SAM LOSES HIS TONSILS
by Lola Olorunfemi & illustrated by Kiddquinn
A child gets his tonsils removed in Olorunfemi’s picture book.
Sam, a dark-haired, dark-skinned child, visits an Ears Nose and Throat specialist and learns that his oversized adenoids and tonsils must be removed via surgery. He is also diagnosed with sleep apnea. The book chronicles Sam’s experience leading up to his surgery including details like how he can’t eat or drink the night before. At the hospital, Sam gets hooked up to machines and receives “sleepy medicine” [8] called anesthesia. The nurses and surgeon are kind so Sam “wasn’t afraid…and was so happy he would be able to sleep better afterward.”[6] After surgery "Sam was fully awake with no... complications…and…discharged…the same day.”[8] Sam is thrilled that he no longer snores. Although his throat hurts and he can’t eat certain foods, Sam is happy to get home to his siblings and awakens feeling energized. The book functions well as a child-friendly clinical manual as opposed to a story with a plot. The author, an RN, displays clear knowledge of ENT procedures. The medical jargon and details are child-appropriate. Occasionally the text lags and includes unnecessary details like the ages of Sam’s siblings[2]. Still, this is an approachable tool for children requiring ENT procedures. The illustrations mirror the text. Some offer subtext like a scene showing masked surgeons performing Sam’s surgery. Others emphasize medical elements like a closeup of Sam’s throat and tonsils.A somewhat wordy but helpful manual for children in similar situations.