Books in the Exam Room Maybe a Bear Ate It!, by Robie H. Harris, is an adorable story about a little one who cannot find his most beloved transitional bedtime object…his book! The beautiful illustrations lend themselves nicely to using the tool of dialogic reading. Dialogic reading allows the parent/caretaker to use open-ended questions to let the child participate more in the telling (conversation) of the story. The book can be used as a tool to discuss many different topics, such as bedtime routines, keeping your room clean and household chores, or the different animals that the character imagines possibly took his favorite book. I also love the fact that the main character displays so many emotions throughout the story, and I feel it would be very helpful to discuss the different ways of expressing emotions with children ages 2 and up. By the end of the story the character has found his book, and discovers it was actually in his bed all along. This book emphasizes to readers how important books are in the day to day lives of families. We are very excited to have Maybe a Bear Ate It! in our repertoire of books to give out as a Reach Out and Read site. As a Family Medicine doctor, I have the pleasure and privilege of being able to give books to some of the children that I have delivered. With the variety of ages and chronic illnesses we manage in our office (which is part of St. Vincent's Family Practice Residency program) it is a favorite part of the day to sit down and share the importance of reading aloud to patients and their families. As an educator, it is important to me to see residents participate in an evidence-based intervention that is enjoyable, and will really make a difference to the patients in their care.        Why We Chose This Book The simple, repeating text is rich in vocabulary while the illustrations make this book a good choice for parents with literacy issues. The high drama of a beloved lost toy or book is played out in every household - parents and preschoolers will recognize the familiar situation. The illustrations give the young reader lots to look for in the hodge-podge of blankets and toys. Sonya Dominguez, MD is a family practice physician and a ROR coordinator at St. Vincent's Family Medicine Center in Jacksonville, Florida. If you or any member of your Reach Out and Read program's medical staff would like to write about using a favorite book in the exam room, please contact books@reachoutandread.org to learn how to become one of our featured writers.   Return