Your child has a hospital stay coming up, and you don't know how to prepare them. You don't know what to say. You just know they're scared, and so are you.
That's exactly why Ms. Kris wrote this book.
Ms. Kris is a real therapy dog handler. Every week, she and her dog Koko visit children admitted to the hospital, sitting bedside with kids who are having one of the hardest weeks of their life. Koko at the Hospital is Koko's own account of what those visits are like: a wagging tail, a small hand reaching out to pet her, and a room that feels a little less frightening than it did a minute before.
Give this book to your child before their hospital stay, and they'll know what to expect. Give it to them during one, and they'll know they're not alone. Either way, they'll walk away with something worth more than distraction: the understanding that their feelings, whatever they are, are okay.
Use it to:
✔ Prepare your child before a hospital stay or procedure
✔ Comfort your child during a hospital stay
✔ Open a conversation about fear, sadness, or worry
✔ Support the sibling or family member of a hospitalized child
What's inside:
✔ 26 pages, written for ages 3-7
✔ Full story in English and Spanish
✔ Simple, calming language perfect for read-aloud
✔ A hopeful ending that leaves kids feeling brave, not just comforted
If your family has a hospital stay ahead, give your child something to hold onto: a story that says, "you're not alone, and it's okay to feel this way."