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Book Cover for: Counting on You: A NICU Story, Jayne Case

Counting on You: A NICU Story

Jayne Case

A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) story told from the point of view of the baby's older sibling.

The main character, Otto, is an eight year old boy with sparkling blue eyes and long curly hair. His mum has just given birth to his baby brother, but the baby needs some extra medical attention from the doctors and nurses in the NICU. While he waits to bring his baby brother home, he learns more about NICU and all the special machines and equipment they use to help the babies grow healthy and strong. There are lots of new big words to learn, and lots of numbers to count, watch and calculate.

Otto finds it difficult being away from home and away from his new baby, so he uses his love of numbers, counting and patterns to help him pass the time and work through the difficulty and uncertainty that comes with having a baby sibling in NICU.

Otto's heartwarming story of connection and resilience helps him make sense of his family's NICU journey. During the long weeks while Otto's baby brother is in NICU, he draws pictures for the baby, and picks bunches of oak leaves for his mum. His love of maths and numbers and his ability to see patterns everywhere helps him get through a worrying time.

His hopeful and comforting story helps to deepen compassion for our own and other people's difficult stories.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Three Harveys
  • Publish Date: Jun 1st, 2025
  • Pages: 32
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 8.50in - 8.50in - 0.25in - 0.68lb
  • EAN: 9781763857605
  • Recommended age: 00-12
  • Categories: Family - New BabyFamily - SiblingsHealth & Daily Living - Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries

About the Author

Case, Jayne: - "Jayne Case is a Tasmanian self published author. Her first children's picture book - Counting on You: A NICU Story was inspired by real events. While her baby was in NICU, she searched for books to support her older children, but couldn't find anything suitable, so decided to write the book herself. Jayne seeks to support NICU families all over the world with Counting on You: a NICU story, and hopes it encourages older siblings in the whirlwind of their NICU journeys. Jayne lives in regional Lutruwita (Tasmania) with her husband and their three children, and enjoys connecting with others through the power of words and nature."
Savitri, Tika: - Tika Savitri is an Indonesian illustrator and writer currently living in the United States. Over the past two years, she has illustrated 15 books, collaborating with indie authors, publishers, and government initiatives. While she primarily works with digital painting, she also enjoys exploring traditional painting techniques, allowing her to experiment with different artistic styles. She has a deep passion for illustrating fantasy, adventure, and heartwarming stories. Beyond illustration, Tika also enjoys writing, blending her storytelling skills with her artistic vision. Whether through words or images, she loves to craft narratives that ignite imagination and evoke emotions. With a steadily growing portfolio, Tika continues taking on new creative challenges, always seeking to bring meaningful stories to life through illustration and writing. Check her website at www.tikasavitri.com