TUMMY TROUBLES

A small fear causes some big emotions.

Gretchen looks forward to Fridays—pizza day at school! While she’s munching on her slice, her stomach starts to make angry noises, and she throws up. Her mom thinks it’s just a stomach bug, and indeed, Gretchen wakes up the next morning feeling better. When next Friday arrives, however, Gretchen is too nervous to enter the cafeteria. Her teacher takes her to see the school counselor, Dr. Hernandez, who explains that Gretchen’s body is experiencing a “fight-or-flight response.” This can make a person feel anxious and sick, even if nothing is physically wrong. She then tells Gretchen to “get a GRIP”—“Ground, Refocus, Inflate, and Pause"—in a targeted breathing exercise. Success! Gretchen is able to eat pizza once more. An extensive readers note from a licensed psychologist provides more information on emetophobia (the fear of vomiting and seeing others vomit) and tips for assisting children experiencing anxiety. It also acknowledges that though Gretchen quickly conquers her fear, in reality, this is a process that requires consistent support. This well-paced and informative narrative may seem niche to some, but it’s useful for young readers experiencing many forms of anxiety. Straightforward illustrations depict friendly characters with large round heads but no actual vomit. Gretchen and her family are light-skinned; Dr. Hernandez is brown-skinned.

Supportive.