Review of When Zacchy Got Sick

[Gerry Steen]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "When Zacchy Got Sick" by Meera Randeria.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Has a young child in your family ever felt abandoned by their parents due to the need to care for a sick sibling? Have you ever needed to explain why a child's ill sibling needs so much care? Can a children's storybook help a child comprehend these experiences? If you answered yes to these questions, you should get the book When Zacchy Got Sick by Meera Randeria.

Meera Randeria wrote this book to read to her son, Adam. Adam felt abandoned when his parents stayed at the hospital to care for his comatose brother, Zacchy. Adam's aunt stayed with him until his father came home. When Zacchy regained consciousness, he still required intensive care at the hospital. Adam missed his mother because she had to stay with Zacchy, who would have been traumatized by her absence. Adam's mother and brother came home several weeks later. Because Zacchy needed to learn to walk and talk again, his parents devoted most of their time to him. Adam's fear of abandonment increased.

Eventually, things worked out for the best. Adam's parents realized that he also needed to be given some special time. Adam learned other ways to play with his brother. The family knew how to be happy again.

Randeria wrote a story about how the circumstances surrounding Zacchy's illness affected Adam. The main events were highlighted along with Adam's feelings regarding Zacchy's illness, his parents' moods, and the separation of the family. The book was well illustrated with colorful, cartoon-like pictures depicting significant events. These events included the ambulance rescuing Zacchy, Zacchy being hooked up to wires and tubes, Adam feeling alone at home, and Zacchy arriving home in a wheelchair.

The story successfully highlighted the emotions and feelings that any young child would experience during such a crisis. It illustrated the confusion and sadness caused by a life-threatening illness of a sibling, the sense of abandonment encountered when one's parents were focused on caring for the sick sibling, and the sadness that the parents felt regarding the illness of their child.

This book was well written and beautifully illustrated. It realistically portrayed the feelings and trauma experienced by the sibling of the sick child.

This book will help any child to cope with a similar situation.

There was nothing that I disliked about this book. The story was well edited and easy to read. The colorful illustrations provided clarity. Children will learn that their feelings are normal and that time heals. They will know that a family can overcome a crisis and adapt to a new situation.

I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

This book is appropriate for children aged 3 to 7 years.

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When Zacchy Got Sick
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Martin Shae]

Meera Randeria's "When Zacchy Got Sick" is a touching storybook that helps children understand the emotional challenges of having a sick sibling. If your child has ever felt abandoned due to a sibling's illness, this book is a compassionate and insightful read.

[Anu Anand]

Hi Gerry, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this story. It sounds like such a good book with a valuable message. Addressing the abandonment thoughts that kids might have when a sibling is seriously ill is so important. I'm glad to hear it's well-written and beautifully illustrated. Thanks again for highlighting this wonderful book!

[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

Oh my! I never thought a children's book could ever tackle such sensitive topic. Indeed, Adams must have felt abandoned. A lot of people might write him off as abandoned but that would be shortsighted. The author wrote an important book, indeed. I will be on the lookout for it. Good job on the review.

[Sandre Lamar]

The author’s heartfelt book, written for her son Adam, beautifully depicts a child's emotions during a sibling's illness, with engaging illustrations.

[Harshitha G B]

Just by reading your review, i felt emotional. This book looks like addressing of realistic issues, expectations of child. This experience is something, which elder sibling go through unknowingly, parents may not able to figure it out. Thank you so much for introducing this book, i will definitely add this in my reading list.

[Priya Murugesan]

A great review as always, Gerry! I am always interested in reading children's books. The plot of this book is very unique and I haven't read any other books dealing with this topic. I am waiting to read this book.

[DEVIKA R NAIR]

This seems like a wonderful children's book with a beautiful message. I will definitely read this book. Thank you!

[NetMassimo]

It's not easy to teach children how to handle sickness and other types of crises, so this lovely book can be very useful for families to help them with this task. Thank you for your great review!

[Sarah Vinchu]

Since she views all of her siblings as having the same level of love, a mother might understand that strange feeling of abandonment.
In "Zacchy Got Sick," Adam's psychological journey is expertly represented by Meera Randeria. Adam would never want to be alone again after what he went through while Zacchy was in the hospital and his parents had to spend a lot of time with him. A lovely tale that explores a wide range of emotions, including stress, love, loneliness, and care.

The book is made more interesting by the reviewer's accurate depiction of the story synopsis. My kids will love it when I read it to them, I'm sure of it. Parents and children alike gain enormous moral values from these stories, which cover a wide range of topics. Every parent ought to treasure this beautiful work of art. Without a doubt, I would accept this.

[Kshitija Sonawane]

As a child, I always wanted to be sick so that my parents would take care of me. I also hated it when my younger sister got sick. This book is exactly about that. You did a great job capturing the essence of this book.

[williams Emerald]

Your review of “When Zacchy Got Sick” by Meera Randeria is insightful and heartfelt. It effectively captures the essence of the book, emphasizing how it helps children understand and cope with the emotional turmoil of having a sick sibling. The mention of Adam’s journey and the impact on his family provides a clear picture of the book’s emotional depth. Highlighting the colorful illustrations and the realistic portrayal of feelings adds to the book’s appeal. The review is thorough and well-articulated, making it evident why this book is a valuable resource for young children and their families. Your personal connection to the content adds authenticity, making the endorsement even more compelling. Nice review! Well done.

[Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis]

Great review! How you managed to write such a long review on a children's book is impressive! The book sounds very educational for children as well as entertaining.

[Jeff Kanda]

This seems to be an interesting book Gerry. I have recently been reading children's book and I really like them. I'll definitely be reading this.
Thanks for the insightful review!

[Leona Rodrigues]

What a great review! The book covers an important topic, 'The Feeling of Abandonment'. The book talks about having a sick sibling who gets more attention, but a similar feeling would be shared by an elder sibling who has a younger sibling with hardly any age difference.