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.