A Bad Case of Stripes

Author: David Shannon

Publishing:  The Blue Sky Press

Number of Pages:  Hardcover picture book—31 pages

Genre:  Picture Book

Reading Level:  5-7 years old

Summary:  This story is about a little girl named Camilla who tries to fit in with everyone at school and in doing so she pretends that she does not like lima beans.  When she is about to head to her first day of school though she sees that she gets a bad case of stripes!  She gets completely covered in colorful stripes and no one can figure out what is wrong.  The people at school make fun of her and her case of stripes gets worse and worse.  One day, things reach their limit when she “becomes one with her room.”  This old lady then comes to the door and says that she thinks she can help.  She offers Camilla some lima beans but Camilla continues to pretend that she doesn’t like them even though he really wants them.  Finally she admits that she likes lima beans and when she eats them she gets all better.  She learned the lesson that you should always be yourself and now she eats lima beans at school everyday and she doesn’t care what anyone thinks.  All the illustrations are amazing and really fit in well with what the text is saying  at all times.

My Reaction to the Book:  I loved this book! I thought it was so cute and it teaches such a good lesson in it that a lot of kids can learn from.

Potential Problems:  I don’t know that there would be any problems with this book, maybe the girl trying to fit in by being herself would be a problem, but in the end the problem is solved so I think its good.

Recommendations:  I would recommend this book to anyone it teaches such a great lesson for kids and it’s just a fun, cute, colorful story.  It has absolutely beautiful and amazing illustrations.