Lola Goes to the Doctor by Marcia Goldman
Published by: Creston Books on July 29, 2014
Pages: 32
Source: From the publisher
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Children will identify with Lola as she nervously waits to be called into the doctor’s office. Lola feels a little bit brave when the doctor looks into her ears, a little braver when he examines her teeth, and bravest of all when she gets a shot.

Lola Goes to the Doctor tackles a very scary subject in the minds of young children. When my sister was young, she would cry and cry for days when she found out she had to go to the doctor. She was deathly afraid of needles, to the point she had to be put on Valium just to handle a blood test! I remember my mom reading multiple books to my little sister about Cabbage Patch Kids visiting the doctor, the Berenstein Bears and their visit, Arthur’s doctor visit, and I’m sure that we would have had Lola’s book in our collection if it had been around 15-20 years ago. Who wouldn’t be comforted by that sweet puppy’s face as she sits patiently in the waiting room with other animal friends, meets the nice doctor, gets weighed, has her teeth and ears checked, has her temperature taken, and even gets a shot? I’ll admit, her face does get a bit sad when she sees the needle, but it’s an adorable sad face that is encouraging. She presents the message that it’s ok to be scared, but that everything will be ok.

I had the pleasure of meeting sweet little Lola and her owner, Marcia Goldman, at ALA Annual in Las Vegas in June. She is adorable and so well behaved! I am not the least bit surprised that she was able to pose for all of these pictures. There are no illustrations in this book, just photos of Lola’s visit to the doctor. I feel like this is actually a huge selling point because it gives children the opportunity to see what a doctor’s office is like. It’s not scary. It’s clean, has fun toys in the waiting room, and smiling doctors roam the halls. The pictures are clear, colorful, and tell the story on their own. This is another huge selling point because children can flip through the book and understand its message without needing to know how to read. Lola talks about being brave like a big dog, and mentions her future visits to the doctor with a little bit of excitement. It’s no big deal at all!

While I certainly can’t guarantee that this book will solve all problems with the hard task of getting a child to the doctor (I still hate it myself!), I am sure it will aide in calming the child’s fears a bit. It presents information in a clear manner and encourages children to be big and brave like Lola. I’d definitely recommend it to elementary and public libraries, as well as to parents and/or caregivers who would like some help in presenting the concept of doctor visits in a delicate manner.

Coco Goes to Rome written by Vanessa Del Fabbro and illustrated by Hedwige Jacobs
Series: Adventures of Coco #2
Published by Five Daughters Publishing on October 1, 2013
Pages: 30
Source: From the illustrator
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Coco, the stylish dachshund from New York, arrives in Rome, Italy, to an enthusiastic welcome from hundreds of fans who have mistaken her for the international singing sensation, Lady BowWow. Coco is swept up (literally–in a helicopter!) into an exciting life of luxury and adoration, but when a tiny lost kitten asks for help Coco has to make a choice. A story of how a little Miss Nobody can actually be the biggest star of all.

I was delighted to receive this book from the illustrator, Hedwige! We all know how much I love Rome, and I absolutely adore books that take place there, especially children’s books. I was certainly not disappointed in the travels of sweet little Coco, and had so much fun exploring Rome with her. I mean, come on. We get to dine on pasta with her everyday! She is a girl after my own heart. When she is mistaken for a superstar, she is swept away by a dashing Italian greyhound, Mario, for an amazing adventure.

Coco happens upon a crying kitten who is lost. Coco kind of knows how that feels, and wants to help. But at the same time, she is enjoying all the attention. What will she do? Drink in the fame, or help a friend in need?

Coco Goes to Rome is written in a fun, sing song rhyming style that I can easily see children memorizing quickly. I loved the whimsical illustrations of the familiar sights of Rome. If you look closely, you can find some little kitties hidden within them. We also get to learn the names of some of the most famous pieces of architecture. In the very back of the book is a glossary with further explanation on some elements in the book. I really love and appreciate the message of the story, which would be fun to discuss with a little one: if you’re sweet and nice to those around you, you’re more of a star than the most famous celebrity. It’s all about doing what’s right.

Overall, I really enjoyed Coco’s visit to Rome and am adding Coco’s first adventure, Coco on Safari, to my to-read list. I’d recommend this book to any child who enjoys learning about the world around them, and to any parent who has a little diva on their hands!