Lumos Keeps Calm: Dealing with Cuts & Stitches

Helping Paws Academy

by Pat McCaw

New from Mayo Clinic Press Kids’ Helping Paws Academy series, Lumos Keeps Calm follows a facility dog who helps a child needing stitches.

This inviting chapter book series explores health topics through the friendly lens of facility dogs. Follow an adorable facility dog helping a child through getting stitches, with strong messages of empathy, kindness, and courage. Facility dogs are specially trained to help kids through medical experiences—from lifting spirits, motivating movement, modeling the power of play, and more. Nonfiction back matter provides more information about medical topics introduced in the books, from acute to chronic issues, while also proving more information about facility dog programs and the Mayo Clinic Children's Center.

Mayo Clinic Press Kids creates empowering health and wellness content in partnership with pediatric experts. Proceeds from the sale of every book go to benefit important medical research and education at Mayo Clinic.

80 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2023

Reviews

[Sonja Charters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth book I've read in The Helping Paws Academy series which follows dogs with their handlers as they visit the hospital to help comfort and motivate children who are worried about visiting hospital for either the first time or for certain procedures.

Here we come back to Lumos and share his day visiting Kaia who has fallen, cut her arm and needs stitches.

Lumos helps Kaia to understand what is going to be happening to her by demonstrating some of the procedures - but I love that this also shows that the facility dogs can provide a distraction from the things that can cause anxiety and worry.

These stories always include some time away from the patient to have a break in the fresh air and they usually meet up with the other facility dogs and their owners. This is great as we get to see what all the dogs have been getting up to - but also shows the importance of having a break in work time and getting some fresh air too.

I love that during each book, we spend time in different locations through the hospital - Lumos goes to visit Sonali in the rehab centre and also visits the play room for inpatients.

I think it's good to see the different areas and to help us understand a little about the hospital and why you may need to visit or stay there for a short time.

A brilliant series and I really hope that there will be more books to follow.

[Jess Twibey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lumos is the most senior of the facility dogs, with the most experience and most confidence. He helps a young girl through an X-ray and getting stitches done, and inbetween plays with kids in the rehab unit. In such a short book lumos helps so many and had fun doing so, helping young reader understand medical terms and hopefully ease any nerves for future incidents

[Siobhain McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction
I was given several of the Helping Paws Academy to review for a book tour by Love Book Tours. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. I will always try to avoid spoilers in all reviews as well. #HelpingPawsAcademy #PatMcCawMD #LoveBookTours #LBTCrew #AD #BookReview

Review
The Helping Paws Academy series is a brilliant series of illustrated educational children books to help children understand various medical issues they may face either themselves or with family members. Each book explores these health topics through the lens of therapy dogs. Each chapter book follows one of the dogs of Helping Paw Academy helping children through certain obstacles with messages of empathy, kindness and courage. On top of the fictionalised story each book contains nonfiction back matter that provides more detailed information on topics introduced in the books.

I really enjoyed all of the Helping Paws academy books I have read as part of the book tour. Each one focuses on a different medical or health issue and highlights important information for younger readers in a fun and informative way. The therapy dogs personality shines through and being told from their point of view gives a comforting and childlike feeling to the writing and subject matter. I also enjoyed we get to see the doctors, nurses and of course therapy dog handlers shine through and help put the children at ease, explaining the situation to them.

On top of this the illustrations are adorable, colourful and engaging. It is nice to see the elements of the procedures in the book take place, for example in Lumos Keeps Calm we see the doctor performing the stitching helping children understand what to expect and what they might see. This pairs perfection with the added non-fiction section at the back that goes into greater detail.

In short this series is perfect and a must read for young children and families to help them gain understanding of medical and health issues they may face or be facing in the future.

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[kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review will be covering the next three books in this series

Cricket Helps Out: Understanding Appendicitis

Dash Can Do It: Taking On Diabetes

Lumos Keeps Calm: Dealing with Cuts and Stitches

I am so happy to see my favourite pawsome trio back helping children through some of the toughest times they will have. I have taken these three dogs to my heart where they can stay forever rent free.

These books are such an important read for children, families, care givers or anyone else coming into regular contact with children that have illnesses.
They are well written with colourful and engaging illustrations and narrative and content which is both informative with out being to over weighty and helpful.

The fact that the main characters are dogs will also help engage children and make them more relaxed and will help other children realise what their friends or family members may be going through, as these could also be helpful for children whose parents are sick too.

I used to be a paediatric nurse and there was nothing available like this before in the children's wards it was just stuffy leaflets for the parents to read and staff to help explain to children, thus these books being on wards as well would be so helpful and help alleviate family fears somewhat too.

A fantastic collection of books

[Paula Learmouth · Rating 5 out of 5]

We meet Lumos again, dealing with cuts and stitches. In this book we meet Kaia, a 10-year-old who has multiple scratches and scrapes covering her legs and her arm is also wrapped in a towel with spots of blood showing through. Lumos is there it help Kaia along the way, even when Kaia has to go to x-ray, Lumos goes along with her and shows her how to get a x-ray by jumping onto the table to show her. Lumos also goes to Rehab to visit an old friend Sonali who is in a wheelchair. On returning back to see Kaia, she is looking worried as she has to have stitches, but as always Lumos is there to help and make it easier.
These books are a great idea for helping children of all ages, as well as some older people, making someone less worried is something that we all want and what better way than having a cute dog to help us

[Lauren Flewett · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are great and there should be more of these around to help children understand medical procedures and help them not to be scared.

Adding the dogs in to the story is also very appealing to children and the illustrations were great.

The notes at the end were very educational and you get to see a picture of a real facility dog - super cute!

I highly recommend these books for kids going through tough times in hospital.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lumos is a helping dog that goes to the hospital to help children become comfortable. In this story Lumos helps a girl that fell and cut herself. She needs stitches and is scared. Lumos and his handler help the girl understand what will happen and feel comfortable. This book and series is perfect for children even if they are not in the hospital. It is a cute story. Lumos and his friends talk to each other and talk to the reader.

[Bookish Coffee UK · Rating 5 out of 5]

My honest thoughts:
I love this series!

Just like the others in this series this book is so helpful in helping children get through cuts and stitches.

I can not express how amazing these books are! Just incredible! So helpful and encouraging for children and families..

[Corinne Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. It is such a cute, informative way to discuss medical procedures with children. I also enjoy that each of the three dogs featured in this series have a distinct voice. Lumos is a pro and has been around for a while so his stories feel more confident than the other two dogs who are newer to their jobs. Stitches are never fun, but talking through the procedure, showing that working dogs are specially trained and are still just dogs at the end of the day is amazing. I would love to see these books in pediatricians' offices.