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Dr KittyCat is Ready to Rescue: Ginger the Kitten ISBN: 9780192766007
Clarke, Jane
Published by OUP Oxford, 2018
This is one of a series of books about animals with various health problems and their doctor, Dr Kitty Cat. In this short chapter book, we meet Ginger, a kitten with an eye problem, Clover, a bunny, and Nutmeg, a guinea pig, both of whom have sniffles, and Peanut, a mouse, who is the doctor's nursing assistant and sneezes a lot. Interestingly, Dr Kitty Cat is female, and the mouse assistant is male - very PC! They all have allergies, and Dr Kitty Cat explains nicely about allergy tests and shaves a little off the animals' fur in order to do the them. Tree and flower pollen are diagnosed, while Ginger's eye problem is a tiny scratch she has acquired while chasing butterflies! Various Antihistamines and eye drops are produced and used, and the little animals go off for their nature walk. While on it, Ginger suddenly has a very painful nose, and Peanut must rush off to phone Dr Kitty Cat to come at once. The diagnosis is a bee sting, and the doctor checks for anaphylaxis before removing the sting and putting on cream. She then explains to the other animals all about anaphylaxis and the dangers this can mean, showing them epipens and how to use them. There is lots and lots of good information in this book - real, proper information put in easily understood terms and pulling no punches, but it is done in an accessible form that will appeal tremendously. The illustrations are unusual - real photographs of the animals, overlaid with drawn-on clothing in white and blue. Backgrounds, when they are needed, are in the same colours, and there is lots of white. This is a most interesting series of what are basically information books but with stories as well. Excellent.
Age: 6+