Please Explain Vaccines to Me - by Laurie Zelinger (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Shots, injections, needles, and vaccines-whatever their purpose, they all hurt. More than half of children in the 6-17 year-old range report a strong fear of needles. Nearly 25% of adults do as well. This book is for those families who cringe at the thought of getting one.

For some children, getting a shot is a major ordeal. Ramped-up anxiety can lead to tantrums, meltdowns, outbursts and even fainting. That 30-second experience can be a nightmare for parents and nursing staff alike. This resource will help to improve that dreaded scenario.

The book opens with an engaging story for children where rhyme, colorful illustrations and characters of diversity capture a child's interest as they identify with a girl who has similar fears. The children's section is followed by a comprehensive guide for parents and caregivers, based on empirical research as well as Dr. Zelinger's decades of experience as a child psychologist, where she offers information and explicit solutions to help deal with the anxiety surrounding this common medical procedure.

Children will:

• Identify with the main character and her fear of shots
• Enjoy the colorful illustrations and happy story ending
• Learn coping mechanisms to deal with frightening situations
• Feel supported by their parents who will know how to help-
• Reduce their anxiety and become more cooperative during medical visits

Parents/Caregivers will:

• Understand the reasoning behind the fear of injections
• Learn strategies to help their child before and during a medical visit
• Be better able to comfort their child

"Dr. Laurie Zelinger has done it again with another excellent child and parent-friendly book that helps to allay fears and empower families and professionals with the tools to help children develop healthy coping skills. Please Explain Vaccines to Me has it all: a relatable and simple yet engaging text in rhyme that is fun to read aloud, as well as colorful illustrations that provide an honest and relatable depiction of the emotions involved. As an experienced nurse and health educator, I see this book as a "must-have" resource for all caregivers, educators and health professionals" --Darlene Glasser, RN, MSEd

"Please Explain Vaccines to Me is a book that every parent will want to read to their child before getting a shot. It demystifies vaccinations with language that a child will both understand and want to question further. It also gives both children and parents the language they need to express their anxiety about the process and the tools to lessen that anxiety. It gets 5 stars!" Yael Kula, MSW, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)

Learn more at www.DrZelinger.com

From the "Please Explain" series at

Loving Healing Press www.LHPress.com

Review Quotes

"This book fills a need to relieve childhood fears and anxieties before receiving a shot. Dr. Zelinger writes so children understand. The poem format for the children's part is fun and easy to read. Her suggestions for pediatricians and parents to help reduce fear are creative and easy to do. For example, play doctor with role reversals, magnify the skin pores and compare to needle skin holes, numbing cream and puppet play. Dr. Zelinger explains how less fear means less anxiety, which leads to less pain. A must read for parents, children and pediatricians." --Allan M. Rothenberg, MD, FAAP, pediatrician, diplomate, American Board of Pediatrics, fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics

"Laurie Zelinger's Please Explain Vaccines to Me: Because I HATE SHOTS! is absolutely brilliant. I would highly recommend that children and their parents read it prior to appointments with their physicians and dentists. As a pediatric dentist, I have seen so many of the techniques that Dr. Zelinger describes work well for my patients. I have often wished for a book like this for patients that have come ill-prepared for injections. I am so glad that now there is such a book, and I will certainly be recommending it to my patients and their parents." --Brittany Schorr DDS, board-certified pediatric dentist

"Dr. Zelinger wrote a much-needed, timely book for children who hate shots and their parents who have to handle their reactions. She is very adept at explaining difficult concepts to kids with caring, warmth and humor. The appealing story and colorful pictures blend together in a child-friendly scenario that enables children to address and conquer their fears. The parent/caregiver guide carefully explains common terms, the prevalence of needle-related fears, heritability and temperament issues. Dr. Zelinger's recommendations for parents are extremely helpful and creative, providing them with very useful tools to address specific fears. I look forward to using her book with both patients and family members." --Gale Grobstein, Ph.D, licensed clinical psychologist