Description: A lively fantasy that captures the hidden feelings of children who struggle to express themselves, brought to life with imaginative storytelling and rich, vivid colors. Through the story of Camilla, who comes down with a strange illness that covers her body in stripes, this book shows children just how important it is to be honest about who they are. David Shannon is one of the most beloved picture book creators among American elementary school teachers and librarians. Winner of the Caldecott Honor for No, David!, Shannon has also won the hearts of readers with his vivid, true-to-life portrayals of children's everyday experiences. A Bad Case of Stripes tells the story of Camilla, a girl who is afraid of being different from her friends. Camilla cares so much about what others think of her that she comes down with a case of "the stripes" — her entire body breaks out in colorful stripes. As she goes through all sorts of strange and funny attempts to cure her condition, she finally finds the courage to be truly herself. Camilla's story speaks to children who are at the age of discovering what they like and what they want to do, helping them understand how important it is to express themselves honestly as they begin to develop their own sense of individuality. Shannon's bold use of bright, primary colors to portray this whimsical, imaginative world is sure to capture children's attention. To cure the stripes, Camilla must do what she truly wants to do... Camilla loves lima beans, but she never eats them, because all her friends hate beans. Then, on the first day of school, Camilla wakes up covered in colorful stripes. Doctors are called in, but nothing helps — strange patterns keep appearing on her body, then a tail grows, and mold begins to spread. Eventually, Camilla melts into her own bedroom. The author uses this imaginary illness to show how a child's hidden desires can come out in the strangest of ways when left unexpressed. Bold, Eye-Catching Illustrations in Vivid Primary Colors Shannon skillfully visualizes the emotional turmoil troubling a child through his oil-painting-style illustrations. At first, only stripes appear on Camilla's body, but they soon transform into stars, squares, polka dots, and all sorts of other patterns. As Camilla continues to ignore her longing to eat beans, a tail sprouts, roots grow, and eventually her eyes become picture frames, her nose a dresser drawer, and her lips a bed. By depicting all of this so vividly with bold primary colors, the author sparks children's curiosity and imagination.