Sick Simon

 The winter of 2016-2017 was a winter of stomach bugs, flu, and colds in my family and for many of our friends.  It was the first year my youngest was in pre-school, and the first year for many kids in school they have to build up their immune system and seem to catch everything that is going around.  It was right after we had all gotten over a bad cold that I found the book Sick Simon; The bright colors on the spine made it stand out to me in neon green and hot pink, it's an attention grabber. 

Before I go into my review here are some important details to the book:
Written and Illustrated by Dan Krall
Published 2015
Age/Grade level 4-8years old or pre-k through 3rd grade


As I read Sick Simon to my 3 year old, the very first thing that was screaming and staying in my mind were the pictures.  Dan Krall has perfectly captured the idea of spreading germs.  I turned slightly green reading this the first time, and really wasn't sure I wanted to keep going, it's gross.  Because the illustrations are disgusting it makes the whole book.  They drive home the lesson and stay in your mind.

I hope you haven't had the thought that just because the illustrations gross you out to give up on this book.  This is one of my favorite kids book.  I am a bit of a germaphobe.  I have come close to panic attacks at the indoor play parks at restaurants when there's a lot of kids and someone is all green snot everywhere, I try to keep as much distance as I can between me and that sneeze or blowing nose I just heard, and it's because of all of this that I love SICK SIMON.

Sick Simon is a picture book so the text amount is small, and easy to read.  Between short sentences and the art work the you will have the children's full attention.

Lesson Learned!  If you haven't checked out the book or figured out, the lesson is about germs, and spreading them.   Stay home if you're sick.  Wash your hands.  You know, all the things you should do to get better and prevent others from catching what you have.

I love it as a parent but what do kids think of the book?  My daughters have a video of their review check it out here. I've also read this book to my daughter's preschool the week they learned about being "super friends" the one thing super friends don't share are germs!  Sick Simon is an extremely fun book to read aloud to a group of kids.  The cries of "Ewww!" "Gross!" "Yuck!" from the kids and watching them comprehend the idea of germs and how you spread germs was great.  Not only that but with the illustrations there was a lot of discussion you can have with the children.  What is going on here?  How do these people feel?  What did you learn?  What is wrong here?

Bottom Line:  This is a book to have in your collection! 

• Illustrations are well done, colorful, attention grabbing, age appropriate, and aide the story
• Story Line is easy to follow, keeps attention, has a valuable lesson, and was fun

May you enjoy SICK SIMON.
 Stay healthy!
Wash your hands, 
rest when your sick,
and enjoy many more books!


Want to enhance the book with an experiment?  Try Glo Germs, and see how fast germs can spread and how you can't see them.  Check them out from Amazon: