Luton NHS doctor-mum writes picture book to empower children in healthcare settings
Brave, Brave Teddy! (and Duckie Makes It Better) aims to give children a voice and healthcare workers a tool for compassionate care.
A doctor working in the East of England has published a children's picture book designed to help young patients feel braver, more heard, and more empowered during hospital visits that can often be a daunting experience for children.
Dr Z Henry-Cruise, a specialty doctor training towards a Triple accreditation in Acute Internal Medicine, General Internal Medicine, and Intensive Care Medicine, has written and published Brave, Brave Teddy! (and Duckie Makes It Better) through her own imprint, Cruising2Success Press. Her own unique experience as a clinician and a mother made this project even more special at heart.
The story follows Teddy, a small but brave character who — with the help of his friend Duckie — learns that it's okay to feel scared in hospital, and that speaking up is part of being brave. It's aimed at children aged 3–8, and was field-tested by the author's own daughter before publication.
Working in the NHS provides invaluable experience on how much of a difference it makes when a child feels able to say how they're feeling — and when the adults around them, whether medical staff or parents, know how to listen with intention. This book was written to help children feel brave enough to speak up, and helps the adults - be it caregivers and healthcare workers around children respond with compassion.
The book's central message — that bravery includes asking for help, and that a child's voice matters in a healthcare setting — reflects a growing conversation within the NHS about protecting children's emotional wellbeing during medical care, not just their physical health.
Dr Henry-Cruise hopes the book will find its way onto hospital ward bookshelves and into conversations between paediatric teams, caregivers, and families, and is keen to connect with local schools, hospitals, and healthcare groups interested in supporting children's emotional preparedness for medical settings.
Brave, Brave Teddy! (and Duckie Makes It Better) is available now on all Amazon platforms