what an important book!
emergencies can be a scary thing and this book provides so much info about what is going on, allowing kids to have more power over a very scary situation. The illustration could be improved, but all in all - fantastic.

Thoughts:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great book and I really wish it was around when I was younger. Scelfo is able to assess the situation from a child’s point of view such as shouting at a policeman and pressing on granddads chest. They are then able to explain it all in child appropriate language to help explain what actually went on and teach those we read it to not to get scared but to look at the steps. The more about CPR at the end is great to help reinforce the lessons taught throughout the story and help keep the steps to take in the children's minds at the end of the book.

Favourite Quote:
"Now that we understand what is happening, when someone is doing CPR, we won’t get the heebie-jeebies next time."

This book is a must-have for children. It explains very important information and can help with anxiety in a very scary situation. My best friend's husband has a high risk of choking so I will be buying this for their son.

‘What is Dad Doing?’ by Peter Scelfo is advertised as a children’s book, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark. It reads more like a talk given at a primary school assembly by someone who might not fully understand how to communicate with children. This approach means teachers might have to reiterate and explain the content to ensure kids grasp it. The author's statement that the book aims to address children's medical fears logically indicates a focus on logic over engagement, which is crucial for retaining young readers' attention.

Plot: ★★☆☆☆
The plot is quite lacking. It doesn't have the captivating elements needed to hold a child's attention. It feels more like an educational lecture than a story.

Character: ★★☆☆☆
The characters are not very engaging. They don’t have the relatable or endearing qualities that make children connect with them. They feel more like tools to convey information rather than individuals in a story.

Illustrations: ★★☆☆☆
The illustrations are also underwhelming. While they are there to support the text, they don't add much in terms of visual engagement or appeal.

Engagement: ★☆☆☆☆
The book is not very engaging. Children need stories that captivate their imagination and interest, but this book feels too logical and dry to do that effectively.

Readability: ★☆☆☆☆
The readability is poor. It’s not written in a way that flows well for a read-aloud session or for young readers to enjoy on their own. The language and structure are too stiff and formal.

Enjoyment: ★☆☆☆☆
Overall, the enjoyment factor is very low. It doesn’t offer the fun, excitement, or emotional connection that children’s books typically provide. It’s more of an informational piece than an enjoyable story.

‘What is Dad Doing?’ by Peter Scelfo misses the mark as a children’s book. While it aims to address children’s medical fears logically, it sacrifices the engagement and enjoyment necessary for a successful children’s story. The plot, characters, illustrations, and overall readability fall short of captivating young readers. It’s a book that might need a lot of supplemental explanation from adults to be effective, which diminishes its value as a standalone read for kids.

I read this to my 4 and 6 year old and I think they were too young. There are a few big words and concepts which evaded them entirely. But it did give good advice to them - go and get help - being the main message.

I liked the fact that it started as a story - going to the game - this helped to get my kids attention. The illustrations were nice too. I just think this would be better for older children.

‘What is Dad Doing?’ is a neat and reassuring story aimed at educating children about collapses and CPR.

The initiative of the author, to help children to feel more knowledgable and less scared in a crisis is admirable. The story breaks down important information in a a logical and accessible way, including what CPR is, and how to call for help in an emergency.

Some of the language felt a bit cutesie for a more serious topic, but overall this is a validating and educational read. The illustrations capture the emotional experience of characters well, and are helpful in demonstrating situations that young children may not have witnessed before in a non threatening manner.

Thank you Amplify Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

What a brilliant little book to make kids aware of cpr and what to do. I think more of this should be done in the classroom to make kids aware and not to be afraid if someone collapses for unknown reasons. Back in my time at school, nothing like this was available.

Short and easy to understand this book could be so vital In someone's every day life

This book gently explains CPR and what to do when you are a kid (yell for help.) It covers the basics like what an AED is, what chest compressions are, and the importance of getting help right away. Overall, the child in the story had the "heebie-jeebies" when his grandpa collapsed, but then felt empowered after learning more.

The artwork is simple and puts the focus on the emergency, not the images. I can see this book being used to teach kids, but not as a book that would be read over and over unless it is in a classroom setting where it is read annually.

