BCCB-March 2005 Bulletin Dozen

	The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
	The Bulletin Dozen is a monthly theme-based booklist available as an online-only Bulletin feature. Since we're awfully fond of bakers here at the Bulletin, we thought we'd adopt their philosophy of generosity and throw in an extra one or two when we have them to offer--so don't expect an even dozen. Please feel free to copy, download, or link to these lists. We ask only that you cite the source. See the archive for lists from previous months.
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I Don't Feel So Good: Books about Illness and Disease
--selected by Jeanette Hulick

Unfortunately, illness—whether it's chicken pox, cancer, or a common cold—is an all too common part of our everyday lives. If you're looking for some light-hearted fare to entertain a sick child, or accurate information about diseases more frightening than anything you'd see on “Fear Factor,” you're sure to find some of the following titles to be just what the doctor ordered. Box of tissues and cup of chicken soup are optional.

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Fever 1793. Simon, 2000. Gr. 5-8
As a yellow fever epidemic hits Philidelphia, colonial girl Mattie must fight to save her family's coffeehouse business and her own life. (BCCB 10/00)

Farrell, Jeanette. Invisible Enemies: Stories of Illness and Disease. Farrar, 1998. Gr. 7-12
As spellbinding as any sensational novel, Farrell's look at seven dangerous illnesses (smallpox, leprosy, plague, tuberculosis, malaria, cholera, and AIDS) seamlessly blends science, history, and human drama. An updated version will be available in April 2005, as well as a companion title, Invisible Allies: Microbes That Shape Our Lives. (BCCB 6/98)

Getz, David. Purple Death: The Mysterious Flu of 1918; illus. by Peter McCarty and with photographs. Holt, 2000. Gr. 3-5
Getz introduces young readers to the story of the flu epidemic that killed millions around the world and scientists' efforts to discover its causes. Older readers may enjoy the more in-depth in Pete Davies' adult book The Devil's Flu . (BCCB 12/00)

Giblin, James Cross. When Plague Strikes: the Black Death, Smallpox, AIDS; illus. by David Frampton. HarperCollins, 1995. Gr. 5-8
Giblin explores three of history's “most serious and damaging plagues,” all of which have considerable and often far-reaching consequences for the affected populations. (BCCB 10/95)

Hurd, Edith Thacher. Johnny Lion's Bad Day; illus. by Clement Hurd. Harper, 1970. Gr. K-2
Parents and grandparents may remember this story (currently available as a HarperTrophy reprint) of little Johnny Lion, who, sick in bed with a cold, has several bad dreams until his medicine begins to help him feel better. (BCCB 10/70)

Marrin, Albert. Dr. Jenner and the Speckled Monster: The Search for Smallpox Vaccine. Illus. with photographs. Dutton, 2002. Gr. 5-8
Readers lured by the lurid cover art (a splotch-covered child and close-up of cowpox pustules on a hand are featured) will stay for the story of Edward Jenner's determined efforts to rid the world of “the most dreadful scourge of the human species.” (BCCB 1/03)

Murphy, Jim. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow fever Epidemic of 1793. Illus. with photographs. Clarion, 2003. Gr. 6-9
Both thorough and thoroughly gripping, this historical account of the 1793 outbreak of yellow fever in Philadelphia is a page-turner and an eye-opener, as well as a fine accompaniment to Anderson 's Fever 1793, described above. (BCCB 6/03)

Stephens, J. B. The Big Empty. Razorbill/Penguin, 2004. Gr. 7-10
Two years after the Strain 7 respiratory virus has halved the world's population and drastically changed American daily life, seven teens risk their lives to travel to a secret new colony within “the Big Empty,” the mid-U.S. region that has been forcibly evacuated by the government. (BCCB 12/04)

Stratton, Allan Chanda's Secrets. Annick, 2004. Gr.5-9
In sub-Saharan Africa , AIDS hits Chanda's family hard (her baby sister dies from the disease while her mother and her mother's lover are also dying from it), with serious repercussions on her own life as well as that of her neighbors. (BCCB 10/04)

Thomas, Shelley Moore. Get Well, Good Knight; illus. by Jennifer Plecas. Dutton, 2002. Gr. K-2
When the gallant Good Knight finds that his three diminutive dragon buddies are sick, he tries several remedies from the local wizard to no avail—until he serves up a batch of his mother's chicken soup. (BCCB 12/02)

Wells, Rosemary. Felix Feels Better; written and illus. by Rosemary Wells. Candlewick, 2001. 3-5 yrs
When neither sugared prunes nor fresh air perk up ailing young guinea pig Felix, his mama takes him to see Dr. Duck, whose ministrations help Felix return to fitness. (BCCB 6/01)

Yolen, Jane. How Do Dinosuars Get Well Soon?; illus. by Mark Teague. BlueSky/Scholastic, 2003
When dinosaurs get sick, do they toss dirty tissues on the floor, refuse to take their medicine, and dump their juice? Sound familiar? Actually, they're as well-behaved as can be, but Teague's imaginative depictions of dino naughtiness sure are fun! (BCCB 4/03)

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