What's in a doctor's bag?

These questions and more will be answered at a community book fair sponsored by Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics Urban Health Program. On Saturday, April 14, and Sunday, April 15, pediatricians from Emory are teaming up at the Barnes & Noble at the Forum to support Reach Out and Read, a nationwide early literacy program in which physicians evaluate and encourage early literacy through book distribution and anticipatory guidance implemented locally at well child visits through the primary care services offered at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Hughes Spalding hospital.

"Events like this offer a fun way to introduce parents and caregivers to the importance of reading aloud to children," says Veda Johnson, MD, executive director of the Urban Health Program of the Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. "We live in a time when fewer than half of parents in the United States read to their young children daily. By supporting our program, we get closer our goal of giving every child between the ages of six months and five years that we see in our primary care clinic a new, developmentally-appropriate children's book to take home and keep." 

The event is at Barnes & Noble at the Forum at 5141 Peachtree Parkway in Norcross, Ga. The weekend schedule is as follows:  

Saturday, April 14th

• 11 a.m.| Presenter: Kathy Nash – Big Box, Little Box - Listen to a wonderful story about a wise old box that attempts to teach and mentor a fragile little box. Craft activities to follow.
• 1 p.m. | Presenter: Prianka Kandhal - What's in a Doctor's Bag? by Dr. Neil Shulman – This engaging and fun performance entertains children and promotes medical literacy.
• 3:30 p.m. | Presenter: Jane Harris Hill, - Ant Hill Live is an electrifying stage performance geared toward entertaining and educating audiences on important life lessons such as discipline, giving and teamwork.
• 6 p.m. - Dr. Veda Johnson's pajama party reading of The Giving Tree

• 11 a.m. | Emory pediatricians – Storytime event and arts and crafts "Celebrating Spring."
• 1:30 p.m. | Presenter: Prianka Kandhal - What's in a Doctor's Bag by Dr. Neil Shulman
• 3:30p.m.| Presenter: Danette Collister - The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle followed by a fun craft session.
• 5:30p.m.| Presenter: Dr.Lynn Gardner – Corduroy Goes to the Doctor followed by an arts and crafts session.

A percentage of the weekend's Barnes & Noble purchases will benefit the Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics Urban Health Program. Those who cannot attend the events, but wish to support the Urban Health Program can purchase books online by visiting bn.com/bookfairs until April 21, 2012 and entering bookfair ID # 10694552 at checkout.