Prince Preemie: A Tale of a Tiny Puppy Who Arrives Early
Jewel Kats, Author
Claudia Marie Lenart, Illustrator
Loving Healing Press, Fiction, Dec. 1, 2016
Suitable for Ages: 4-7
Themes: Animals, Premature babies, Special Needs, Princes, Hope
Opening: The King and Queen were expecting a boy. Prince Puppy would be their first child. He was considered a miracle because he was the only puppy in the Queen’s womb.
Book Synopsis: The King and Queen of Puppy Kingdom are joyfully awaiting the arrival of their Prince. But the couple and their kingdom are thrown into upheaval when it is learned that Prince Puppy will arrive early, before his important crown is completed. How can they call him Prince without a crown? How will they solve their problem when their puppy is in an incubator and hooked up to feeding tubes and wires?
Why I like this book:
A premature birth can be a confusing and scary time for families as they deal with worry and joy at the same time. This inspiring story has an element of a fairy tale. It is a gentle way to help young children understand the early birth of a sibling and why the sibling must be taken care of in a hospital. It can also be used to help prepare siblings for the day a new baby is ready to come home and join family life. It is also a wonderful way to explain to a child their premature birth.
Claudia Marie Lenart’s adorable illustrations really make this story sing. I love her soft woolen sculptures as they add a dreamy and soothing quality to the story and add to the book’s appeal. Lenart is a fiber artist who pokes wool and other natural fibers, like alpaca, with a barbed needle to sculpt her soft characters and scenes. This is the perfect medium for a fairy tale. Lenart will author and illustrate her first book in April: Seasons of Joy: Every Day is for Outdoor Play.
Resources: The book is a resource for parents to use with siblings. It helps parents answer simple questions for young children. And, it is a good book to use with a preemie child to discuss their early birth. Links to organizations that support preemie families: The Graham’s Foundation, Miracle Babies and the March of Dimes.
Jewel Kats has authored a dozen books-eight are about disabilities. Among her books are Jenny and Her Dog Both Fight Cancer: A Tale of Chemotherapy and Caring and Hansel and Gretel: A Fairy Tale with a Down Syndrome Twist. Preemie Prince was her final gift to readers. Jewel Kats was the pen name of Michelle Meera Katyal, who passed away in 2016 as the result of complications of surgery. She too had a disability. Please visit her at her website to see her collection of books.
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
Children's Books Heal 
THIS will be the perfect book for my knitting club because we knit hat to save preemies! Excellent pick; it looks positively adorable. What a gift for this author to leave behind.
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I love what you are doing for preemies. It is a special book. Jewel Kats was a remarkable young woman who used her own disabilities to help children. I have so much respect for her. She was popular in Canada.
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What an interesting take done in an interesting medium! Will definitely be looking for this one!
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You would enjoy Claudia’s artwork. She is authoring/illustrating her first book this bring. I mentioned the title in my review. I’m sure it will really show her work.
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Oh my, the whole idea of a preemie puppy is just too adorable!
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It is adorable and perfect for very young children!
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This is the first picture book I have ever seen that addresses preemies. And I love that a puppy was chosen as the preemie. Children will have an easier time with this topic through this book. I hope my library has a copy.
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It is an excellent book for young children. There are very few picture books on the topic. I reviewed one other book by Magination Press.
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I’ve never seen a children’s book about premature babies, what a wonderful resource for siblings and even the premature children themselves when they’re older.
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It is such a simple story for young children and the illustrations are gorgeous!
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Very interesting book.
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It is a welcomed book for families. The illustrations really make the story.
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What a perfect picture book & a wonderful way to broach such a difficult, and not that uncommon, topic. Will definitely look for this one.
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Yes, it is an uncommon topic, but a much needed topic. The artwork is stunning. I love the soft woolen sculptures as they are soothing for kids — who will LOVE looking at the pages.
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Oh, my goodness — that cover. Adorable! And this is an important topic. Thanks for sharing!
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Another unique topic with an interesting way to bridge the difficulties. Thank you!
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You are welcome! It is an important story for families.
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Sounds lovely! Can’t wait to read it!
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It is a heartwarming story told for a young audience. The illustrations really make the story.
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How sweet. I love a story about puppies and so will kids.
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This sounds like a sweet story, definitely unique. XD It definitely will help kids understand this difficult? topic! Thanks for the review!!!
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Yes, it is a special story. The illustrations really make the story. So beautiful!
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