Module 6-Picture Books

A Bad Case of Stripes

Shannon, D. (1998). A bad case of stripes. New York: Scholastic.

Summary

A young girl is very dependent on the approval of others and will only do what is popular.  Her constant stress over what others think starts turning her appearance crazy.  Polka dots and stripes and stars all imprint her body as she discovers that it's okay to be yourself.

Impression

A fun story that advocates individuality and thinking for yourself, this book was entertaining and wonderfully illustrated. 

Review

Ages 6-8. Camilla, who loves lima beans but won't eat them because it's not cool, finds that deferring to others isn't all it's cracked up to be. In fact, her desire to please and be popular causes her some spectacular problems: she suddenly breaks out in stripes, then stars, then turns "purple polka-dotty" at the behest of a delighted classmate. Her weird mutations, which stymie doctors and send the media into a frenzy, become more and more extreme until she finally blends into the walls of her room--her lips the red-blanketed mattress on her bed, her eyes the paintings on the wall. Will she never be herself again? Shannon's over-the-top art is sensational, an ingenious combination of the concrete and the fantastic that delivers more than enough punch to make up for the somewhat heavy hand behind the story, and as usual, his wonderfully stereotypic characters are unforgettable. The pictures are probably enough to attract young browsers (Camilla in brilliant stripped glory graces the jacket), and the book's irony and wealth of detail may even interest readers in higher grades. Try this for leading into a discussion on being different.

Booklist. (1998). 94(9/10).

Library Use
1.  Author or illustrator study on David Shannon.
2.  Booktalk about being an individual.
3. Comparing illustrator styles.