Book Review

Title: Show Me Where It Hurts

19430 Business Center Dr.,
Northridge, CA 91324
(818) 887-6431

Publication:	42 pages, hardcover or softcover
Category:	Pediatric Patient Education
Price:	$16.95 for hardcover, $9.95 for softcover

This children's storybook is an effective representation of the rationale for chiropractic diagnosis and treatment of children's injuries. It chronicles (in real-life storybook fashion) the football injury of a young man who, accompanied by his inquisitive younger brother, learn about spinal care and chiropractic practice through a visit to a local chiropractor. The story presents a very thorough encapsulation of what a child (or adult) can expect from the initial visit to a chiropractic office. It discusses the concept of subluxation as "bone out of place" or "not moving properly," discusses the relevant anatomy of the spine and the effect on muscular and neurologic tissue in an uncomplicated manner.

The illustrations are simple black and white renderings. With a generation of children who are acclimated to colorful, fast action cartoons, movies and music videos, they may be a bit too simplistic, but they adequately depict the action in the story and help to orient a child to a chiropractic office. The application of chiropractic care infants is addressed but controversial areas of pediatric care for non-biomechanical concerns are not. The only other concern is that the characters appear to have been chosen without consideration of ethnic or gender diversity.

The text is aimed at an upper grade school level, but children of all ages (and parents) can gain insight into the applicability of chiropractic spinal care for all family members. My daughter (age 9) struggled over some of the more complex terms (subluxation, adjustment), even though she is familiar with them, so I would suggest the reading of this in the company of a parent, older sibling or chiropractic staff to decrease reading frustration and allow for questions. It is in my reception area now, and I expect that it will generate many questions from children and parents alike. It is indeed a useful educational tool.

Dr. Judy Silvestrone Rating: 9 out of 10

DC