A Bad Case of Stripes

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

A Bad Case of STRIPES, is a wonderfully illustrated book that will grab the reader’s attention with its vivid colors on every page. This picture book has interesting features of the illustrations that pull the young readers in with every flip of the framed pages.  When the class says the pledge of allegiance on page 7, there Camilla is with her red, white, and blue stripes and all broke out in stars!  The pictures really depict the words.

I really enjoy reading this book. I read it every year to my new special education students. Camilla, the main character, is so worried about fitting in with her classmates. Just like my students on the first day of middle school.  Many of them fret over what school will be like, and getting picked on by big eighth graders. Camilla wanted to please so many people and fit that her body begin to react to all of her thoughts in her brain. Her body became covered with so many different colors because she couldn’t decide on what color to wear to school. Another problem so many of my sp. Ed. students have.  Instead of giving into what everyone else wanted she finally realized that she needed to pay more attention to what she liked.  At the end of the story a sweet little old woman enters the plot with a container of small green beans in her bag.

This is great for primary, intermediate, and upper grades. So many times we are concerned with what other people like and never ask ourselves what do I like. Just like Camilla students are confused and don’t know which way to go, they just want to fit in. This book allows them to say that even though I may be different from others I am still a great unique person, even if it means not conforming and liking lima beans! The little old woman helped Camilla find the true her, and then mysteriously disappears into a crowd at the conclusion of the story.

Big Question:

Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t fit in so you changed your own views to not stick out? Think about a time you have felt pressure from peers and reflect on it.