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I Want to Be a Doctor: A My Community I Can Read
For the child who says, "I want to be a doctor when I grow up!" And for any child who wants a gentle behind-the-scenes look at being a doctor.
Doctors help sick and hurt people feel better. When little brother Jack hurts his foot, the family gets to meet all kinds of doctors.
With this story blending narrative with nonfiction elements, readers meet the doctors who heal broken bones, help fix teeth, and even work in laboratories!
I Want to Be a Doctor is part of a new I Can Read series that introduces young readers to important community helpers. This Level One I Can Read is perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.
Doctors help sick and hurt people feel better. When little brother Jack hurts his foot, the family gets to meet all kinds of doctors.
With this story blending narrative with nonfiction elements, readers meet the doctors who heal broken bones, help fix teeth, and even work in laboratories!
I Want to Be a Doctor is part of a new I Can Read series that introduces young readers to important community helpers. This Level One I Can Read is perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published March 13, 2018
About the author
Laura Driscoll
181 books49 followersLaura Driscoll is the author of numerous first chapter and beginning reader books, including We Are Twins and The Bravest Cat! She lives in central Connecticut with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
December 8, 2025
Sons book
February 16, 2019
2/16/2019 ~ A lovely mix of information about different types of doctors and the story of a family's visit to the ER for a boy's broken foot. I felt tension as I wondered what would happen with the little brother. I also was interested in the kid language to describe each of the doctors the little girl encountered. The characters in the book represented a wide range of ethnicities and skin tones.
November 18, 2020
This is a wonderful book to read to children. They talk about different types of doctors. This is an easy book for children to read themselves.
December 3, 2021
This is a great book to introduce students to a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to become a doctor. It also introduces our students to a variety of different doctors at a hospital as well. The book is read from a young girl's perspective when her brother Jack hurts his foot. His family takes him to the doctor where he encounters a variety of different doctors. The text in this book is simple and the illustrations are engaging and exciting for students. The perspective on this book can also help our students have a less fearful view of going to the doctor and realize that hospitals and medical staff are there to help us and not hurt us. This book can be a great one to read aloud to students to engage them on their thoughts but can also be a great one for students to read on their own.
The age range for this book would be ages 5-8 or Kindergarten to 3rd grade. This is due to the simple text as well as not having the background knowledge of the variety of doctors in a hospital. Students at these ages will be more interested in the text because they may not have a full understanding of what goes on at a doctor's office or hospital.
One activity for students to partake in would be to have them write "I want to be a" followed by a drawing and writing of what they want to be when they're older. This can help encourage students to believe in themselves and have determination. Students can also partake in an activity where they describe at least one doctor mentioned in the story and what their primary duties are.
This book is a great non-fiction book because it gives a relatable story to the students while providing a lot of information about a variety of doctors who they may encounter during their lifetime. It can also help put students at ease when visiting the doctor as they see the young girl's brother display courage with his hurt foot and encounter a variety of kind doctors.
The age range for this book would be ages 5-8 or Kindergarten to 3rd grade. This is due to the simple text as well as not having the background knowledge of the variety of doctors in a hospital. Students at these ages will be more interested in the text because they may not have a full understanding of what goes on at a doctor's office or hospital.
One activity for students to partake in would be to have them write "I want to be a" followed by a drawing and writing of what they want to be when they're older. This can help encourage students to believe in themselves and have determination. Students can also partake in an activity where they describe at least one doctor mentioned in the story and what their primary duties are.
This book is a great non-fiction book because it gives a relatable story to the students while providing a lot of information about a variety of doctors who they may encounter during their lifetime. It can also help put students at ease when visiting the doctor as they see the young girl's brother display courage with his hurt foot and encounter a variety of kind doctors.
November 23, 2021
I read the book I Want to Be a Doctor by Laura Driscoll. One day a little girl's brother named Jack has to go to the hospital because he might've broken his foot. While they are there the little girl decides that she really wants to be a doctor and learns that there are many different types of doctors. She meets many doctors while she's there with a mission to find what kind of doctor she will someday be. She learns about what they do and what a day in their life at work is like. This book has very colorful pictures but they are not very detailed. They do give the general idea of a hospital but it's not a lot of details like I said and the pictures are mostly small. The picture also gives off the impression that they are very busy which I think is good because it sets the setting well. The text is easy to understand and Ina normal font. The pictures do a good job of showering Ng what is going on in the story.
