Review Detail

Two different type of eating problems are covered in this picture book for kids: eating too much and eating too little. Intended for children aged 7 through 12, this book deals with the issues in a sensitive manner. As eating disorders are becoming more prevalent in kids of all ages, this book really fills a niche.

Children are encouraged to embrace and understand their feelings and to express themselves, rather than using food (either lack of or an over abundance of) to do so. The sub-title A Tale of Food and Feelings pinpoints it dead-on.

In the book we meet a family of mice. There are two mouse kids: Sally Rose and Billy Blue. The Squeaks live in the Grumble house and everything is fine until the Grumbles discover that they have a mouse problem and set out traps and chase the mice and set the dog and cat on them. The Squeaks go into hiding and do their best to not show their little mouse faces where the Grumbles (or their cat) can see them.

Sally and Billy deal with their fear in very different ways. Billy comforts himself with extra bits of food and soon becomes fat. The other mice at school tease him, making him even more uncomfortable and more prone to overeating. Sally, on the other hand, tries to make herself smaller and smaller and refuses to eat. Soon she is nothing but fur and bones. The other mice at school, however, think thin is in and they compliment her, but it doesnt make Sally feel any better at all.

The Squeak parents didnt know what to do, but wise Aunt Lou invites the kids for a visit. She tells them that hiding their fears from their parents isnt doing anyone any good. And she explains that they must listen to their bodies both their hearts and their tummies. They need to let their emotions out and also eat right, to make themselves strong.

The two mice kids sleep on it and the next morning they decide to talk to their parents about all their fears and hopes and worries and being teased at school. With time and support, both Sally and Billy overcome their issues and become balanced little mice again.

The back of the book contains a note to parents with further information about eating disorders. Youll also find tips and discussion questions, as well as resources to go to for more help.

While Sally and Billys eating problems stemmed from stress, this book could easily be used as a jumping off point to talk about eating disorders that occur from other reasons (body image, for instance). Recommended for school libraries and for home use.