrations and an easy to read story. Loved it and love sharing it with my grands.
August 25, 2018
Might help preschooler or toddler and their parents or care givers before doctor visits.
September 27, 2018
This one is a bit strange, but I suppose it might be helpful to some tiny humans.
August 14, 2019
BCFL Checkout (Warminster/9 books in one day per A).
Second read was me - I read to make sure it was appropriate.
Second read was me - I read to make sure it was appropriate.
February 25, 2022
Maud is at the doctor's office waiting her turn for her physical. She's nervous and while caught up in her own imagination of swimming underwater for the fish, she's vaccinized! Easy peasy!
Read
December 18, 2018Maud becomes nervous and fearful about her visit to the doctor’s office for a checkup. Her first thought is to hide to avoid seeing the doctor. While observing a fish tank in the doctor’s waiting room, a more positive solution to Maud’s fears is revealed as Maud realizes how lucky fish are, as they don’t have to see a doctor. Learn how Maud uses kid-friendly relaxation techniques to ease apprehension about a doctor’s office visit. The author’s engaging comic-style story panels provide a format that is not only attention-grabbing, but showcases an informative exercise in anxiety reduction techniques.
Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library:
https://catalog.swanlibraries.net/client/en_US/vpd/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:1703013/ada?qu=fish+are+not+afraid+of+doctors&lm=VPD
Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library:
https://catalog.swanlibraries.net/client/en_US/vpd/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:1703013/ada?qu=fish+are+not+afraid+of+doctors&lm=VPD
Read
February 11, 2019Good book for children around times where it may be flu shot season, or when the school nurse plans to make a visit into the classroom. Open up the childs mind to doctors not being viewed as a scary place. And in the end of the books gives great suggestions for distracting children while getting vaccinations. Good choice with a variety of animals in different positions in the doctors office.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews