Saturday, July 28, 2018

Review: The Doll Hospital by Kallie George and Sarah Gillingham


THE DOLL HOSPITAL
by Kallie George
and Sarah Gillingham
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
June 5th, 2018
Picture Book
ages 3 to 6
32 pages



When toys need a little (or a lot of!) TLC, they head to the Doll Hospital in this endearing picture book in the tradition of Doc McStuffins. Don’t worry, toys, Dr. Pegs will have you feeling better in no time!

It’s a quiet morning at the Doll Hospital until…
DING-A-LING-A-LING!
The emergency bells ring!
Here comes a patient who needs Dr. Pegs’s help.

Dr. Pegs is about to get to work when…
DING-A-LING-A-LING!
Here comes another patient! And another!

How will Dr. Pegs take care of them all? Looks like the doctor needs some help herself!
 





MY TIDBITS


Stuffed with buttons, fluff and mounds of concern, this tale radiates the joy of helping others.


Dr. Pegs is up with the sun, ready to help any toy in need. What starts as a calm day, quickly fills with all sorts of small emergencies. Even though she's trying her best, there are simply too many patients for Dr. Pegs to handle on her own. Luckily, she has some amazing helpers who can assist her to save the day.

Everything about this book is sweet and warming. Dr. Pegs is a nurse full of duty, joy and readiness to help anyone she can. She's good at what she does too. Her attitude is inspirational as adorable and cuddly patients come in, each with a problem perfectly fitting for dolls and stuffed animals/friends. Fans of playing nurse or hospital are going to love this read as each patient is taken seriously and with sympathy, but still matching to a doll house world. 

This story isn't about an all-saving nurse but shows how important having friends can be too. Even wonderful characters like Dr. Pegs reach their limit on what they can do. And that's what I really love about this tale. She knows when to ask for help and has no trouble admitting it. Team work is just as important as helping others, and it's a great message.

The illustrations are bright without being overly brilliant. The comfortable color tones and style slides right into place with dolls and stuffed animals, allowing the world to come to life. There's a nice mixture of materials and cloth in the pictures, giving it a cozy feel. The text plays right into the illustrations, making it fun to read-a-loud with lots of possibilities of expression and fun. There's simply so much to enjoy and cuddle into with this read.



And here they are...



The author...
Kallie George holds a master's degree in children's degree from the University of British Columbia. She is the author of many acclaimed books for children, including the chapter book series the Magical Animal Adoption Agency and the Heartwood Hotel, and the picture books The Lost Gift and Secrets I Know. When she's not writing, she leads workshops for aspiring writers. Kallie lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her family—and her two stuffies, Teddy and Flopsy. Visit her online at kalliegeorge.com

The illustrator...
Sara Gillingham is an award winning art director and designer who has helped publish numerou s bestselling books for children She is the author and illustrator of many beloved children's books, including How to Grow a Friend, the bestselling In My. . . series, the Empowerment series, and Snuggle the Baby. Sara lives with her family in Vancouver, British Columbia. Find out more about Sara's studio at saragillingham.com

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