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Please explain Vaccines to Me: Because I HATE SHOTS!




Shots, injections, needles, and vaccines-whatever their purpose, they all hurt. More than half of children in the 6-17 year-old range report a strong fear of needles. Nearly 25% of adults do as well. This book is for those families who cringe at the thought of getting one.


For some children, getting a shot is a major ordeal. Ramped-up anxiety can lead to tantrums, meltdowns, outbursts and even fainting. That 30-second experience can be a nightmare for parents and nursing staff alike. This resource will help to improve that dreaded scenario.


The book opens with an engaging story for children where rhyme, colorful illustrations and characters of diversity capture a child's interest as they identify with a girl who has similar fears. The children's section is followed by a comprehensive guide for parents and caregivers, based on empirical research as well as Dr. Zelinger's decades of experience as a child psychologist, where she offers information and explicit solutions to help deal with the anxiety surrounding this common medical procedure.


Children will:

  • Identify with the main character and her fear of shots

  • Enjoy the colorful illustrations and happy story ending

  • Learn coping mechanisms to deal with frightening situations

  • Feel supported by their parents who will know how to help-

  • Reduce their anxiety and become more cooperative during medical visits

Parents/Caregivers will:

  • Understand the reasoning behind the fear of injections

  • Learn strategies to help their child before and during a medical visit

  • Be better able to comfort their child

"Dr. Laurie Zelinger has done it again with another excellent child and parent-friendly book that helps to allay fears and empower families and professionals with the tools to help children develop healthy coping skills. Please Explain Vaccines to Me has it all: a relatable and simple yet engaging text in rhyme that is fun to read aloud, as well as colorful illustrations that provide an honest and relatable depiction of the emotions involved. As an experienced nurse and health educator, I see this book as a "must-have" resource for all caregivers, educators and health professionals." --Darlene Glasser, RN, MSEd


"Please Explain Vaccines to Me is a book that every parent will want to read to their child before getting a shot. It demystifies vaccinations with language that a child will both understand and want to question further. It also gives both children and parents the language they need to express their anxiety about the process and the tools to lessen that anxiety. It gets 5 stars!" --Yael Kula, MSW, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)

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My Thoughts!



When my oldest son was 2 years old, I had to take him to an allergist. He experienced several rounds of testing and ultimately, became fearful of needles. This is a wonderful resource for parents as their kids age and have to experience vaccinations/shots. Books that rhyme have also been something that kids seem to enjoy.


The illustrations are bright and colorful, which helps bring the story to a level that children can understand and actually enjoy. Parents can use the "How Can I help my Child Manage Their Fear" to continue encouraging their children through the process, as vaccinations/shots are not a one-time thing. We have to get them into adulthood as well.


I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.



Enjoy these excerpts!


More books from the 'Please Explain to Me' series...


Please Explain Alzheimer's Disease to Me: A Children's Story and Parent Handbook About Dementia


Please Explain Time Out to Me: A Story for Children and Do-It-Yourself Manual for Parents

Please Explain Terrorism to Me: A Story for Children, P-E-A-R-L-S of Wisdom for Their Parents

Please Explain Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy to Me: A Complete Guide to Preparing Your Child for Surgery, 3rd Edition

Please Explain Anxiety to Me! Simple Biology and Solutions for Children and Parents, 2nd Edition

About the Author


Dr. Laurie Zelinger, Diplomate, is a Board Certified Psychologist with a specialty in School Psychology, and a Registered Play Therapist with forty years' experience. She is a licensed New York State psychologist who recently retired from a Long Island public school system and is now devoting her time exclusively to writing, consulting, and her busy private practice. Dr. Laurie's previous books include: "Please Explain Anxiety to Me: Simple Biology and Solutions for Children and Parents," The "O MY" in TonsillectOMY & AdenoidectOMY: How to Prepare Your Child for Surgery (in its second edition), A Smart Girl's Guide to Liking Herself Even on the Bad Days for American Girl, and a chapter on selective mutism in the compendium, School Based Play Therapy (second edition). She is also credited with being a consultant for the Bitty Baby book series by American Girl where she assisted in the development of the "For Parents" sections, as well as editorial development of another American Girl book. Dr. Laurie's interest in writing began in 4th grade, when a play she wrote was performed by students in her public school. Dr. Zelinger is a fellow and elected officer in the nationally based American Academy of School Psychology and spent four years on the Executive Board of the New York Association of Play Therapy. As a media referral specialist for the American Psychological Association, she has contributed to nearly 200 venues regarding child development. Dr. Laurie and her psychologist husband, Dr. Fred, are both certified Red Cross Disaster Mental Health volunteers. They have been happily married for over thirty-five years and have raised four children. You can learn more about Dr. Zelinger and her books at DrZelinger.com.


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