The lesson is to not be afraid, but to call for help after checking breathing and pulse. When someone falls to the ground as if asleep, there are things that can be done by trained adults called CPR.
I wish that the most frightening thing to witness, when this happens to a teammate at game, had been addressed as well as that of a senior citizen.
The illustrations are clear, imaginative, colorful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your local public library.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Amplify Publishing | Mascot Kids via NetGalley. Thank you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

While this book might be too scary for the youngest of readers, this is a highly important book for adults to read to children. Children have amazing memories and reading this book to children might help them save a life by performing CPR. Highly recommend!



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This book was informative but not quite sure the appropriate age for the reader/listener. Some of the terminology was "cutesy" (i.e. bump bump bumps for pulse and heebie jeebies for scared.) It is geared toward helping children understand CPR when they see someone collapse (especially scary when it is a loved one). The golden kernel for a child should be to alert adults and call 911. If the child is alone with the patient suffering, there would be a whole other scenario which Dr. Scelfo doesn't address. Best takeaway is this book is just informative and not a manual, per se, on how a child should perform CPR. It may raise more questions within the child which an adult would have to address (Scelfo explains what CPR stands for but fails to explain the AED machine acronym; Doesn't explain what is happening within the body when a person is not breathing or there is no pulse)
I do like that a children's book has tackled this subject as a grandparent having a "spell" or falling asleep. It is a common occurrence in many a child's life.

What a great idea to help kids remain calm in an emergency and to call for help. As a Ski Patroller myself, I am always looking for new ways to teach my kids (and others) about medical emergencies. I thought the book was a bit inconsistent for what age group it’s for, I felt older kids would think calling the pulse the “bump bump bumps” would feel beneath them and younger kids would struggle with all the terminology used. I loved how the pictures displayed important details like what signs to look for when finding an AED.

Now I can think of a lot of different books (and chapters of junior sex guides) that could share this book's title, but this one concerns the child witnessing a medical emergency at the ball game, when his grandfather collapses. His dad has already ordered him and his siblings and cousins to have water with their dogs and to chew them often and slowly, so he's medically minded – but for the kid concerned the seemingly sleeping adult on the floor, the fuss, the shouting at police, the terms like CPR, AED and so on – they're only going to cause the heebie-jeebies.

I can see some use in this, but also wonder why it limits itself. And by that I know full well why it's not training a youngster in the use of a defibrillator. But it does seem to be focused more on the fact that a child's job is just 'step one – alert adults, step two – naff off', when, say, on a remote walk the stomach-pushing rhythm needed might be a life-saver. Is it worth these pages assuring a young reader that a prone adult getting care is doing that – getting care, when someone such as an epileptic is certainly not placidly prone on the floor, but a whole further scale of worry-inducing?

This, then, to the layman, seems to convey some specific assurance for some specific conditions only. But it pretends the weight will always be off junior shoulders until they're adult enough, and doesn't cover nearly all possible ways in which dad, or anyone else, may actually be in need of basic first aid. I'd certainly have welcomed the approach here on a much more comprehensive scale.

This would be such a great book to read to kids to give them a brief understanding of CPR. It is short but it gets all the necessary information out of the way. A great way to make a scary topic not so scary.

Lots of good information & illustrations to help children to process what actions may be taken in the course of a heart attack or accident. Would help children to understand what they may have witnessed after an event as well as preparing them for possible future occurrences.

i think this is a very important book about such a scary thing for a kid like seeing someone choking or unconscious and needing cpr or help, this explains things in a good way!

Such a cute book explaining a scary situation for kids. Going into detail about why and what adults are doing, especially in a situation where there’s no time to explain in the moment, is important for kids so that they can learn what to do if there is ever a situation like it again

This book tackles a crucial topic in a kid-friendly way. While the content is invaluable, the font choice may distract from the message at times. Nevertheless, the book's emphasis on CPR for children is vital, potentially life-saving knowledge. It's an essential addition to any child's library, providing valuable information in a digestible format. Despite font concerns, the book's significance in educating young readers about CPR cannot be overstated, making it a must-read for families everywhere.

The most important first; this is a correct description of CPR! In most books and films, hearts get started after a few seconds of CPR, and that will not happen. Always call 911!
As for the story, the start is an introduction to people we don't need to know, and I would rather see a better description of the heart and the need for oxygen to the brain.

This the thought provoking and important story of Julian and how one day his Grandpa fell down and didn’t get straight back up.

What an accessible and clever way to try and normalise a situation that any child could unfortunately go through. It is a unique and touching way to introduce children to the concept of CPR and when CPR may need to be administered.

Dr Peter Scelfo delivers this message in a thoughtful way so as not to alarm children but to instead inform them and turn them into little helpers.