About the Author

Image by Elaine Garvin © Hippocratic Press

Dr. Charlotte Cowan is a pediatrician who trained and practiced for several years at Boston's MassGeneral Hospital for Children where she remains on staff. During her years of active practice at the MGH, she was a Clinical Instructor at Harvard Medical School. Additionally, Dr. Cowan has completed a fellowship in Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago.

Before going into medicine, Dr. Cowan taught English and worked as a social worker with emotionally disturbed children in New York City.

Dr. Cowan is married and has three children, all of whom have had the common childhood illnesses about which she writes.

A Word from Dr. Cowan

As a pediatrician, I have taken care of sick children for many years, and I have listened both to them and to their worried parents. I think I have answered a million questions! It is clear to me that children and their parents are curious and concerned about the illnesses and issues they face together.

I hope that The Little Elephant with the Big Earache helps to reassure children and their parents as it educates them about ways to take care of earaches at home and suggests when to call or see the doctor. The decision to use antibiotics depends on several factors and should be made after careful consideration by the pediatrician and parent.

Katie Caught a Cold is a story written to illustrate the excellent care of a child with a cold. Katie is kept comfortable by her mother who avoids over the counter cold and cough medicines. Dr. Hippo explains that antibiotics are unnecessary and makes sure to tell Katie's mother when/if she should worry about Katie's illness.

Peeper Has a Fever demonstrates an intelligent and thoughtful approach to caring for a child with a fever. In addition to the comforting story, the included Parent Guide, Figuring Out Your Child's Fever, offers clear suggestions about calling the doctor for advice when your child has a fever.

Sadie’s Sore Throat tackles the problem of strep throat in children. It shows both parent and child not only how to take care of a child with a sore throat but also what to expect at the doctor’s office. The Parent Guide, Simplifying Sore Throats, explains the appropriate care of a child with a sore throat; in the case of strep, this includes a full course of antibiotics after a visit to the doctor’s office for a necessary laboratory test.