Talking to young children about health isn’t always easy. Try explaining why they need to eat their vegetables, what it means to feel anxious, or why they might need to see a doctor, and suddenly you’re searching for the right words while your little one fires off 17 questions at once.
And what better way to connect with a child than through stories? The Nurts and Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) have teamed up to create The Nurts Tales: Growing Strong, Inside and Out, a children’s storybook that turns important health and wellbeing lessons into fun, relatable stories that families can explore together.
Designed for children aged four to eight, the book brings together five stories featuring much-loved Nurts characters Zoey, Mia, Liam and Noah, alongside SJMC’s friendly mascot, Teddy Paws. Through their adventures, children are introduced to everything from healthy habits and nutrition to emotional wellbeing, communication and understanding illness, all in a way that feels less like a lesson and more like a story they’ll actually want to hear.
“Starting conversations about difficult topics is something every parent faces, especially when it comes to health and wellbeing. Through storytelling, we hope to make those conversations feel more natural and approachable, helping families create safe spaces for understanding, connection and learning,” said Adrian Tan, Co-founder of The Nurts and author of the book.
As an award-winning play-based family engagement platform, The Nurts is dedicated to helping children and families connect, learn and grow together through play and meaningful experiences. This collaboration reflects SJMC’s ongoing commitment to advancing children’s health through trusted care, education and community engagement. It also builds on the hospital’s recent recognition as the No. 1 hospital in Malaysia for Paediatrics in Newsweek-Statista’s Best Specialized Hospitals Asia Pacific 2026 and the Best Private Hospital (Selangor) in Parenthood Parents’ Choice Awards 2026, reinforcing its dedication to supporting children and families beyond the hospital setting.
“Having been born at SJMC myself, I have experienced firsthand the care and dedication the hospital has provided to generations of families. This storybook collaboration with The Nurts reflects SJMC’s commitment in a new way—bringing health education to life through stories that are engaging, relatable, and memorable for children. We hope this book sparks curiosity, encourages healthy choices, and empowers young readers with the knowledge to build lifelong healthy habits,” said Joanne Lee, Director of Business Development, Strategy & Transformation at Subang Jaya Medical Centre.
More than a children’s storybook, the publication also includes reflection prompts, discussion questions and practical guidance that support parents in introducing important health topics in a child-friendly and age-appropriate way, highlighting the role of storytelling as a powerful tool for nurturing children’s emotional wellbeing and health literacy.
Dr Sanjay Woodhull, Consultant Paediatrician from Subang Jaya Medical Centre, believes storytelling plays an important role in helping children understand their health and wellbeing while giving parents the confidence to start conversations that may otherwise feel difficult.
“Children learn best when they are curious and having fun, which is why storytelling is such a powerful way to introduce important health concepts. Our paediatricians worked closely with The Nurts to ensure each story reflects topics that families commonly seek guidance on, based on our experience caring for children every day. By translating these real-world health concerns into relatable stories, we hope to equip parents with a practical tool to nurture healthy habits from a young age,” he said.
The launch event brought the book’s themes to life through a fireside chat featuring representatives from The Nurts and SJMC, including Adrian Tan, Dr Sanjay Woodhull, Dr Wan Asyikin binti Wan Azlan, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, and Joanne Lee, who discussed children’s physical and mental wellbeing, emotional regulation, healthy habits and how parents can start meaningful conversations with their children.
As part of the initiative, SJMC will donate copies of the storybook to selected children’s non-governmental organisations, extending its impact to more young readers and families. The launch also marks the beginning of a three-month community book tour across selected bookstores, under one shared mission of helping Malaysian children grow strong, inside and out.
The Nurts Tales: Growing Strong, Inside and Out will be available for purchase through major bookstores and The Nurts’ online platform.
For more information on SJMC and its services, visit their website here.
