Review by Booklist Review
When Vicky loses her appetite and her interest in playing, her parents worry enough to take her to the doctor. Vicky's scared, but the doctor is reassuring, and with plenty of rest and water, it's not long before Vicky is back to her old self. Onyefulu, well known for her informative picture books set in Africa, takes a similar tactic here. Vicky and her family live in Nigeria, and the photo illustrations depict scenes that are likely unfamiliar to most American readers. Vicky and her friends play in a dusty lot next to tin-roofed huts. Her doctor's office is perhaps more sparsely decorated than most seen by an American kid, though a familiar-looking stethoscope and blood-pressure cuff are there. The text could easily apply to virtually any child's reluctant visit to the doctor, and, indeed, that's the point to demonstrate the universality of everyday experiences like Vicky's the world over. Little ones worried about going to the doctor will likely be comforted by Vicky's positive experience while also learning about how different and similar their experiences can be.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Vicky, who lives in Nigeria and is about four years old, doesn't want to play or draw with her friends. She won't eat, and when her father feels her forehead, he realizes that she has a fever, so her mother gets Vicky ready to see the doctor. They wait for a taxi that never arrives and then walk to the doctor's office. The actual visit is short but will be fairly comforting to children who might be nervous about seeing a doctor. There's a brief exam and no shots or medication. Vicky seems to be suffering from a mild ailment, and by the next day she is feeling better. The text is very brief-not more than two sentences per page-and reassuring. "Vicky is a little scared, but her mother gives her a big hug." Full-color photos on every page make readers feel that they are right there with Vicky as she goes through her day, finally feeling better and playing with her friends. This comforting look at a common experience also provides a glimpse at life in another country and is easy enough for beginning readers.-Susan E. Murray, formerly at Glendale Public Library, AZ (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Better safe than sorry when you don't feel well.In a small village in eastern Nigeria, Vicky, who looks about 6, watches listlessly as her friends play all around her and doesn't take part. Nor does she join in when they start drawing pictures. Vicky also won't eat her mother's food, a sure sign that something's wrong. Her father feels her forehead; it's hot. Her mother declares she must take Vicky to the doctor. The clinic's not far away, so they're able to walk. The doctor, a grandmotherly woman with wire-rimmed eyeglasses, has a gentle manner. She takes Vicky's temperature and listens to her chest, recommending that the little girl be kept cool and given lots of water. In no time, Vicky feels much better, displaying a healthy appetite and playing and drawing pictures with her friends again. The high-resolution color photographs that illustrate the book provide many interesting details of village life in Nigeria, and Vicky makes a winsome protagonist. In contrast, the story is a bit flat, and Onyefulu's text has the brevity and stiltedness of a primer. This accessibility should appeal to beginning readers, but as a read-aloud it suffers. Ife's First Haircut, a companion piece featuring an adorable male toddler, shares this offering's strengths and weaknesses.A sweet, brief glimpse into a universal childhood experience in a very specific place.(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
