What's Bugging Nurse Penny?: A Story about Lice

by Catherine Stier, Suzanne Beaky (Illustrator)

Overview

At an impromptu school assembly, Nurse Penny educates students about lice—and confesses that she's been afflicted, too.

Nurse Penny is a fun and funky school nurse who wears honeybee earrings and a butterfly smock and carries a ladybug purse. But there's one kind of bug she'd rather not have around. . .head lice! So she calls a special school assembly to talk about those pesky critters—what they look like, how to avoid them, and how to get rid of them. After all, lice can happen to anyone—even the school nurse!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807588048
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	09/01/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	35 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Catherine Stier is the author of more than 20 children's books including the Science Makes it Work picture book series and the Kirkus star-reviewed A Dog's Day chapter book series. She holds a master’s degree in reading and literacy and has served as a magazine writer, newspaper columnist, and writing instructor. Stier resides in San Antonio, Texas.

Suzanne Beaky grew up in Gahanna, Ohio and studied illustration at Columbus College of Art and Design. She has illustrated numerous children's books and magazines, including What’s Bugging Nurse Penny? and the Hailey Twitch series. She lives with her husband and two cats in Pennsylvania.

Editorial Reviews

"This entertaining read will inform children about a common but dreaded occurrence…Nurse Penny will dazzle readers with her radiant personality, ladybug handbag, and butterfly-adorned nurse's outfit."—School Library Journal

"In this clever and colorful picture book the author and illustrator successfully combine words and pictures to create an informative story about a sensitive subject for young students."—Library Media Connection

"Stier's informational picture book is entertaining without being glib or foolish; it is an interesting-enough story as well as good instruction for prevention or bibliotherapy for those infected."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

12/01/2013
PreS-Gr 2—This entertaining read will inform children about a common but dreaded occurrence. Nurse Penny, the lovable, fist-pumping school nurse, can tackle anything from tummy aches to bee stings. But, one afternoon the students notice that "something chased away [Nurse Penny's] smile," and they become concerned about her. She starts to head home, but then decides to use her own situation as a teachable moment at an extra-special, last-minute school assembly. Her case of head lice, "those creepy, crawly critters," is presented through fast facts, misperceptions, and simple illustrations. Amusing depictions of known characters, such as mummies and werewolves, are shown—all of whom have been known to be affected by lice in their day. Hair-lice treatment and tips on how to avoid these "pesky little pugs" are discussed in helpful and entertaining ways. Emphasis is placed on lice not being a disease and not being a sign of uncleanliness. Additional facts about lice are included in the addendum, provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Realistic, yet whimsical, illustrations fill each spread, focusing on each character's animated facial expressions. Nurse Penny will dazzle readers with her radiant personality, ladybug handbag, and butterfly-adorned nurse's outfit. Pair this title with Catherine Stier's Bugs in My Hair?! (Albert Whitman, 2008).—Krista Welz, North Bergen High School, NJ

School Library Journal

What is wrong with Nurse Penny? Nurse Penny is a fantastic school nurse. She makes student patients feel better with a fist pump and a "Eureka!…We'll banish this trouble in no time!" One day, however, when Max, Tessa and Van are awaiting treatment, they notice Nurse Penny's usual smile has deserted her. They cheer her up, and that cheer gives her an idea that leads to a surprise all-school assembly about…lice. Nurse Penny lectures the whole school on lice: What they are, where they come from and how to get rid of them. She emphasizes that getting lice is not a sign of a dirty lifestyle and that anyone can get them…even a school nurse! She leaves to treat her problem, and on her return, Max and the other students have an artistic surprise for Nurse Penny. Though not nearly as ebullient as David Shannon's Bugs in My Hair! (2013), Stier's informational picture book is entertaining without being glib or foolish; it is an interesting-enough story as well as good instruction for prevention or bibliotherapy for those infected. Beaky's expressive and bright cartoon illustrations, mostly full-bleed, feature a multicultural cast and complement the text nicely. A page of lice facts follows the story. Might incite some sympathy scratching but worth inclusion in most collections. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews