This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised by the Parents' Choice Award. It was recognised in the Grades K-1 category by the Alabama Camellia Award. It also was recognised by the Bluebonnet Award. It was recognised in the Picture Book category by the South Carolina Childrens Junior and Young Adult Book Award. Also it was recognised by the Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award. It was recognised in the Ages 7-10 Years category by the Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens. It was recognised by the Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award.

This book has been graded for interest at 4-8 years.

There are 32 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2006 by Farrar Straus Giroux .

Cynthia DeFelice is a successful children's author who lives in New York. This book was inspired by her grandfather who was apprenticed to a rural doctor at the age of twelve, and went on to become a respected surgeon.