I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley as an eBook. This is the first book I've read by Jaime Roche. In this book, Gretchen, the main character, has emetophobia, and she learns the GRIP strategy (Ground, Refocus, Inflate, Pause) as a way to cope with this anxiety. The book contains simple illustrations containing diverse characters and, in addition to the narrative, provides strategies for adults to help children cope with fears and worries. 4/4 stars.

This is a great book to explain why sometimes our stomachs can hurt that isn’t illness related. I think this book is needed now more than ever to help children identify different emotions, like fear and anxiety, why they are feeling that way, and how to cope. Libraries, schools and homes would benefit from having this children’s book on their shelves.

This children's book teaches about the physical affects of anxiety and about the strategy GRIP to help children experiencing fight or flight. When Gretchen becomes nauseous on pizza lunch day, she becomes afraid to eat pizza again. The school counsellor teaches her a grounding method to help calm her anxiety and she is able to eat pizza again successfully. The book ends with a great amount of information for parents and other adults working with children with anxiety. I would definitely recommend this book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

This story is about a young girl named Gretchen who goes to a school where every Friday they get pizza for school lunch, and pizza day is the best day, at least until one pizza day when Gretchen gets sick after eating the pizza. The next pizza day, she doesn't want to eat the pizza because she's afraid she's going to get sick again. Her school counselor helps her work through her fear to give pizza one more try. She doesn't get sick and goes back to enjoying pizza day like she did before.

The illustrations were bright and colorful, really catching my eye. The skills suggested at the end of the book are definitely worth giving a try with my daughter at least, even though she's past the recommended ages for this book. Overall I give this 3.78 out of 5 stars.

This excellent book walks readers through how to face anxiety. The main character vomits at school and feels afraid to go back and eat the same food that made her sick. The therapist in the school helps her cope with the fear using grounding techniques.

This book is well-written with cute illustrations. Would be a lovely addition to a classroom, library, or even a personal collection.

I think will be an invaluable resource for therapists, play therapists, school counselors, and even parents who have a child with anxiety. A fun non threatening way to talk about anxiety! It gives coping skills and also resources for the caregivers. Definitely a must have in your library!

Although I received a copy of this e-book in exchange for a review, all opinions remain my own. Thank you NetGalley and Magination Press for allowing me the opportunity to read this story.

I've got to be honest here: I have suffered with stomach pains associated with anxiety since I was in 6th grade. Not only that, I have passed that lovely condition on to all three of my children. Needless to say, this book was basically screaming at me to read.

Although Gretchen's anxiety is about throwing up again, the strategies that she is taught by the school counselor are ones that myself and my children can use. This is a book that I will for sure keep in mind for other kiddos that I hear about with the same problems. It would be an awesome addition to any school or public library. I know when I was in school and dealing with medical problems, my library was the first place I would look things up (you know, before there was google!) I love books like this that give kids tips and ways to handle things.

Tummy Troubles could be used as a tool to help children learn how to deal with anxiety. It’s an okay story with an average story. My son wasn’t interested in the story. Sadly, there wasn’t anything memorable about this story.

As a kid who had crippling anxiety (and still does sometimes), this would've been a great book for me. I think kids of all ages can appreciate and connect to this book.

This book stole the format some Boys Town Press and it’s a book about anxiety. In this book Gretchen has a little accident when she throws up her pizza and the thought of eating pizza next week makes her anxious. This book gives her a way to deal with it through a fun little acronym, and then practice using that acronym. The book does what it supposed to do and the idea that they use a stomach bug with the school cafeteria set a bad taste in my mouth but the lesson in it is OK. I wish they’d found it some other way to do anxiety rather than around what they’re serving at lunch. The lesson in here is attainable and would be usable both in schools and libraries. I just overall not a fan of this book.

Gretchen's favorite day is pizza day, but when a stomach bug causes a terrible thing to happen in the school cafeteria, she doesn't know how to move past her fear.

This book offers a gentle scenario that kids will relate to. The simple strategy the school counselor gives Gretchen will be helpful for kids in all sorts of anxiety-inducing situations. GRIP is easy to remember and implement in all sorts of situations. The back matter includes tips to help parents of kids struggling with anxiety.

This is a great book for kids, parents, and anyone who interacts with children. I am glad to have this book in my toolbox!

As an adult with emetiphobia, I really wish there had been a book like this for me when I was a child. So many people suffer from this phobia but there are limited resources out there. Well done!

5 Stars

ARC received from NetGalley

This is a picture book I have been wanting to see for a long time. It teaches kids about anxiety and how to manage it! Anxiety, and in this case the fear of puking in front of people, is something that many people deal with. This picture book teaches kids PRACTICAL ways to handle that anxiety when it shows up for them. Definitely going to buy for the library!

This was an ok story, nothing special. It seems to make a big deal out of something that happens all the time. I suppose it would be useful for a child with this anxiety, but I wouldn't have it for all kids.

A very good picture book that helps kids deal with the fear of vomiting. I wish this one had existed when I was a kid, as I dealt with this when talking in front of the class or reading aloud. But it exist now for kids.

Worst fear as a child…throwing up in front of the class.

This book shows you how to cope with those upset tummy feelings and the anxiety that can sometimes cause those feelings.

It’s a cute way to help children learn to self soothe.

Totally will share with with the counselors at my schools. I like the GRIP great shortcut to have.

We have all done it when something bad happens to us in a bad/normal situation. Then we need to be put in the same situation...but are so worried with what may happen.

I like how there is strategies and helps to get through

As both a psychologist and a mom I highly recommend this book. I appreciate how the book sets the scene for why Gretchen becomes afraid. It describes what others may see and what Gretchen is feeling - which can be hard for kids to identify. I appreciate the role of the counselor teaching her a coping skill rather than just saying everything will be ok. And big brownie points to Gretchen’s mom for calling the school counselor!

I was really intrigued by this book because it's published under a children's book imprint of the American Psychological Association. The illustrations were great, and it was a very approachable read for kids. I think this would be a great book for kids to go through with their parents or their school counselors. The GRIP technique for breathing was very approachable and easily understandable for kids. I liked that Gretchen went through the technique when she gets afraid of throwing up in school again. Thank you NetGalley and the APA for giving me an advanced digital copy of this book!

I read this one to my kids who have struggled with some anxiety which often manifests as tummy troubles. Both my 10 year old and 7 year old listened intently and practiced the GRIP move along with the character.

It is presented in a consumable way with a simple explanation that kids and parents can follow.

Summary from my kids:

Miss 7 "I learnt what to do if I ever feel sick. I will do GRIP"

Miss 10 "I will use that strategy to calm myself down and tell my mind I'm ok"

Thank you to the author and publisher for this copy in exchange for my honest review.