Tracy Rowan “dargelos” (Chicago, IL USA), Amazon reviewer, gives this 4 out of 5 stars!
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
My best friend’s younger brother was discovered to have filled his nose, ears and mouth with cold cream. While messy, it wasn’t the worst thing he could have done to himself. Dr. Jerald Altman, a Otolaryngologist-Head and Neck Surgeon, covers some of the scarier things that children have inserted in their noses and ears. He’s seen enough disasters to know what he’s talking about here.
The book explains in rhyme what sorts of things should never get poked into our noses and ears. Sound is okay, stones are not. Smells are okay, sticks are not. The rhymes and repetition are valuable for younger children who learn best from such a format. The rhythms of the verses aren’t perfect, and they might initially be a bit difficult for children to remember, but if they’re read aloud by a parent the lesson will probably stick. The illustrations are charming in their silliness, another thing which makes information memorable to children. They love things that are silly.
The book contains a URL that leads to Dr. Altman’s website where there is more information on the subject, and a blog. This is great for parents who have access to computers. For those who don’t, it might have been helpful to include a page of tips at the end of the book, things kids are most likely to stick in their ears or noses, when to panic, that sort of thing.
If I had small children I’d find this a good way to begin a discussion about what ears and noses are really for.