Hospital (First Time (Childs Play))

Going to the hospital for the first time can bring lots of questions for a young child: How long will I be there? Will I stay the night? Who will look after me? What will happen while I am there? Hospital helps children explore these questions in a simple, reassuring way, making an unfamiliar experience feel more familiar and less scary.

Part of the First Time series, this engaging children's book helps young readers understand and prepare for a visit or stay in the hospital. With simple conversational text and lively illustrations, Hospital creates an ideal opportunity for parents, caregivers, and children to talk together about what a hospital might be like and how they may feel.

Help Your Child Feel Ready for a Hospital Visit

• A reassuring introduction to hospitals – Helps young children become familiar with the idea of visiting or staying in a hospital and the people who may care for them.
• Encourages open conversation – Provides a natural starting point for discussing questions, feelings, worries, and expectations about a hospital stay.
• Supports emotional preparation – Gives children an opportunity to express their concerns and feel more prepared for an unfamiliar environment.
• Simple, child-friendly text – Conversational language makes the story easy for young children to follow and understand.
• Lively illustrations – Engaging artwork brings the hospital experience to life and encourages children to talk about what they see.
• Perfect for shared reading – Parents and caregivers can read the book together with children and use the story to discuss what may happen during their own hospital visit.

The First Time series helps make new experiences less scary by giving young children the language and confidence to talk about what is happening. These books encourage children to ask questions, share their worries, and feel more prepared for important milestones and everyday experiences.

A reassuring first-time book for toddlers and young children, Hospital is a helpful resource for families preparing children for a hospital visit or stay and encouraging open conversations about new and unfamiliar experiences.

Jess Stockham was born in 1957 in Luton and lived in a village in Hertfordshire until she was 17. She completed a foundation year at Watford Art College, and then left full time education to move to Exeter and become a waitress. She then moved to West Yorkshire and started a leather goods business with her husband, Steve. She lived there for 18 years and had two sons, Matt and Ed. In 1990 she started illustrating full-time for various popular women's magazines and mother and baby publications. In 1995 she moved to West Wales with her family where she has lived and illustrated for the past twelve years.