A Bad Case of Stripes

I liked this book; it was well written, involved vibrant colors and images and the author pushed the readers to think about issues in our society today. This book is a modern fantasy, because while an author is identified, the main character, Camilla Cream, could never actually wake up with stripes or all the other patterns on her skin. I loved the colorful drawings in this book because they painted the perfect image of what the author was describing. For example, when the author was describing how every time a student shouted a different pattern at her, her skin started to turn into patches of those patterns all over her skin. All the patterns on her skin were shown in the images as well, which made it easier to imagine as one reads. show more The writing, coupled with the illustrations made this book a great piece. I found parts of the plot overly exaggerated when poor Camilla was changing patterns on her skin. Such as when the paparazzi was crowding the outside of her house, preventing Camilla from leaving her home. I also saw the plot as creative because it climaxed well and had a clever ending. The climax showed how Camilla’s “sickness” got worse and worse, and just when the reader was lead to believe she can never be cured, it turned out that a little old lady knew just what Camilla needed: to be herself and eat her favorite snack, Lima beans. From a teacher’s perspective, I found it odd how little support Camilla received from her school. She was sent home because she was too much of a “distraction” to the other children. That word resonated with me because in today’s education system, inclusion is imperative to an effective learning environment. This means that all students, no matter our physical or mental differences deserve the right to equal education. And inclusion is pushed in today’s classrooms because it cleverly mirrors what students can expect in the real world after high school. Instead, I wished the teacher would have supported Camilla in her time of need and impress upon the other students how important it is to be kind to everyone. I wish the teacher used this difference as a teaching moment, instead of giving up and sending her home. However, I liked the overall message of the story. Camilla was changing patterns on her skin because she was trying to change herself every time someone told her to. When in reality, all she wanted was to eat her favorite snack, Lima beans, that she knew she would have been picked on for eating. In trying to fit in, she lost herself, until a little old lady came to her house and offered her a jar of Lima beans, and after some coaxing, she admitted to loving Lima beans, and when she did she turned back into her old self. Children should never try to change themselves to fit in, instead, they should be themselves and not worry about what others think about them because what makes someone happiest is when they get to do the things they love, regardless of what other people think about their passion. show less

I absolutely loved A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon! It’s one of those books that you can read over and over again and still find something new to appreciate. The story follows a little girl named Camilla Cream, who is so worried about what others think of her that she ends up getting a mysterious illness that causes her to turn into whatever she’s surrounded by be it stripes, polka dots, you name it! It’s such a unique concept that keeps you hooked from the first page.
What I love most about the book is how it handles the themes of self-acceptance and peer pressure. Camilla starts out trying to please everyone around her, but she soon learns that being true to herself is the only way to feel better. The illustrations are show more bright and full of energy, and they really bring the wild transformations Camilla goes through to life.
I think what makes this book stand out is how it manages to be both entertaining and meaningful without being preachy. It’s a fun, quirky story with a heartwarming message about embracing who you are. As someone who has struggled with self-doubt at times, this book really resonates with me, and I think it’s perfect for kids (and adults!) who need a reminder that they don’t have to change for others. show less

In my opinion, this is a great book as it teaches the readers to be comfortable with who they are and to not let societal expectations or pressures change them into someone they are not. Besides the main message, I liked this book for two reasons. The first reason why I liked this book was because of the illustrations. The illustrations correlate with the text so well. For example, the text “Suddenly fuzzy little virus balls appeared all over Camilla...Out popped squiggly little bacteria tails...covered with different colored fungus blotches” matches the illustration on the next page so well as it included the fuzzy virus balls, squiggly bacteria tails, as well as multicolored fungus blotches all over Camilla just like how the text show more had described her. Since the illustrations fit the written text so well it managed to enhance the story by converting the colorful descriptions into more colorful pictures. Another reason I enjoyed this book was because of the plot. In particular, the plot’s tension. The tension in the plot was crafted well when “the experts didn't have a clue, much less a cure” even after running various experiments and tests on Camilla. I believe the tension among the doctors, Camilla, and her family was built well as it engaged me as the reader to want to keep reading to see if Camilla ever got cured and how she got cured. show less

A Bad Case of Stripes explores themes of self-acceptance, peer pressure, and the importance of being true to oneself through the story of Camilia, the main character. Although Camilla loves lima beans, her desire to fit in leads to a bizarre condition where her skin changes based on others' opinions. As the condition worsens, Camilia ultimately learns to embrace her true self by eating lima beans, symbolizing her journey toward acceptance.

David Shannon uses relatable storytelling techniques and vibrant illustrations to reflect Camilia's emotional journey. The changing colors, stripes, and patterns represent how external pressure can affect one's identity. This children's book connects with young readers by addressing their desire to show more fit in while encouraging them to celebrate their uniqueness with happiness and self-confidence.

I remember reading this book as a kid; I liked the constant use of colors and patterns. But now, as a 20-year-old, it was strange to revisit a book I used to read years ago because of how I was able to pick up on things that I didn't quite piece together (or even remember the storyline), such as the overall message to be true to yourself even if others may think you're "weird" for liking a particular food or something you wore to school. show less

"A Bad Case of Stripes" by David Shannon is about a young girl named Camilla who really likes lima beans. However, her peers do not, which causes Camilla to avoid eating them in order to fit in. One day, as she is getting ready for school, Camilla realizes that she's covered in stripes! Despite this, she is sent to school and faces mockery and laughter from her peers. The doctors do not know what to do with her. However, an old lady offers her help and feeds her lima beans, turning her back to how she was. The end of the book shows Camilla happily eating her lima beans and claiming that she never pretended to not like them again.

I really enjoyed the bright and cartoonish style of the art used in this book. Additionally, the overall show more message of being who you are and accepting yourself, even if what you enjoy is considered weird, is a great way to encourage children to not care about what other people think. show less

A well loved book about a girl who doesn't want to let people know that she loves... Lima beans! She is so scared of what others will say that she pretends she doesn't like them. Once she starts to be untruthful, unexplainable things begin to happen to her. She has stripes all over her body and even looks like a pill! This book is an amazing read aloud about being true to yourself, even if that's different or 'weird.' I'd encourage this read aloud to grades K-3. This book lends itself to great conversations about things that make us unique, and it can also be tied into art, writing (favorites), or math (patterns)!

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon is a creative and memorable story about the pressure to fit in and the importance of being yourself. Through Camilla Cream’s unusual condition, the book shows how worrying too much about others’ opinions can cause stress and confusion. The imaginative, exaggerated illustrations make the story engaging and help reinforce its message. It benefits children by encouraging individuality, self-acceptance, and confidence in their choices. However, some younger readers may find the bizarre transformations slightly confusing or distracting. Overall, it offers an important lesson in a fun and visually striking way that resonates with children.