I like this book because I think that it is a good read for learning about different jobs. I also think that teachers could use it when learning about different types of doctors so that children know who does what which would make a great class activity. I really like this book because it reminds me of when it was career day at school and I would get to read these kinds of books and meet the people in that career. I remember looking forward to career day because I wanted to meet all the guest speakers like the doctors and police. I think this book was a good read, would teach good lessons, and can be memorable like it was for me when I was little.
I like this book because I think that it is a good read for learning about different jobs. I also think that teachers could use it when learning about different types of doctors so that children know who does what which would make a great class activity. I really like this book because it reminds me of when it was career day at school and I would get to read these kinds of books and meet the people in that career. I remember looking forward to career day because I wanted to meet all the guest speakers like the doctors and police. I think this book was a good read, would teach good lessons, and can be memorable like it was for me when I was little.
June 7, 2018
SHORT VERSION: This Level 1 reader avoids showing blood or serious illness while describing the most positive medical intervention and health maintenance tasks of doctors in routine scenarios, with brightly-colored illustrations that suit the tone.
LONGER REVIEW: The first-person narration by an older sister shows a family taking the little brother Jack to the hospital when he injures his foot “flying” off the bunk bed.
The African American family joins diverse patients in the waiting room as they wait for diverse doctors in this brightly-colored world of enthusiastic, kind, and patient people.
Although the text (marked as Guided Reading Level J on the cover) uses the terms “bone doctor” and “eye doctor” or has the doctor say, “I read x-rays,” the endnote lists those doctors as orthopedist, ophthalmologist, and radiologist.
There is nothing life-threatening here and not one drop of blood, but beyond that, the superficiality and cheeriness may obscure the importance of medical careers. If the author and illustrator won’t show the reality and danger of serious medical issues, then children are unlikely to feel inspired by the awe of their work.
This missed opportunity is not a fatal flaw in the text, but it confirms that the My Community series underestimates the capacity of new readers to understand and appreciate the drama of real life.
LONGER REVIEW: The first-person narration by an older sister shows a family taking the little brother Jack to the hospital when he injures his foot “flying” off the bunk bed.
The African American family joins diverse patients in the waiting room as they wait for diverse doctors in this brightly-colored world of enthusiastic, kind, and patient people.
Although the text (marked as Guided Reading Level J on the cover) uses the terms “bone doctor” and “eye doctor” or has the doctor say, “I read x-rays,” the endnote lists those doctors as orthopedist, ophthalmologist, and radiologist.
There is nothing life-threatening here and not one drop of blood, but beyond that, the superficiality and cheeriness may obscure the importance of medical careers. If the author and illustrator won’t show the reality and danger of serious medical issues, then children are unlikely to feel inspired by the awe of their work.
This missed opportunity is not a fatal flaw in the text, but it confirms that the My Community series underestimates the capacity of new readers to understand and appreciate the drama of real life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2020
This book tells the story from a young girl's perspective on her journey in the hospital waiting on her brother Jack who is seeing a couple of doctors to look at his injury. She tells the reader about all the different doctors she sees working around the hospital and what they do. It was amazing to see through her perspective finding out there was more than just one type of Dr.
The young girl has been taught of becoming a dr because she likes to help people, after learning there are many types of dr there can be it opened her eyes that she could be any kind of dr she wanted to be when she grows up. I enjoyed reading this book. It was an easy read, and can teach young children a lot about dr’s and all the different types of doctors there can be. Knowing this information can make children more comfortable with going to the doctors office. I recommend this book to children ages 4 to 8 years old. This book will give them practice with their reading skills as well as get them used to reading more words in a book then pictures. In turn, being a good in between book for students that need a little extra help on their reading skills. Diversity in this book is them mentioning all the different doctors through the book, and what they do.
The young girl has been taught of becoming a dr because she likes to help people, after learning there are many types of dr there can be it opened her eyes that she could be any kind of dr she wanted to be when she grows up. I enjoyed reading this book. It was an easy read, and can teach young children a lot about dr’s and all the different types of doctors there can be. Knowing this information can make children more comfortable with going to the doctors office. I recommend this book to children ages 4 to 8 years old. This book will give them practice with their reading skills as well as get them used to reading more words in a book then pictures. In turn, being a good in between book for students that need a little extra help on their reading skills. Diversity in this book is them mentioning all the different doctors through the book, and what they do.
