Description:
The purpose of this book is to give young children who have Celiac Disease the language to express the challenges of living with this diagnosis. The whimsical poetry and illustrations help children to see that the diagnosis is just one part of who they are and that it does not define them, nor does it need to hold them back from being who they want to be.
Brief description: Laurie Kronish Oestreich, L.C.S.W., is a child and family therapist in New York City. She wrote this book right after her granddaughter, Zoe, turned two years old and was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. The book is intended to increase awareness and encourage early diagnosis of Celiac Disease, while also providing young children with the vocabulary needed to begin to understand and explain this condition. Ultimately, the poetic text strikes the balance between acknowledging the realities of Celiac Disease and celebrating the child as a whole and wonderful person.