The DO Book Club, April 2025: ‘Medical School for Kids’

Physician authors have ventured into all the literary genres, from romance to self-help, mystery and memoir. Some have seen the need to explain situations or entertain children and are writing books for that important niche. Two such authors include physician couple Betty Nguyen, MD, and Brandon Pham, MD, who started dating while in medical school. They have cofounded a book series called “Medical School for Kids,” which includes over 30 titles. These books fill many different roles for parents and their children.

Through this series, kids will learn about the alphabet, possible careers, future visits to the doctor’s office and some of the diagnoses they might receive. The authors do not shy away from medical terminology. They explain how long medical terms are pronounced and exactly what they mean.

As Dr. Nguyen is training as a dermatologist and Dr. Pham is training to be an ophthalmologist, they use their knowledge to break down many health-related topics—often with the help of their physician friends. Below, I’ll break down the lessons from these books. While I encourage all with little ones to take a look, there’s something in each of these for us all to learn!

Putting the kids to bed

“Goodnight, Little Doctor” is a sweet, rhyming volume that would be just perfect for parents to read to their kids at bedtime. The start of the book reads as a self-help reminder for physician parents who are slogging away at their day in the office—it reminds them to slow down, treat people with kindness, show themselves grace for mistakes that they make or what they don’t know and to make time for rest. Both kids and their grown-ups desperately need these tender reminders.

“There will be some answers you simply don’t know,” they write. “Remember your limits, be humble and grow.” (p. 19)

The gentle prose is accompanied by beautifully drawn graphics from artist Carlina Vivi. Through colorful cartoons, she captures the essence of all the actions and emotions. The characters represent all ages, races and genders appearing as physicians, nurses and patients.

Preparing kids for the doctor’s office

One of the most useful volumes is “Hooray, I See the Doctor Today.” Kids figure out quickly that some scary things can happen at the pediatric clinic or family medicine office—anything that parents can do to try to prepare them for the experience is welcome, and this book plays a part in that. Drs. Nguyen and Pham introduce the players, exam and procedures. They even explain vaccinations and why we need them. The graphics are colorful, inclusive and reminiscent of the anime style of art.

The physician authors also wanted to introduce various specialties to kids throughout this series. These books are meant to be read to children, but some early readers may find them accessible and fascinating. “Cardiology for Kids” breaks down the basic definitions, anatomy and functions of the heart and circulatory system. The medical illustrations are simplified but true to their scientific subjects. The cardiology text explains some common problems and diseases that patients may have. It includes a glossary and a little self-test at the end.

The same holds true for “Neurology for Kids”—the lessons taught here would be so useful for kids who have a diagnosis of seizures or epilepsy themselves. This book can also help explain the diagnosis of a loved one who has experienced a stroke or been diagnosed with dementia. The authors include teachings about protecting the brain by introducing some important safety lessons to readers:

“Your brain is a very important organ,” the book says. “Make sure to protect it by always wearing a helmet when you ride a bike, scooter or skateboard!” (p. 28) Although this is something many kids are taught by their parents, sometimes hearing it from another point of view can be beneficial to kids in helping the lessons click.

Introducing psychiatry and mental health

One of the most recent additions to the series is “Psychiatry for Kids.” This volume was written in conjunction with Jake Goodman, MD, a psychiatry resident and friend of the authors. On the cover, one person points out the various lobes of the brain and another holds a sign saying, “Mental health matters!”

Although mental health terms can be abstract and difficult concepts for kids to understand, the authors cover several sensitive concepts in detail. First, the authors explain basic terms such as thoughts, moods and behavior. They run through a long list of various symptoms and the mental illnesses that go along with them. Drs. Nguyen, Pham and Goodman define and discuss Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and eating disorders. The authors use authentic medical terminology and define terms as simply as possible.

The psychiatry volume would be quite useful to help introduce a child or adolescent to their own mental health diagnosis or the diagnosis of a sibling/friend. This book explains the causes of mental illness and some of the treatments are covered with quite a bit of detail. Hopefully the introduction and demystifications of basic psychiatric terms will lead to more understanding and acceptance of psychiatric care as basic health care.

“Mental illnesses are not anyone’s fault,” the book emphasizes. “Just like a physical illness, no one should feel ashamed when experiencing a mental illness.” (p. 20)

Another valuable feature is the introduction of the various members of the mental health care treatment team. Kids are encouraged to seek help and discuss their problems. The book’s beneficial message elevates mental health care to an equal standing with all the other body systems. It emphasizes that mental health truly matters, and it would be an excellent book for the waiting room or gift to a young reader.

Related reading:

The DO Book Club, Feb. 2025: ‘Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine’

The DO Book Club, Jan. 2025: ‘Hey, Kiddo’