March 19, 2024
I really enjoyed Laura Driscoll's I Want to be a Doctor. I would choose to share this book with my class as it does an excellent job explaining the different types of doctors, using examples that a young audience can relate to. Using Jack's trip to the emergency room, Dr. Tate uses this visit as an opportunity to educate his big sister, who one day wants to be a doctor, on the many different types of doctors there are. Dr Tate takes Jack's xrays and explain there are doctors who specialize in reading xrays. After it was discovered that Jack has a small tear in one of the bones in his foot, Jack is off to see the bone doctor. During this visit, Dr. Tate explains there are doctors for all types of things. Skin doctors, brain doctors, heart doctors, doctors for your teeth, etc. Jacks big sister is excited to learn about the different kind of doctors. Jack leaves with a cast on his foot but he is feeling better, all thanks to the different doctors who helped him. This book is great because it teaches kids about all the different doctors that there are.
February 1, 2018
Reviewed for YA Books Central
A cute and informative look inside hospitals for children.
The story tells of a family visit to the hospital because Jack broke his foot. It takes the reader on a journey to learn about different kinds of doctors through the eyes of the narrator, seeing that there is no general "doctor" but more specialists for different parts of the body.
The writing is easy to read, although slightly more words than I'm used to seeing in level one books. It can be hard to find level one books that aren't some inconsequential tale and instead add value beyond the simple reading of words. This was done that in spades.
Final verdict:
A book for learning to read and also just learning with a cute story and engaging images that are sure to capture the mind of the beginner reader.
A cute and informative look inside hospitals for children.
The story tells of a family visit to the hospital because Jack broke his foot. It takes the reader on a journey to learn about different kinds of doctors through the eyes of the narrator, seeing that there is no general "doctor" but more specialists for different parts of the body.
The writing is easy to read, although slightly more words than I'm used to seeing in level one books. It can be hard to find level one books that aren't some inconsequential tale and instead add value beyond the simple reading of words. This was done that in spades.
Final verdict:
A book for learning to read and also just learning with a cute story and engaging images that are sure to capture the mind of the beginner reader.
December 19, 2020
This easy reader for early elementary readers follows a Black family through their visit to the emergency room after the young son breaks his foot. It is great to see a diverse range of doctors the family meets at the hospital, like a female, Asian emergency room doctor, an Indian radiologist, a Black orthopedist, and a Latina pathologist. It is wonderful for children to see people who look like them in a variety of careers. This contemporary realism fiction book introduces the reader to many likely-new words that are given meaning through the illustrations and the explanations the doctors give to the curious older sister. The different types of doctors are named and described in an illustrated glossary at the back of the book, making it great for children to learn about jobs in medicine while practicing their reading skills.
February 9, 2019
I Want to Be a Doctor by Laura Driscoll and wonderfully illustrated by Catalina Echeverri brings the world of doctors right to a child's hands. I like how this book portraits doctors as kind and compassionate people who are here to help! It makes the trips to the hospital a little less scary; this would even be a GREAT book to have in a child's waiting room at the hospital.
I was really smitten by the drawings in this book; the outfits are fun and colorful, it's very diverse in culture and ethnicity, and there are a lot of great details within the book.
At the very back of the book, it has a page listing the types of doctors we saw in the story and what they do! This is a great read for children who are going to the doctor or want to know more about the medical world!
I was really smitten by the drawings in this book; the outfits are fun and colorful, it's very diverse in culture and ethnicity, and there are a lot of great details within the book.
At the very back of the book, it has a page listing the types of doctors we saw in the story and what they do! This is a great read for children who are going to the doctor or want to know more about the medical world!
September 10, 2023
“I Want To Be a Doctor” is a perfect book for children in the 1st grade. This book is a nonfiction book that shows us about different types of doctors. These are some things kids in this grade will enjoy and help them stay interested in the material about the community.
It is inspiring to all children. This story is about a little girl brother named Jack who gets hurt. They take Jack to the hospital, and while she is there she gets to explore all types of doctors Jack visits. One day she realizes she would like to be a doctor someday. The book is also great due to its representation of young children. Its inclusion of doctors and how important they are to our community.
