Review - Do Penguins Have Pediatricians?

Do Penguins Have Pediatricians?
by Patrick O'Donnell
illustrated by Erik Mehlen
Date: 2019
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

On the way to a doctor checkup, a young child asks an important question: Do animals that live in really cold places ever get sick? From the same author as Did Dinosaurs Have Dentists?, this picture book uses Arctic and Antarctic creatures to lessen anxiety about the doctor. Can penguins catch pneumonia? Can a caribou get chicken pox? By introducing ailments through charmingly drawn animals, this humorous look at common childhood illnesses will ease the fears and worries many kids have about visiting the doctor. The colorfully illustrated story contains 14 common terms related to children's health, as well as a glossary of fun, scientific facts about each of the animals featured.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I liked this book more than I thought I might. It's fiction, but it's sort of non-fiction as well. The rhyming story asks lots of funny questions, such as, "Can a wolverine catch a cold?" or, "Has a narwhal ever had a tummy ache?" Eventually, the reader is informed that animals can get sick just like people do, but that rather than seeing a pediatrician, they see a vet.

Some of the pictures are pretty amusing (I dare you to look at the penguin who forgot to zip up its coat and not crack a smile). They're simple, but illustrate the story well. A highlight for me is the section at the back where each of the animals that appears in the story is introduced with a little blurb of information.

It took me a while, though, to realize I was reading a book in rhyme. Some of the rhymes are tenuous, at best, and the meter is pretty much off throughout. I've read better rhymes in other children's books. (I'm not sure what could really be improved upon, though, while still keeping the story and information the same.)

It's a simple story with some fairly goofy questions, but it does teach a little bit about various animals. Overall, I would recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Schiffer Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: 2/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5