Rachel the Radiographer Is Now at DeKalb County Public Library: A STEM Book for Kids to Discover

A children's book about science, medical imaging, and big dreams is finding its way onto library shelves in DeKalb County, Georgia.

There is something special about walking into a library as a child. Rows of books are waiting to take you somewhere new. You can travel to another country, learn about dinosaurs, discover outer space, or imagine yourself becoming anything you want to be.

But what happens when a child wants to learn about a career they have never heard of?

What if they want to know how doctors see inside the human body? What happens when someone breaks a bone? Or who operates those big machines at the hospital?

Those are the kinds of questions that inspired me to write Rachel the Radiographer, a children's STEM book that introduces young readers to the exciting world of medical imaging and radiologic technology.

And now, I have some exciting news to share.

Rachel the Radiographer: Inspiring Young Minds Through the Power of Medical Imaging! is listed in the DeKalb County Public Library catalog in Georgia, with four copies available in the library system as of November 1, 2026.

For me, as a children's book author and a radiologic technologist with more than 20 years of experience, this is more than a milestone. It is an opportunity for children and families to discover a healthcare profession they may never have known existed.

Why Having Rachel the Radiographer in a Public Library Matters

Think back to the books you loved as a child.

Maybe there was a character you wanted to be like. Perhaps a story introduced you to something you had never seen before. Or maybe a book helped you imagine a future that seemed far away.

That is what I want Rachel the Radiographer to do.

In the story, Rachel is a young girl who confidently tells her classmates she wants to become a radiologic technologist. Her classmates recognize careers such as doctors, teachers, and firefighters, but Rachel's career choice is unfamiliar.

That gives her an opportunity to introduce them to the fascinating world of medical imaging.

Through colorful illustrations and child-friendly storytelling, young readers are introduced to healthcare technology and the professionals who help doctors see what is happening inside the human body.

As a radiologic technologist, I know how important this profession is. Medical imaging professionals are part of healthcare teams across the country. They use specialized equipment, scientific knowledge, technical skills, and compassion to help care for patients.

But many children have never heard of these careers.

That is why I believe children's books about healthcare careers deserve a place alongside books about astronauts, veterinarians, firefighters, and scientists.

Children cannot explore career possibilities they have never been introduced to.

And sometimes, that introduction starts with a library book.

Looking for STEM Books for Kids? Here's Why Medical Imaging Belongs on the Shelf

When parents and teachers search for STEM books for kids, they often discover stories about engineering, robotics, space exploration, dinosaurs, or science experiments.

Those are wonderful ways to introduce children to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

But STEM is also happening every day in hospitals and medical imaging departments.

Consider an MRI scanner. It uses powerful magnets, radiofrequency signals, and computer technology to produce detailed images of the body.

CT scanners use X-rays and sophisticated computer processing to create images that help medical teams examine internal structures.

Radiologic technologists use their knowledge of anatomy, science, patient care, and imaging equipment to perform diagnostic examinations.

These are real-world examples of science and technology working together to help people.

And they can become fascinating conversations for children.

Imagine a parent reading Rachel the Radiographer with their child and asking:

• How do you think an X-ray helps doctors see bones?

• Why do you think hospitals have different types of imaging machines?

• What would you like to learn about the human body?

A simple story can open the door to questions about biology, physics, technology, and careers in healthcare.

Children do not have to understand every scientific concept right away. The goal is to introduce them to new ideas, encourage curiosity, and make learning enjoyable.

That is what makes educational STEM books such valuable resources for families, libraries, homeschool programs, and elementary classrooms.

How to Request Rachel the Radiographer Through DeKalb County Public Library

If you live in DeKalb County, Georgia, and have a library card, you can request Rachel the Radiographer through the library's online catalog.

The catalog lists the book under its full title:

Rachel the Radiographer: Inspiring Young Minds Through the Power of Medical Imaging!

Author: Chaun Singleton

Call Number: LOC J 616.0757 Sin

At the time of this article, the catalog shows four copies in the library system. Availability may change as families begin checking out and requesting the book.

