Florence Nightingale was a woman with a privileged background who showed the world the importance of cleanliness and organization in regards to healthcare. She pursued her passion despite the expectations of her family and changed the way hospitals ran. Demi does a great job of aiding the story with inviting photos of difficult topics. ( )

I picked a book about a person I knew little about. She grew to be one famous nurse. She traveled all over helping nurses and hospitals. She showed them the benefits of having a clean atmosphere in order to provide optimum care for patients.she helped to start the Red Cross and received a number of awards for he work.

This book is motivating for anyone who dares to be different. Florence Nightingale did not want to be the same as her parents. Instead she insisted on following her passion, which she took pride in and served with excellence. It can empower someone to believe in what they want to achieve.

Florence Nightingale as a child was born into wealth. Her family was well known and enjoyed entertaining the rich and famous. As a child Florence stood out from her family. Rather than entertain high profile guests, she enjoyed playing alone with her dolls. She gained interest in nursing and helping the sick. When she approached her parents with her interest of nursing, they were reluctant see her passion. Florence found herself traveling and helping out hospitals wherever she could. Everywhere she went she would educate herself more and more. Her first job as a superintendent was although unpaid Florence took pride in it. She improved treatment and care for the patients. She credited the health of patients to warm food and a clean facility. She went on to aid soldiers during the Crimean War, where she earned the title as “the Lady with the Lamp”. Wanting to improve the conditions of the hospitals Florence began to implement plans to make them better. In 1857 a commission board was formed to improve Army Medical Care. Florence started the Nightingale Fund, which led to the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in 1860. Her work went on to inspire others like Henri Dunant who started “The International American Red Cross”. Florence continues to assist those when she could from the comfort of her bed. She passed away in 1910, even after her passing her legacy lives on through her teachings and awards given in her honor. ( )

The book gives an account of the life and accomplishments of Florence Nightingale. Nightingale according to the text was an English born woman who aspired to work as a nurse which at the time was a field that her parents felt wasn’t suited for a proper lady. Florence was mostly self-taught and followed her dreams debited what others felt, she pursued her dreams. The illustrations done by Demi clearing illustrates the text and provides a great visual for readers to easily understand the conditions of the hospitals upon Nightingale arrival and how she influenced and improved conditions of the hospital. The book also includes a timeline and titles of other books about Florence Nightingale for further reading. ( )

Summary: This book is about a young woman who wanted to be a nurse, but her parents wouldn't allow it, so instead she decided to become the superintendent of London's Institution for the care of sick women in distressed circumstance. She did everything she could to make the facilities as clean and organized as she could. Finally when the Crimean War started, Nightingale went and made the conditions better for the soldiers. Later in life she became involved with the British Red Cross and many of her techniques are still used even today when caring for patients and facilities.

Personal Reaction: I like that they made this book very easy for children to read and interpret. It wasn't my favorite book I have read this semester, but I still enjoyed it.

Classroom Extension:
1. I would have the kids write journal entries about what they believe are some of the ways they could organize and make a hospital facility more efficient.
2. I would ask the kids to write a personal reaction to the book.