I would choose this book for my classroom library since representation matters and to normalize all these doctors. It is a positive story of all types of doctors, and this can show students how much of an impact these doctors have on us and how much we should appreciate them as well. It allows the kids to see themselves outside of the classroom in the future, and in the workforce. This book also gives many different messages, but the one I truly loved is you can be whatever you want when you grow up.
It is inspiring to all children. This story is about a little girl brother named Jack who gets hurt. They take Jack to the hospital, and while she is there she gets to explore all types of doctors Jack visits. One day she realizes she would like to be a doctor someday. The book is also great due to its representation of young children. Its inclusion of doctors and how important they are to our community.
I would choose this book for my classroom library since representation matters and to normalize all these doctors. It is a positive story of all types of doctors, and this can show students how much of an impact these doctors have on us and how much we should appreciate them as well. It allows the kids to see themselves outside of the classroom in the future, and in the workforce. This book also gives many different messages, but the one I truly loved is you can be whatever you want when you grow up.
September 29, 2022
Bought this as a gift for three year old girl who aspires to be a doctor. I liked that the main characters were POC because représentation matters. The recipient of this gifted book is a child of color. The book completely retained child’s attention from beginning to end and has been a bedtime favorite.
July 12, 2018
I liked this book
I’d have given it five stars if there were actually photographs
Illustrations were wonderful
Story is something young children can relate to
I liked the recap at the end as well
Definitely an addition to the classroom library
I’d have given it five stars if there were actually photographs
Illustrations were wonderful
Story is something young children can relate to
I liked the recap at the end as well
Definitely an addition to the classroom library
March 28, 2019
An elementary level easy reader about a young girl and her family who visit the hospital for an emergency and meet many differnt types of doctors. Loved the explaiantion of the differnt type of doctors
December 2, 2021
This is a book that opens the eyes of children to knowing that there are many different doctors for many different things. There are doctors for bones. Doctors for hearts. Doctors for teeth. Doctors for eyes. Doctors for kids. There are even doctors for learning in school.
June 2, 2022
My daughter really enjoyed this book. She is dyslexic and these types of books have been a big help to her. As a family with medical professionals on my side she loves learning about them and this kept her interest as well as boosted her confidence.
October 22, 2023
A good quick read to your little one, ages 3 and up, about the different roles of doctors. The book is easy to read with nice illustrations that can help explain the care they, their family and friends receive. It's relatable and might plant the seed for a future career in medicine.
December 12, 2023
Many Choices to be a Doctor
Aniyah was happy that the doctors helped. She didn't realize there are different doctors for different parts and systems of the body. It was an easy read with minimal pauses for assistance.
Aniyah was happy that the doctors helped. She didn't realize there are different doctors for different parts and systems of the body. It was an easy read with minimal pauses for assistance.
May 1, 2025
I like all doctors . I didn't even know about all the doctors, but after reading the book, I learned so many types of doctors and their names. This was really good and I highly recommend.
* review from a 7 year old
* review from a 7 year old
March 24, 2018
When little brother Jack hurts his foot, the whole family goes to the Emergency Room. They meet Dr. Tate who suggests that Jack's older sister might want to become a doctor someday because she likes to help people like Dr. Tate does.
During their hospital visit, older unnamed sister meets many specialist doctors, who help her remember there are other special doctors she already knows.
Something I like about this book is that our main character makes inferences and interacts with the doctors she meets. :)
Glossary in the back.
During their hospital visit, older unnamed sister meets many specialist doctors, who help her remember there are other special doctors she already knows.
Something I like about this book is that our main character makes inferences and interacts with the doctors she meets. :)
Glossary in the back.
March 22, 2018
Good coverage of MANY different types of doctors and what they do. Full glossary in the back gives kids the "real names" of the kinds of doctors the narrator meets in the story.
March 28, 2018
Not a bad introduction to highlight various types of doctors.
April 19, 2018
Not a bad introduction to highlight various types of doctors.
November 23, 2018
An exploration of the medical profession on a first grade level. Not overly enticing, but it gets the job done.
January 29, 2019
I thought that this was a cute book. A good book for beginner readers. The author took the time to talk about a few different kinds of doctors. I would recommend this book to others.
October 15, 2019
I love that this book shows diverse people as doctors.
January 15, 2020
Uh, it was educational? I liked the variety of people.
January 22, 2020
The diversity alone makes this a winner, but it was also a nice intro to drs, hospitals, and medicine.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews