AUCON launches children's book series focused on health education

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The Auburn University College of Nursing is launching a new children’s book series designed to help young readers and their families better understand health-related topics through engaging, age-appropriate stories written by Auburn Nursing faculty.

The Growing Tiger Book Series follows Toby the Tiger as he navigates health experiences such as asthma, neonatal intensive care stays, mental wellness and intellectual disabilities. Developed by nursing faculty in collaboration with Auburn University’s Child Life Program, the series aims to improve health literacy while supporting children and families across Alabama and beyond.

“My vision for the Growing Tiger series is that we will have the ability to pass on information to families and children so they can better understand health topics,” said Linda Gibson-Young, East Alabama Medical Center/Dr. Bill Lazenby Endowed Professor and Outreach Coordinator for the College of Nursing. “We can reinforce what healthcare providers are teaching about topics like nutrition, emotions and wellness in a developmentally appropriate way.”

The idea for the series originated nearly three years ago as part of the college’s outreach efforts.

“We had so much fun coming up with a list of possible topics, and it was never ending,” Gibson-Young said. “Our team has developed a list of 50 different health-related topics to write about.”

The first book – Growing Tiger: Living Strong with Asthma – focuses on a condition that affects many school-age children and aligns with Gibson-Young’s research expertise.

“I knew the first one needed to be asthma because it impacts 10 percent of child populations,” Gibson-Young said. “It definitely impacts our school settings.”

Written from the perspective of a child living with asthma, the book was reviewed by pediatricians, school nurses and other healthcare professionals to ensure the content was evidence-based and developmentally appropriate. Feedback from children attending the College’s asthma camp also helped shape the story.

Gibson-Young said the books extend health education beyond clinical settings by reinforcing information children and families receive from healthcare providers.

The project reflects Auburn Nursing’s commitment to evidence-based practice and community outreach.

“We have nurses and nurse practitioners at Auburn Nursing who are experts on different topics,” Gibson-Young said. “Our faculty are leading the way by writing the books, and they can provide evidence-based content that builds child and family knowledge.”

The series was developed in partnership with the College of Human Sciences’ Child Life Program, whose faculty also helped refine the books and expand opportunities for use in schools, clinics and hospitals.

Elizabeth Cotney, a 2024 graduate from Auburn’s Child Life program, gave life to Toby through her watercolor illustrations. Cotney creates ten unique hand-drawn illustrations for each book.

“When children open the books, one of the first things they’ll notice is Toby,” Gibson-Young said. “Lizzie’s artistic imagery of Toby the Tiger makes him impossible not to love. The artwork does more than complement the story. It helps carry the narrative, spark curiosity and make important healthcare concepts easier for young readers to understand.

“It was so thrilling to see the first book finally published because you saw the potential for children to truly learn about these important topics through reading about Toby,” Gibson-Young said.

The initial print run included 500 copies and was made possible through donor support from the Russell Medical Foundation. A second title, Growing Tiger: Being Brave in the NICU, is currently in production, along with a companion activity book. Additional titles focused on topics such as intellectual disabilities and mental wellness are also in development.

The series is part of the College of Nursing’s broader continuum of child health initiatives, which include screenings, education, clinical care and family engagement programs designed to improve health outcomes for children and families.

To learn more about the Growing Tiger book series, email auconoutreach@auburn.edu. To purchase a book, visit https://aub.ie/auconstore.