The Lion Who Had Asthma - Helping Kids with Asthma ROAR!
Written: Feb 19 '03 (Updated Feb 19 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Helpful tool for asthmatic children who resist/fear the nebulizer
Cons: Paperback...lacks diversity...
The Bottom Line: Can be useful in making nebulizer treatment time a more fun and less fearful time.
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| marytara's Full Review: Jonathan London - Lion Who Had Asthma |
The Lion Who Had Asthma tells of a young boy named Sean who has asthma. Sean, like most kids, has a vivid imagination and likes to pretend he's a roaring lion in the jungle, a big fat hippo splashing in the tub, and more. That is, until he starts to feel not so great.
Instead of growling and roaring, he wheezes. It sounds like there's a squeaky whistle inside him when he breathes. The lion feels tired and a little bit frightened. He feels like crying.
Sean's mood goes from being a playful little boy pretending to be jungle animals to a beaten down, fearful, and sad little boy sitting limp in an arm chair. His mother encourages him to use his imagination and pretend that he is a pilot when he's wearing his nebulizer mask.
In his mask, Sean is a jet pilot flying high in the sky. The steam is the clouds. The knobs are the controls. Zoom! he goes, Jet Pilot Sean, flying faster and faster, higher and higher. "Breathe deep, Jet Pilot Sean," says his dad, with arms spread like wings.
When Sean can breathe easily again, then its time for him to be a lion once again.
Thoughts and Feelings
Jonathon London, the author of The Lion Who Had Asthma and also the parent of Sean, the superstar of this book, speaks from experience and from the heart when shares Sean's struggle with asthma. For kids with asthma, this is a disease that affects their every day life, their ability to do what kids do best, play. As a parent of an asthmatic child I can't help but to imagine that Sean is my own little guy and truly feel for him.
Jonathon London's use of simple and direct language explaining Sean's condition, coupled with the excellent watercolor illustrations by Nadine Bernard Westcott help bring Sean to life. The sketches are simple and show how Sean is feeling every step of the way - A happy Sean, a fearful/sick Sean, Sean being treated, and then a happy Sean again. Truth be told, I think that this book doesn't even need to have text because the pictures are so descriptive. My son enjoys looking at the pictures and will flip the pages and take it all in. I particularly like that they show Sean not being afraid of his nebulizer - he even turns it on all by himself. I also really like that Sean appears ageless - he is just a little boy with asthma, and could be anywhere from around 2 to primary school age. This makes him very easy for children of many ages to relate to and find reassuring.
The most important thing that The Lion Who Had Asthma does is help teach kids the power of their imagination. This book came recommended to me shortly after we started frequent nebulizer treatments with our son. Now 2 years old, he is often defiant about using the nebulizer machine and gets very scared and overwhelmed when he is struggling with his asthma. Fear, panic, and distress do not mix well with asthma - especially during an attack.When your child has an asthma attack you want to make them as comfortable and relaxed as possible so that their medication can open their airways, go deep into their lungs and help their breathing resume normalcy. Using this book, as a guide I was able to start to incorporate some imaginary play and relaxation techniques into our own asthma treatments.
While I really speak highly about The Lion Who Had Asthma, the book is not without some flaws. First off, I really wish that this book came in a hardcover or board book format. Intended for use by children ages 2-7, our paperback book has taken quite a beating (including being colored on). I think its also important to mention that this book deals strictly with a Caucasian male child with asthma and his family. I am not aware of this book being available featuring a little girl with asthma, or a child of another racial background.
Overall, I think that The Lion Who Had Asthma can be a great learning tool for children with asthma, their parents and family and friends. If you are a parent looking for ways to make nebulizer treatments more bearable, and even enjoyable, think about The Lion Who Had Asthma and never underestimate the power of imagination.
If your child has asthma you may also be interested in the following advice essay that I have written entitled Breathing Easy.. When Your Child Has Asthma
Recommended:
Yes
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marytara
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