Here's how to place your library request

1. Visit the Rachel the Radiographer listing in the DeKalb County Public Library catalog.

2. Find the Place Request option.

3. Sign in using your library card information and PIN when prompted.

4. Follow the instructions to select your preferred pickup library.

5. Submit your request and watch for your library's pickup notification.

DeKalb County Public Library allows cardholders to place holds on circulating materials, including books available at other branches. Placing a hold is free.

If you have trouble requesting the book online, library staff can help you.

You do not have to purchase a copy to introduce your child to Rachel's world. Your library card is an opportunity to discover a new story, a new profession, and perhaps a new interest.

Why I Am Encouraging Families to Place a Library Request

One of the things I love about public libraries is that books are meant to be shared.

A single copy can travel through the hands of many families. One child reads it, returns it, and another child gets an opportunity to discover the same story.

When you place a request for Rachel the Radiographer, you are asking the library to make the book available for you to borrow.

You may also be able to select a participating branch that is more convenient for your family.

For parents who are busy managing work, school, after-school activities, and everything else, that convenience matters.

And for me, there is another meaningful reason to encourage library borrowing.

I want more families to discover what medical imaging professionals do.

I want a child who has never heard the words "radiologic technologist" to recognize them.

I want parents who work in healthcare to have a story they can share with their children.

I want elementary school teachers, librarians, and STEM educators to discover another way to introduce science and healthcare careers in their classrooms.

Most importantly, I want children to understand that their future career possibilities extend beyond the professions they already know.

Five Ways Parents and Teachers Can Make Reading Rachel the Radiographer a STEM Learning Experience

Reading a children's science book can be the beginning of a much larger learning experience.

Here are some simple ways families and educators can continue the conversation after reading Rachel's story.

1. Start with the human body. Ask children what they already know about bones, muscles, and organs. Introduce how medical imaging helps healthcare professionals examine different parts of the body.

2. Explore healthcare careers beyond doctors and nurses. Talk about radiologic technologists, MRI technologists, CT technologists, radiation therapists, and other professionals who use science and technology to care for patients.

3. Connect the story to everyday experiences. Has your child ever visited a hospital, seen an X-ray picture, or heard someone talk about having an MRI? Use those experiences to make the story relatable.

4. Encourage creativity through coloring and drawing. Invite children to draw themselves working in a hospital or create their own medical imaging equipment. They can also explore the companion Rachel the Radiographer children's coloring book, which combines illustrated scenes, activities, and opportunities for imaginative drawing.

5. Let children ask questions. Some questions may be simple, while others might surprise you. Either way, curiosity is one of the most important parts of learning science.

These activities can work at home, in a school library, during career day, or as part of a science lesson.

The goal is not to turn every child into a future radiologic technologist. It is to let children discover that the world of STEM and healthcare is much bigger than they may have imagined.

A Small Place on a Library Shelf Can Open a Big Door

When I wrote Rachel the Radiographer, I wanted children to see a young girl who was confident, curious, and excited about a career in medical imaging.

I wanted to introduce a profession I have spent more than two decades working in, while making the story enjoyable for children who are just beginning to learn about the world around them.

Now, knowing that families in DeKalb County can discover Rachel through their public library makes that mission even more meaningful.

Somewhere, a parent may be searching for a new children's book to read at bedtime.

A teacher may be looking for educational STEM books to add to a classroom reading list.

A grandmother may be searching for books that introduce her grandchildren to careers in science.

Or a child may simply pick up a colorful book because the little girl on the cover looks interesting.

That child does not have to know what radiologic technology means before opening the book.

That is what the story is there to teach them.

And maybe after reading it, they will ask a parent or teacher a question they have never asked before.

"What's a radiologic technologist?"

That is a conversation worth starting.

Help Rachel Reach More Young Readers in DeKalb County

If you are a DeKalb County parent, educator, librarian, grandparent, or caregiver, I would love for you to discover Rachel the Radiographer at your local library.

Visit the DeKalb County Public Library catalog and place your request for Rachel the Radiographer.

Then read the story together, share what your child learned, and introduce another family to Rachel.

A book does not need to reach every child at once to make a difference.

Sometimes, it starts with one library card, one curious reader, and one new question about the world.

And that is how we help the next generation discover the possibilities of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical imaging.

Happy reading!

Chaun Singleton
Children's Book Author and Radiologic Technologist
Creator of Rachel the Radiographer