Mercer Mayer's Little Critter: Just a Little Sick (My First I Can Read Book)

     The dreaded cold---it came on real suddenly last week arriving first in the form of sneezing fits.  Then the clogged up sinuses led quickly to that familiar achy feeling in my bones.  Oh, those miserable symptoms of a cold settled down for a while, until, thankfully with the help of some rest, my mom's homemade chicken soup, and the miracle powers of NyQuil, I was back on my feet at school.
      Once I returned after a two day absence, I learned that the students in one of our many first grade classes were so concerned that I wasn't there (luckily, in the year that I have been working at my school, I escaped being sick up until last week).  When they arrived for their weekly library session, I was greeted with hugs and advice.  "Wash your hands a lot, Mrs. B," said one.  "Eat lots of garlic," said another.  To repay all of their sweet attention, I knew that I had to read them a story that they would see that both adults, like Mrs. B, can feel just as yucky as they do when they don't feel good, and how feeling awful isn't always as it's cracked up to be.


     Mercer Mayer's Little Critter:  Just a Little Sick (My First I Can Read Book) is, quite honestly, an irresistible read.  After all, looking at the cover before my students arrived, with the lovable character, Little Critter, sitting up in his bed with a thermometer in his mouth, his trusty bear and comic book by his side, kind of reminded me of my own sick self (and yes, I will admit, with a bear, too, but by my bedside shelf, and replace the comic book with my laptop to work on my lesson plans)!
     This sweet, simple tale was a delightful read to my inquisitive group of first graders, assisting them to learn how to understand why they are feeling so awful without getting way too over their heads.  Little Critter soon learns that being sick isn't always as fun as he thought it would be, since he wasn't able to do a lot of fun activities since he was stuck indoors all day long, and he also had to visit the doctor. Mercer Mayer's Little Critter:  Just a Little Sick (My First I Can Read Book) may also be one of those must read books to have on hand to ease your child's fears when your little one needs to visit the doctor.
     The "My First" series of books are known for having five levels of difficulty, and these levels are each identified by colors on the front book jackets.  Mercer Mayer's Little Critter:  Just a Little Sick's front cover displays a bright yellow circle, which indicates that this book is ideal for sharing with emergent (and healthy advice) readers, just like my first graders!

Mercer Mayer's Little Critter:  Just a Little Sick (My First I Can Read Book)
Written & Illustrated by Mercer Mayer
Publisher:  HarperCollins
Published in 2009
For ages 4 and up
ISBN:  978-006-0835552
Retails for $3.99
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com