Rufus Comes Home [Paperback]

Kim Gosselin (Author), Terry Ravanelli (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

After being sent to the hospital, Brian finds out has diabetes. Brian's mother decides to get a stuffed bear for Brian. She sews special patches on the same areas where Brian gets his insulin shots and puts hearts on the paws where Brian gets his fingers pricked for glucose testing. Brian now has his own "diabetic" bear with which to share his fears and experiences.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kim Gosselin was born and raised in Michigan where she attended Central Michigan University. She began her professional writing career shortly after her two young sons were both diagnosed with chronic illnesses. Kim is extremely committed to bringing the young reader quality children's health education while raising important funds for medical research. Kim now resides, writes, and gives consultations. Kim is the recipient of the 1998 National American Lung Association Presidential Award. She is an avid supporter of the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, the Epilepsy Foundation of American, and a member of the American Diabetes Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Small Publishers Association of North America, the Publishers Marketing Association, and the Author's Guild.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Jayjo Books (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891383027
• ISBN-13: 978-1891383021
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Illness

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Plot deserves 5 stars but I had a problem with the pictures, July 1, 2001

By 

Carol Watkins "Psychiatrist" (Parkton, Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rufus Comes Home (Paperback)

Brian, a young boy, is diagnosed with diabetes and hospitalized. While in the hospital, he learns about his diabetes and begins to practice giving himself shots. He feels lonely and overwhelmed. His mother has the bright idea of giving him a stuffed teddy bear who also has diabetes. Brian is able to practice his shots on the bear. The bear is a source of comfort because he has to experience the shots just like Brian.

I liked the story, but I really could have done without the subtle product placements all through the illustrations. I could live with discrete print advertizements in the parents' sections. I do not think that the text or the illustrations in children's books should be used to hawk specific products.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ for young children with diabetes!, May 12, 2000

By 

S. Montoya (Huntington Beach, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rufus Comes Home (Paperback)

After learning of a friends, grandson's recent diagnosis, I searched for a book geared toward a small child. "Rufus Comes Home" was the perfect choice! The book provides the information needed to deal with the illness and specific care, but is written in a compassionate style that would not frighten a child.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Rufus" is full of love, understanding, and information, July 25, 2001

By 

Susan L Hiatt (Pontiac, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rufus Comes Home (Paperback)

The diagnosis of diabetes is traumatic enough for an adult but even more so for a child. Rufus helps the child, family, and friends deal with this disease in an informative way that is neither too medical nor too simple. Our hospital gives the Rufus book along with the actual Rufus teddy bear to any child with a new diagnosis of diabetes. The book explains how the diabetes is managed and the bear gives the child someone else (the bear had diabetes too) to go through the shots and blood sugar tests with. I highly recommend it for anyone who has a child with diabetes even if it isn't a new diagnosis.