For many children, a trip to the doctor brings anxiety, tears, and endless questions. But Jacksonville-based pediatrician Dr. Letisha Jefferson—known affectionately as Dr. J—is on a mission to change that narrative.
A practicing pediatrician for over a decade, Dr. Jefferson recently combined her medical expertise with her passion for literacy to create Zoe’s Day with Dr. J, a colorful, rhyming children’s book designed to ease kids’ fears about doctor visits. The book, paired with an interactive coloring and activity guide, introduces young readers to medical tools, office staff, and even provides space for them to prepare questions for their doctor.
“This book really marries my love of literacy and just helping to cultivate early childhood development and reading skills, as well as my pediatrics work experience,” Dr. Jefferson tells BlackDoctor.
Where Literacy Meets Wellness
Dr. Jefferson’s book isn’t just about easing doctor’s visit jitters—it’s also about building early literacy skills.
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With 90 percent of a child’s brain development occurring before age five, Dr. Jefferson emphasizes that reading is one of the most powerful tools parents can give their children.
By weaving health education into a fun, easy-to-read story, she hopes to spark both a love of books and healthy lifelong habits.
“I want to encourage early readers to be able to pick up the book and read it themselves. We follow Zoe, who’s five, as she goes to see Dr. J for her well-child checkup,” she explains. “Throughout the visit, you’ll engage with different office staff. We introduce the children who are reading to the various medical tools that they’ll be exposed to. I felt it was a great toolkit for parents to utilize prior to coming into the office. We can alleviate a lot of the anxiety that’s around the visit and get them excited instead.”
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Her leadership roles with organizations like Read USA, Reach Out and Read, and the Early Learning Coalition of Duval reflect her deep commitment to ensuring every child has access to the building blocks of learning.
Empowering Children as Their Own Advocates
One of the most unique features of Zoe’s Day with Dr. J is its focus on teaching children to advocate for themselves in healthcare settings.
The accompanying activity book includes a section called Questions to Ask My Doctor, which encourages kids to prepare their own concerns before stepping into the exam room.
“I want children to feel comfortable talking with us about their concerns or any questions that they may have, and this activity book kind of prompts them to think about that before they come into the office,” she shares.
Through playful role modeling, the book demonstrates techniques like deep breathing during shots and asking about medical instruments—practical steps that parents can reinforce at home.
“Building those literacy skills just kind of opens up the door to whatever you want to be. You can build those foundational skills when they’re younger, give them a love and a passion for education, and they’ll be able to use that to do whatever they want to do, go wherever they want to go,” Dr. Jefferson notes.
Play, Plushies, and Pediatric Care
Dr. Jefferson’s company, Learn and Play with Dr. J, expands this mission with resources that blend play and health education. A plush doll of Zoe, complete with a toy doctor’s kit, allows children to practice checkups at home—making real visits less intimidating.
“The main character, Zoe, actually, I created her so she models the behavior that I hope children will do when they come to the doctor’s office. I want them to be curious and brave. So, you kind of see the after-effect of what preparation looks like in Zoe because Zoe’s not scared. When she asks the doctor a question, she’s engaged, and she feels empowered to ask those questions and advocate for herself because her parents prepared her. And so, you’ll see her ask him, ‘What’s that? What’s that for?’ about the blood pressure machine. You’ll see those questions being asked about the visit,” Dr. Jefferson adds.
Dr. Jefferson has already witnessed the impact with children bringing their Zoe dolls and activity books to appointments, using them as comfort tools and conversation starters with their doctors.
“Sometimes parents aren’t able to prepare their children because they don’t know what to expect either. So, I really encourage parents when they’re making those appointments to ask, ‘Hey, is my child getting any bloodwork or any vaccines or anything like that?’ so they know how to adequately prepare their children so that it can be an easier experience when they come into the office,” Dr. Jefferson says.
Dr. Jefferson also uses her visits to educate children about their bodies and the appropriate circumstances for others to touch them.
“I also like children to know that it’s okay for me to touch and look at your body because I’m a doctor and your parents are here,” she shares.
A Balanced Life—and a Village
As both a physician and a mother, Dr. Jefferson knows firsthand how challenging it is to balance professional demands with parenting. Her advice for other caregivers?
- Lean into community. “You know that old adage, ‘It takes a village’? It definitely takes a village, and if you…don’t have a lot of family here, then you have to curate that village, whether it’s with friends or outsourcing, to kind of help manage it, because you can’t do it all and be it all all the time,” Dr. Jefferson notes.
- Keep routines simple. “You don’t have to make it a long process. You can just have it part of your bedtime routine…Some nights you might read the whole book, some nights you might just read three pages and make up your own story. But all those little moments are so crucial in building those foundational literacy skills, and it’s a great time to bond with your child, too,” Dr. Jefferson adds.
- Give yourself grace. “It’s important to give yourself a break and just try to create some routines that fit into your lifestyle,” Dr. Jefferson says.
Looking Ahead
Through her medical practice, advocacy work, and creative projects, Dr. Jefferson continues to transform how families approach both health and learning. By making doctor visits less stressful and literacy more joyful, she’s shaping healthier, more confident children—one story at a time.
Zoe’s Day with Dr. J and its companion activity book are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Dr. Jefferson’s website. You can also connect with her on Instagram at @Learningandplaywithdr.j
