Please Explain Vaccines to Me: Because I HATE SHOTS!

By Laurie Zelinger

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 for 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)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Loving Healing Press
• Release date: Nov 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781615996148

Laurie Zelinger

Dr. Laurie Zelinger is a Board Certified Psychologist and Fellow of the Academy of School Psychology. She a Doctoral degree in psychology from Hofstra University and is a Registered Play Therapist/Supervisor from the Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Zelinger is also a media specialist for the American Psychological Association She and her psychologist husband, Dr. Fred Zelinger have raised four sons. As a certified school psychologist, private practice licensed psychologist, and registered play therapist with more than 35 years experience, she is treating increasing numbers of children with anxiety. She believes that honest and correct information, given at a child's developmental level in "kid-friendly" language, will help a youngster understand the link between body and feelings, the first step in symptom relief. Learn more about her at www.DrZelinger.com.

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Acclaim for

Please Explain Vaccines to Me: Because I HATE SHOTS!

"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:Because I HATE SHOTS! addresses the very real and all-too-common fear of injections. This book 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. It includes a detailed parent guide providing clear cut science-based strategies to assist all caregivers. 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

This book fills a need to relieve childhood fears and anxieties before receiving a shot. Dr. Zelinger writes so children understand. The poem format for the children’s part is fun and easy to read. Her suggestions for pediatricians and parents to help reduce fear are creative and easy to do. For example, play doctor with role reversals, magnify the skin pores and compare to needle skin holes, numbing cream, and puppet play. Dr. Zelinger explains how less fear means less anxiety, which leads to less pain. A must read for parents, children and pediatricians.

Allan M. Rothenberg, MD,FAAP, Pediatrician Diplomate, American Board of Pediatrics Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics Medical Expert, Pediatrics Disability, SSA

"Dr. Zelinger wrote a much needed, timely book for children who hate shots and their parents who have to handle their reactions. She is very

Reviews for Please Explain Vaccines to Me

[beckvalleybooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The author has used her personal and professional experiences in producing an excellent book to explain why vaccines are important and how to ease the worries a young child or person feels about having one. The bright pictures, as well as the short text on each page, show and tell how the young person is feeling, always giving excellent reasons on why and how it is okay to feel the way the child does as it is natural to have those fears and worries. The book is simple to follow as it expertly takes you through each stage of the child’s thought process from when they are first told about needing the vaccine to the eventuality of receiving it. It also covers the important issue of why having the vaccine not only protects the child but also of those people who are close to them as well as their friends. The colorful images and the friendly smiling faces also help to show that there is nothing to fear about the healthcare people involved in administering the vaccine.I wish there were books like this around when my children were young as I would have definitely used this book to show, explain, and encourage them to have the vaccine and the all round benefits of having one.

[lilyroseshadowlyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is definitely timely - with vaccines being more important now than ever, this is the perfect way to help kids understand more about the shots they'll need to get. No one likes shots, but they can be especially scary when you're young. This book is a great way to explain them to kids, why they're important, and how they help. With extra resources for parents in the back, the wonderful illustrations and kid-friendly language is the perfect book. Parents and kids alike will enjoy the story, and parents can put kid's minds at ease.

[sleepygirl2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.Please Explain Vaccines to Me is not just a good book to read to children before getting a vaccine, but it is good to read before any shot. Many children are anxious before getting a shot, and this book shows them that it’s normal to be a little scared. It also helps children to understand that vaccines are necessary and that parents are keeping them safe, not being mean.Children should be less anxious after reading this cute story that is told in rhymes and has bright and colorful illustrations. This is such a timely book when millions of children are needing the vaccine. Please Explain Vaccines to Me is a great resource that will be useful for several years.