Customer Reviews

The Princess and the Peanut Allergy

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book delivers a good story without being preachy about the difficulties of peanut allergies. The Princess and the Pea analogy works, and makes sense. As a result, Regina comes to her own conclusions about how her choice of birthday cake will affect her friend's health and ultimately their friendship. A great book to use with "The Peanut-Free Cafe."

The book analagizes a tiny bit of peanut to a little tiny pea under a princesses bed in "the princess in the pea"-- helps kids to understand that even a tiny little bit can hurt. Also addresses some social problems kids might have regarding allergies. Really a sweet story that my two year old non-allergic girl loves even more than my four year old with allergies. I think it would be great for older children as well.

This book addresses food allergies from the viewpoint of a child not personally dealing with them. Regina is planning a birthday party, and becomes very upset that her best friend won't be able to come because of a food allergy. (Her friend tearfully tells her dad she wishes she could keep her allergy secret, and her dad is supportive that she did the right thing.) The book ends with the realization that the important thing is to keep everyone safe and have fun.

While not all kids can have such a perfect ending to food allergy outings, kids will see their own fears and frustrations addressed and dealt with by other kids their age. They also will see a satisfactory ending without any hard lessons involving epi pens and ambulances.

A great book to share with classmates, or in a group with a food allergic individual. (Or to use in any lesson plan dealing with tolerance and compromise)

My daughter is 3 1/2, loves princesses, and is allergic to peanuts and almonds. She LOVES this books, and wants me to read it over and over and over!

Some of it is a little silly, like how the main charactor didn't know her best friend was allergic (didn't she have a peanut-free lunch table?)...and how she asked for the cake to be made with out peanuts, in a bakery that uses peanuts, without worries about cross-contamination. BUT, that might be too complex for kids to understand, so I think this is a great book for preschoolers, and am buying an extra copy for my daughter's class.

Came quickly and was in perfect condition. We recently found out my 3 year old princess has a peanut allergy. We wanted to find a book she could relate to. This book was perfect! Princesses, cake, and in the end... no peanuts.

The Princess and the Peanut Allergy is an excellent resource for any child with a peanut allergy. My daughter is 2 1/2 years old and loves the book. She is starting now to understand her allergy so much better. It is a great educational tool.

Regina was all excited because her birthday was just around the corner and every girl in her class was invited. Her best friend Paula was almost as excited as she was. Her mother had already taken her to the Buttery Bakery to pick out her cake and it was going to be the most scrumdiddlyumptious cake you ever did taste. At school Regina was discussing her party with Paula saying, "My party's going to be a princess party." Of course they both LOVED to play princess and this would be a great party. Regina later said they were going to play Space Dragons and all the girls gave that idea a thumbs up.

By the time Wednesday rolled around the excitement level was very high until Regina started telling Paula about that scrumdiddlyumptious cake the Buttery Bakery was going to make for her party. "At my princess party, we're going to have a fabulous castle cake made with great big brownie bricks and ice cream cone and candy towers." All of a sudden Paula's eyes widened and she started to look upset as she asked what kind of brownies they were going to use. When Regina said they were "Peanut Butter Bunny Boogaloos," Paula really panicked. "I have a peanut allergy. I CAN'T EAT PEANUTS!" This princess party was quickly turning into a nightmare. It was Regina's party and she wasn't about to change her cake. The girls began to argue . . . were peanuts going to come between their friendship?

Peanut allergies can be life threatening and because the problem cannot be seen some children do not believe it is an issue. The storyline is quite smooth and "discusses" the problem without making it sound dire, but does indicate that it is a serious problem and princesses must take it seriously. The huffiness and spat the girls have is realistic and very well done. The artwork is bright, colorful and adds nicely to the princess effect. In the back of the book is a note about peanut allergies from a Jaffe Food Allergy Institute physician. This would be an excellent read and discuss book in circle or storytime in the library or classroom setting.

I've read a lot of special needs kids' books, and they all too often fall into the trap avoided by the Princess and the Peanut Allergy: too saccharine, or too simple. By focusing on the social ramifications of food allergy, the author doesn't try to prove that food allergy is real, but rather presents it as a fact: peanuts make the character sick. And that takes the story to the real challenge of food allergy, which is how to be a friend to a food allergic kid, in a food saturated culture. And, how to be a food allergic kid, and still have friends.

Food is everywhere! And this book poses the question: do you need to give up food, especially special, celebratory food, in order to have an allergic friend? In order to have allergies?

I was pleased that the answer was, simply, no. And that the story left my 1st grade son thoughtful - and asking questions.

Love the book-my son even likes it--story well written-lets children know there are options and friends can celebrate together even when there are severe food allergies!!