One for the Kiddos: Dr. Anthony Fauci Gets His Own Children's Book

Little ones’ literature land, there’s a new sheriff in town. Or, a new immunologist.

While you’re living off your stimmy stuck in lockdown on the couchie,

You can teach your little Jimmy ’bout our super Dr. Fauci.

It’s a new era for the kiddos where reading is concerned — Dr. Seuss and his sins may be getting sussed out, but Anthony Fauci’s success is one for the books.

Literally.

Publisher Simon & Schuster has announced a children’s book about the nation’s most noted physician.

Courtesy of author Kate Messner and illustrator Alexandra Bye, Dr. Fauci: How a Boy From Brooklyn Became America’s Doctor will hit shelves June 29th.

CNN host Brian Stelter broke the news during Sunday’s “Reliable Sources.”

“That tells you something about media, when Fauci gets his own children’s book,” Brian waxed.

Exciting morning here – @CNN's @brianstelter just revealed the cover for DR: FAUCI: HOW A BOY FROM BROOKLYN BECAME AMERICA'S DOCTOR on @ReliableSources!

(Coming 6/29 from @simonschuster & available for pre-order today – https://t.co/f8OxdyPeTf) pic.twitter.com/0rasv2s7Np

— katemessner (@KateMessner) March 21, 2021

Per Simon & Schuster’s website, the upcoming release is a “definitive picture book biography of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and one of the most crucial figures in the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Why a children’s book about the medical man?

He’s trod a storied path to prominence:

Before he was Dr. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci was a curious boy in Brooklyn, delivering prescriptions from his father’s pharmacy on his blue Schwinn bicycle. His father and immigrant grandfather taught Anthony to ask questions, consider all the data, and never give up—and Anthony’s ability to stay curious and to communicate with people would serve him his entire life.

This engaging narrative, which draws from interviews the author did with Dr. Fauci himself, follows Anthony from his Brooklyn beginnings through medical school and his challenging role working with seven US presidents to tackle some of the biggest public health challenges of the past fifty years, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Extensive backmatter rounds out Dr. Fauci’s story with a timeline, recommended reading, a full spread of facts about vaccines and how they work, and Dr. Fauci’s own tips for future scientists.

The book draws from actual interviews with the good doctor, whose star for the past year has burned brilliantly.

As I covered last month, Anthony was set to receive the Award of Courage from The Foundation for AIDS Research — presented by Julia Roberts.

The admired actress called Fauci her “personal hero.”

It’s not the duo’s first pairing — they got together last May via Julia’s Instagram account:

As a part of The One's #PassTheMic campaign, Dr. Anthony Fauci dropped in on Julia Roberts’ Instagram account to chat about future vaccine trials. pic.twitter.com/ZN6OkNssdH

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 22, 2020

Anthony’s no misfit among the rich and famous, and I’m not just talking about the famous part. As of late, the new kids’ book character is making Green Eggs and Ham — minus the breakfast words.

In January, the news named him America’s highest-paid taxpayer-funded employee.

From my article at the time:

America’s COVID Commander’s been killin’ it quite a while: From 2010 through 2019, the Cornell University-educated MD raked in $3.6 million.

In 2014, he received a raise: $335,000 rocketed to $417,608.

Per The Daily Wire, if no more increase comes around, 2019-2024 will turn out $2.5 Big Ones.

When you’ve got that kind of clout, Oh, the Places You’ll Go.

As for the new book, Amazon’s taking preorders now.

Get yours here.

It's cover reveal day for DR. FAUCI: HOW A BOY FROM BROOKLYN BECAME AMERICA'S DOCTOR!

I'm so excited to share Alexandra Bye's amazing cover art for our picture book biography – out 6/29 from @SimonKIDS.

Available for pre-order now: https://t.co/f8OxdyPeTf pic.twitter.com/xyF195JNHO

— katemessner (@KateMessner) March 21, 2021