Brooklyn boy grows up to become America’s doctor

Dr. Fauci: How a Boy from Brooklyn Became America’s Doctor

Written by Kate Messner and illustrated by Alexandra Bye

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020

“Dr. Faucci: How a Boy from Brooklyn Became America’s Doctor” tells the story of how a curious boy from Brooklyn grows into America’s doctor helping to guide the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kate Messner tells the story in a simple way, so that young children can understand it. Alexandra Bye illustrates the book with colorful digital images.

As a child, Anthony always asks questions. He wants to know how everything works. He asks about the tropical fish in his aquarium, the oceans of sea life, the stars in the sky, and the planets in the pictures of his encyclopedias.

Whenever he struggles with his homework, his father encourages him. He tells Anthony every problem has a solution. He should think carefully and try to work it out.

Anthony’s Brooklyn neighborhood is full of tough guys. Although Anthony isn’t big, he learns to get along with people. He is good at talking and listening.

He decides he wants to be a doctor when he is in high school. He attends medical school and graduates first in his class. Later, he becomes one of the nation’s top experts on disease.

He works with other scientists studying new diseases when they appear in the population. These include AIDS, West Nile virus, SARS, and Ebola. Each one is a mystery to solve. Where did it come from? How did it spread? How could it be prevented until researchers found a cure or a vaccine?

One of the most difficult challenges comes when a new disease shows up at the end of 2019. It is called Covid-19 and it is caused by a coronavirus.

Within weeks, the virus spreads all over the world. Hospitals become overwhelmed so many people are sick. Stores, gyms, and theaters shut down. People work from home, and children study at home.

Faucci remembers what his father told him as a boy. Don’t be discouraged. Think carefully and try to work it out. He works with scientists from all around the world.

The scientists teach people simple things they can do to be safe while researchers develop medicines and a vaccine. Stay at home as much as possible. Wash your hands frequently. Social distance by staying six feet apart from one another. And wear a mask.

Within a year, vaccines are developed and people begin getting them. These shots allow people to go back to school, back to work, back to hugging their families, and back to playing with their friends.

The book ends with backmatter, providing more information about vaccines, Fauci’s tips for future scientists, a timeline of Fauci’s life, recommended reading, and photos of Fauci growing up.

About the Author

Kate Messner is the author of many award-winning children’s books, including picture books like “Over and Under the Snow” and “The Brilliant Deep;” novels including “All the Answers,” “Breakout,” and “Chirp;” nonfiction like “The Next President” and “Tracking Pythons;” and the Fergus and Zeke easy readers, the popular Ranger in Time chapter books, and the History Smashers illustrated nonfiction series. Before becoming a full-time writer, Kate was a TV news reporter as well as a middle school teacher. She lives on Lake Champlain with her family. Visit her at katemessner.com. 

About the Illustrator

Alexandra Bye is a freelance illustrator who has illustrated many children’s books as well working in other media like advertising and animation. Other children’s books she has illustrated include “Weenie: Mad about Meatloaf,” written by Maureen Fergus; “The Many Mysteries of the Finkel Family,” written by Sarah Kapit; and “The Only Woman in the Photo,” written by Kathleen Krull. She lives in Vermont. Visit her at www.alexandrabye.com.

Picture book honors essential workers during pandemic

Keeping the City Going

Written and illustrated by Brian Floca

A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2021

“Keeping the City Going” is a story about the essential workers who kept New York City going during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic when people quarantined at home.

“We are here at home now,” the story begins, “watching the world through our windows, and wondering what will happen next.

“Outside, the city is strangely still. Store doors are locked and their windows are dark and our neighbors all stay hidden. The voice of the city is low, and the streets are almost empty.”

Floca’s muted illustrations in watercolor, ink, acrylic, and gouache, beautifully create the quiet city. His lyrical words work with the images to tell the story.

“There are still some people out on the streets,” Floca writes, “driving this and that, heading from here to there. They might be family, friends, or strangers. They’re there because we need them. They’re the people keeping the city going.”

Floca mentions food delivery people riding bicycles, truck delivery people, bus drivers, subway workers, and grocery store employees.

He also tells of the taxi drivers, sanitation workers, mail carriers, package delivery truck drivers, and those who keep the water, gas, and electricity flowing and the phones and internet working.

Finally, he remembers the fire fighters, police, paramedics, EMTs, doctors, nurses, technicians, aides, clerks and cleaners.

The story concludes with a description of how New Yorkers quarantined at home go to their windows every evening at seven o’clock. They hang out of their windows, clang pots together, and cheer for the essential workers.

“We hear the city say to us – and we say back to the city that we are still here, and we are here together,” he writes.  

“We hear the city say, and we say with the city – and we all say together --- thanks to the people still out on the streets, driving this and that, going from here to there, and taking care of the sick. Thanks to the people keeping our city going.”

This is a nice tribute to the essential workers. Children will enjoy looking at the pictures and remembering the early days of the pandemic. Parents can talk with them about how everyone depended on the workers who kept the city going.

About the Author and Illustrator

Brian Floca is the author and illustrator of “Locomotive,” winner of the Caldecott Medal and a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book; “Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11,” a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book and Sibert Honor Book; and “Lightship,” also a Sibert Honor Book. He has illustrated numerous other books, including Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan’s “Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring,” Laura Amy Schlitz’s “Princess Cora and the Crocodile,” and Avi Poppy Stories’ novels.  Brian lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Visit him at brianfloca.com.