While many of us were staying indoors and social distancing last year, author Kate Messner of Plattsburgh wrote another book as a lockdown activity. This book takes one of the most prominent faces in the struggle against COVID-19, and makes his life story relatable to very young readers.
Dr. Fauci: How a Boy from Brooklyn Became America’s Doctor (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) draws from interviews Messner conducted with Dr. Anthony Fauci, himself, and follows Fauci from his Brooklyn beginnings through medical school and his challenging role working with seven U.S. presidents to tackle some of the biggest public health challenges of the past fifty years. These include AIDS and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through illustrations by Alexandra Bye, and text by Messner, readers will learn about Fauci’s life before he became the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Anthony Fauci was a curious boy in Brooklyn, delivering prescriptions from his father’s pharmacy on his blue Schwinn bicycle. His father and immigrant grandfather taught Anthony to ask questions, consider all the data, and never give up—and Anthony’s ability to stay curious and to communicate with people would serve him his entire life.
Join Spotlight producer Paul Larson and Messner for an in depth conversation about the creation of her timely book, one of more than fifty works she’s written for kids.
Learn more about books by Kate Messner at katemessner.com.
Spotlight is made possible, in part, by the Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, dedicated to improving the quality of life for year-round residents of the Adirondack Park. Spotlight is also supported by Hill and Hollow Music.