Sick Simon

by Dan Krall, Dan Krall (Illustrator)

Overview

A sick little boy spreads his germs in this funny and witty board book about taking care of oneself and others when not feeling well.

Germs galore! Simon has a cold, but he’s determined to not let that stop him...even if it means he sneezes everywhere and coughs on everyone.

Previously published as a picture book, this clever story looks at how germs spread and what kids can do to protect themselves and each other from getting sick.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665981811
Publisher:	Little Simon
Publication date:	09/23/2025
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.12(d)
Age Range:	2 - 8 Years

About the Author

Dan Krall is an author, illustrator, and an animator. He worked as a character designer on the popular films How to Train Your Dragon and Coraline. He was also the art director for the television shows Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Chowder, and Samurai Jack, as well as a Development Artist for Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, The PowerPuff Girls, and Dexter’s Laboratory. He lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles.

Dan Krall is an author, illustrator, and an animator. He worked as a character designer on the popular films How to Train Your Dragon and Coraline. He was also the art director for the television shows Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Chowder, and Samurai Jack, as well as a Development Artist for Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, The PowerPuff Girls, and Dexter’s Laboratory. He lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles.

Editorial Reviews

"the message is an important one, and with the level of gross in the illustrations, it is sure to get through to young audiences"

10/15/14 - Kirkus Reviews

"Will get kiddos giggling"

January 2015 - Booklist

"Will get kiddos giggling"

January 2015 - Booklist

2014-10-01
Krall's latest is a disgusting, tongue-in-cheek lesson in contagiousness. Simon loves school so much that even a cold (with its attendant snotty nose) won't keep him home. He kisses his family and boards the bus, proceeding to vomit out the window on the way: "He…had fun the whole way," the text understates. The merest contact or proximity leads others to suddenly, and unrealistically, sport Simon's symptoms. The week includes show-and-tell, a zoo field trip, a game of kickball and a child-free bus on Friday afternoon, all the children having finally succumbed to his illness. The three germs that have been following him around all week finally introduce themselves and high-five him for being such a "germ hero." Horrified, Simon does his best to stop their spread, washing his hands, covering his mouth, resting and hydrating, though the same cannot be said for one classmate on Monday morning. Krall's illustrations work in the ick factor, his Photoshopped characters sporting oozing and dripping poison-green noses as each comes into contact with Simon. Careful observers may spot the colorful germs before they introduce themselves, but even those who don't will want to go back and try to find all their appearances. Though the science is not particularly solid, the message is an important one, and with the level of gross in the illustrations, it is sure to get through to young audiences. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews