If you are a veterinarian striving to bridge the communication gap between your profession and pet owners, your first option would be to write a series of children’s books about pets and their illnesses.
At least that’s the approach that Dr. Kacey Korver (’20), a small animal practitioner in central Iowa has taken.
Korver is the author of eight children’s picture books on veterinary care with titles ranging from Daisy has Diabetes to Phoenix has Food Allergies. If those titles aren’t to your liking, you can try out Franklin has Fleas or Izzy has Intervertebral Disc Disease.
You get the idea.
As a veterinarian and a mother of two young children, Korver recognizes the importance of empowering families with the knowledge and resources to provide the best care for their pets.
But why children’s books?
“Science and medicine can be intimidating for some, but I believe that no concept is too difficult for pet owners and children to understand,” Korver said. “I have witnessed first-hand the power that picture books have in teaching young children.
“My books are aimed toward making doctor-level information understandable for all. I thought a picture book would provide a fun and easy way to understand complex veterinary concepts.”
After publishing Daisy has Diabetes, Korver was encouraged to continue the project when her three-year-old son started reciting the book and sharing its content with her.
“He actually asked me, ‘Mom, did you know dogs need insulin in order to use glucose for energy?’ This proved to me that no concept is too difficult for owners or their children to understand,” Korver said.
Korver has three goals when it comes to her project. First, she wants to educate owners so that they can use the books to better understand the “why” behind a disease.
Secondly, she wants to inspire children. “I would love to inspire children to become veterinarians and share a taste of the fascinating science behind this incredible career,” she said.
Finally, she hopes to assist her fellow veterinarians.
“I hope veterinarians can use these books as a resource when explaining these concepts to owners,” she said. “I believe they would be great to have in exam rooms or in clinic lobbies.”
Her latest book, Cecil has Cystitis, is set to be released in September, but Korver far from finished with the series.
“I’m continuing to work on drafts for more than 20 other titles,” she said. “Many people have reached out requesting books on certain topics, so I have a list that I’m slowly, but surely, working through.”
You can follow Kacey Korver’s literary efforts on her Facebook page “Unleashed Vet Books” for updates on new releases. The books can be purchased on Amazon as part of the “Pets at the Vet” series.
September 2025