The Playdate Kids: Dakota's Mom Goes to the Hospital

Annie Thiel, PhD
Playdate Kids Publishing (2006)
ISBN 1933721030
Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins and Parish Rollins (age 3) for Reader Views (2/07)

Dakota Greenblatt is a pig-tailed girl who loves her family.  Her mother is the type of mother who takes care of everything with a special flair.  Then Dakota’s mother is hospitalized.  Dakota’s father has to take care of all household responsibilities.  He just does everything is a different manner.  Dakota has difficulty adjusting to this.

What did Parish think of “Meet Dakota Greenblatt?”
She grabs the book and points to the different expressions on Dakota’s face.

What was her favorite part?
“Her Dadda was on a vacuum cleaner!” (Giggle)

Does she want to read it again one day?
“Right now.”

Is there a funny part to “Meet Dakota Greenblatt?”
She points to the illustration of the van going so quickly it looks like it is flying.

Do you like the pictures?
She is too fascinated with the illustrations to answer me.

How is Parish like Dakota?
She points to her pigtails.  We then discuss that she brushes her teeth, eats pancakes, and rides a tricycle just like Dakota.  We also discussed the different emotions she feels, just like Dakota.

Did Dakota’s Dad do things the way Dakota’s Mom does things?
“He is on the vacuum cleaner.”  She points this out again and laughs.  She keeps mentioning boo boos.  We have a discussion about doctors and nurses taking care of people’s boo boos.

The characters in the book are not necessarily glamorized.  They are easy to relate to.  The mother has a nose that is on the large side.  The father is balding.  Some of the other mothers in the book are fat.  Some are skinny.  A few children wear glasses.  Some are going to need braces on their teeth.  Each character has a different skin color.  This makes for a relatable book.

“The Playdate Kids: Dakota’s Mom Goes to the Hospital” is a great children’s book.  Annie Thiel, a child psychologist, has created a wonderfully entertaining and therapeutic book.  She obviously has a gift of relating to children.  Parish and I recommend it!     We think you and your son or daughter will love it, also.

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