Happy New Year fellow moms and teachers! Can you believe that it is now 2017?! Me either 😀 We finished off 2016 with a bang. Little man enjoyed his gifts from Santa, especially his books which made this bookworm happy. He went back to school last week and I’ve been missing him. I enjoyed having him home for a few weeks and now the house feels too quiet. We did crafts, we played games, and we built with Lego castles…specifically a haunted mansion and Ninjago city.
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Cold Season
We are entering the time of cold season in our area. Flu, stomach bug, strep, all of it as we head into the winter months seems to hit hard. For me, I hate seeing little man sick. He’s pitiful and I know he’s sick when he doesn’t want to play. Worst of all, whenever he runs a fever, he’s sick to his stomach. We’ve yet to have a fever that didn’t include throw up 🙁 While being sick is no fun, Coy Bowles‘s new book When You’re Feeling Sick is a fun read that will get the kids giggling even when they don’t feel well.
I received this book via the publisher, Doubleday Books for Young Readers. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
When You're Feeling Sick by Coy Bowles Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers on 2017-01-10
Length: 32 pages
Reviewing ARC Rating:
This laugh-out-loud picture book from Coy Bowles, guitarist for the Grammy Award–winning Zac Brown Band, will have sick kids feeling better in no time!
Sneezing? Coughing? Taking a sick day? Don’t worry, you’ll be feeling better soon thanks to this hilarious picture book from Coy Bowles, guitarist of the Grammy Award–winning Zac Brown Band. Full of encouraging—and super-silly—rhyming advice on how to face sick days with courage and a positive attitude, When You’re Feeling Sick is just what the doctor ordered! Comes with a sheet of stickers to bring a smile to every sick kid’s face.
What parent doesn’t want something to make their littles feel better on sick days? I know I try everything from renting movies to reading little man’s favorite books in funny voices. When You’re Feeling Sick by Coy Bowles is a new picture book that promises to have the kids “laughing out loud.” Unfortunately for me, it fell a little flat.
The Good:
The illustrations are wonderful! There is a diverse cast of kids which I think is great. I have found that picture books tend to not be so diverse, but every color is represented so kids should be able to find someone to relate to easily. I also liked the cooties/germs that are found in the book. There are plenty with funny faces sure to make the younger kids giggle. Plus I loved a few of the other illustrations that conveyed fever hallucinations (dog frogs and purple elephants among them).
I also liked how healthcare providers are portrayed. It made this nurse smile to be referred to as the “sweetest people in the whole universe.”
The Not-so-Good:
The rhyming was awkward. For the most part, each paragraph rhymes and reminds me a little of some of Dr. Seuss’s work. But then you have the odd sentence that doesn’t rhyme and that stilts the flow of the story. The wording is a bit bulky for young readers too with some paragraphs not making sense or just too wordy. I found myself rereading certain sections to be sure I didn’t miss a word that would rhyme, but that wasn’t the case.
Overall, it’s an okay story with a great premise, however the prose needs some work. Billed for ages 3-7, I found my 6 year old uninterested. I believe the younger readers will enjoy it more, specifically the silly illustrations.
About Coy Bowles
Coy Bowles is the guitarist and organist for the multi-platinum-selling, three-time Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band. Visit him at coybowles.com.
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