A Child In Pain How to Help, What to Do , Leora Kuttner, PhD		Kevin Zacharoff, MD
This book was written to be a guide to both parents and clinicians with respect to understanding children in pain. The initial approach is very much behavioral focusing on how children react and express their fears and feelings of pain, as well as providing "do's and don'ts" about the best way for parents and clinicians to respond to a child in pain. In this book, strategies to comfort and treat children in pain are wonderfully blended into common sense solutions that are intuitive and thoughtful. With a high level of expertise, Dr. Kuttner puts forth ideas and thoughts that are valuable to anyone who may encounter a child in pain. Unfortunately, children are often a group of patients who encounter disparities in treatment of pain. This book provides steps towards parity and compassion for the most innocent of all – our children. “A Child in Pain – How to Help, What to Do” will be a valuable resource throughout the course of painful events that invariably occur during childhood. It offers information intended to increase understanding of pediatric pain, as well as practical approaches that are likely to improve the unfortunate experience of a child in pain.

What type of patient would likely benefit most from this book?
This book is clearly intended to benefit children and their families when a child experiences pain. The information provided can help the child deal emotionally and physically with pain when it occurs. Anxious and young children in particular would benefit from their parents and clinicians reading the book.

How would you recommend this book be used to enhance the care of a child in pain?
I would recommend this book be used in two distinct ways. First and foremost, as a book that would well be part of a "required reading" list that is intended to be read at least once by a parent or clinician that treats children regularly. Secondly, this book will likely serve as a reference that a parent or clinician will want to have nearby.

Are there any features or sections of the book you liked most or least?
The best feature of this book is the blend of factual information and practical steps that offer compassionate and intelligent suggestions for dealing with the painful experiences children may encounter throughout the course of their childhood.

The idea that the parent is the single best ally that a child can have is the foundation upon which this useful book successfully achieves its primary goal – to improve the care of a child in pain.

Leora Kuttner, Ph.D. is a pediatric clinical psychologist and mother who specializes in children's pain management. Dr. Kuttner is a Clinical Professor in the Pediatric Department of the University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver.
Dr. Kuttner is the distinguished recipient of the 1998 YWCA Women of Distinction Award, and the 2007 Jeffrey Lawson Award for Advocacy in Children's Pain Relief.
As a film-maker, Dr. Kuttner has also co-produced and directed the award winning documentaries on pain management No Fears, No Tears – Children Coping With Pain in 1985, No Fears, No Tears – 13 Years Later in 1998, and When Every Moment Counts – Pediatric Palliative Care in 2003.