Member Reviews

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sonia and the Super-Duper Disaster is a heartwarming and relatable story about a young girl with ADHD who forgets her mom’s birthday and tries her best to make things right. As Sonia's plans spiral out of control, her anxiety kicks in, but she learns to manage her feelings using fun tools that's offered in this book like breathing and self talk.

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Sonia and her brother Sam are trying really hard to make their mother a very special breakfast in bed for her birthday. Everytime they try and do something it goes wrong.

A great book showcasing neurodivergence with real life explanations and true representation of feelings. A story of how a girl navigates life with AHDH and anxiety. The story captures both the external and internal struggles Sonia feels.

Brilliant comic style book. Very fast paced with brilliant illustrations, will keep young readers entertained from beginning to end.

Great tips for parents at the end of the book as a how to guide to handling anxiety and ADHD in children.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A super colourful book which deals really well with the struggles and daily challenges for children suffering from anxiety. We follow Sonia and her quest to make a birthday treat for her mum, whilst battling her own emotions and the Destructi-cats!

I think this book would also work well for any child who may at times feel overwhelmed and the handy tips at the back for adults and carers are a really great addition

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Sonia and the Super-Duper Disaster is such a good picture book about a young girl who wants to do something special for her mother's birthday, and her struggle with anxiety and ADHD as she tried to put her plan in action. I loved the way that the little girl used breathing exercises and other calming techniques, but gave them fun superhero names.

This was really well-written, and I think it will help a lot of kiddos! Thanks to NetGalley, Rachel Funez, and Teacher Created Materials for the chance to read and review! My opinions are my own.

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Sonia fights with anxiety. She also has ADHD.
She is a relatable character depicted in relatable situations. The drawings are lively and the techniques Sonia uses to ease or control her anxieties are nicely incorporated into the text.
This is a book which can be read by, read with, and read to younger children as well, due to the balance of the text and images.

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I think that this book was perfect! I love how the author used a superhero motif to show that every kid, even ones that have their own weaknesses, still have their strengths and their superpowers. I definitely think that lots of kids will be able to see themselves in Sonia and will inevitably find their own superpowers to get through tough situations. The other thing I really liked about this book was the note for parents/guardians at the back of the book with information on how to be supportive of neurodivergent kids. I love this because parents/guardians can support their kids, but at the same time, this book greatly recognizes that kids are also capable of supporting themselves. The last thing I really liked about the writing/story portion of this book was how Sonia knows that it's OK to lean on her brother when she gets to overwhelmed to use her own coping skills. Not once does she view this as a weakness, and that is great for the young, impressionable people reading this book to notice and apply to their own lives.
To conclude, I want to give recognition to the illustrations. They perfectly helped to convey the ideas of the story with all of the little details included (i.e. tremble marks when Sonia was feeling anxious). Lastly, the colors were so vibrant and will attract and hold the attention of young readers.
Truly a great book. Bravo!

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Sonia and the Super-Duper Disaster is about a young girl and her brother trying to pull together a special birthday breakfast-in-bed for their mom. As they’re working, things continue to go wrong as they try to make the perfect breakfast.

As someone who deals with anxiety at times and also has two young kids learning how to deal with their worries, it was refreshing to read a book focused on neurodivergence, including adhd and anxiety prone kids. I especially appreciated the stops throughout the book to acknowledge the thump-thumps in their chest and the flip-flops in their belly, as well as the fun names used to deal with these feelings (breath blasters? Love it!)

I recommend this book to any parent with a child struggling to deal with their worries.

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"Sonia and the Super Duper Disaster" is an absolute gem of a book that beautifully portrays the struggles and triumphs of a young girl navigating life with ADHD. This heartwarming story follows Sonia as she scrambles to come up with a last-minute birthday gift for her mom, only to face a series of setbacks that exacerbate her anxiety. What makes this book truly special is how Sonia, equipped with her worry-fighting gadgets, learns to cope with her challenges and persevere.

The author and illustrator have done a remarkable job capturing Sonia's internal and external battles. The narrative is engaging and relatable, offering a window into the world of a child with ADHD. The illustrations are vivid and expressive, perfectly complementing the text and adding depth to Sonia's experiences.

As a parent of a child with ADHD, I found "Sonia and the Super Duper Disaster" particularly touching. The book not only resonated with my child's experiences but also provided practical strategies for managing anxiety and distractions. The end of the story includes a detailed section on these strategies, making it an invaluable resource for kids to apply in their own lives.

The most telling endorsement came from my child, who enthusiastically declared, “Okay, that was a great book, Mom. Recommend that one!” This book is not just a story; it’s a tool for understanding and growth, both for children and their parents. I wholeheartedly recommend "Sonia and the Super Duper Disaster" to anyone looking for an insightful, entertaining, and educational read.

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Sonia has anxiety. See how she gets through her latest Super-Duper Disaster!

The illustrations by Kelly Kennedy were fun and I think that children would enjoy them; lots of details and visually pleasing.

Information at the end of the book discusses anxiety.

Thank you to author Rachel Funez for writing Sonia and the Super-Duper Disaster and for NetGalley and publisher Free Spirit Publishing for approving my request to read the advance read copy of Sonia and the Super-Duper Disaster in exchange for an honest review. Approx 42 pages, Publication date is July 23, 2024

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This wild story with fun illustrations shows the crazy experiences of Sonia, a young girl with ADHD and anxiety and the strategies she uses to cope. A helpful tale for children 4-9 who struggle with these same issues.

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This is a really good story. It handles topics like anxiety and ADHD and the different coping mechanisms. I like that it’s not thrown in your face too much but you know it’s there. The illustrations were great, they made me feel like I was watching cartoons on tv. It also has great information on the back that parents could use. Overall, a great book and resource.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

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Fun book with a comic-book style. It's fast-paced and entertaining. The main character is neurodivergent, and at the end, the author offers parents tips to handle this type of personality. Interesting and well executed.

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Thank you NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a sweet story with a wonderful message. A wonderful way to give children struggling with anxiety and ADHD some coping strategies they wouldn’t otherwise understand.

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Pjs, cuddling, and story-time before bed is a favorite at our house! The last couple weeks the kids had so much fun reading some new material I was given advanced copies of. It’s cute how now they ask what new books I have to read. As soon as I’m finished they will tell me what they loved about the book. My great little reviewers! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📚📖 @netgalley #netgalley

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I received an eARC of this book from netgalley and I'm leaving this honest review voluntarily.

This book was cute and I'm glad that it exists. It kinda jumps in too quickly and races around until it's done though. Most of this book is talking about coping strategies for ADHD and overwhelm. I wish there was a bit more of a setup happening, but perhaps it was mimicking the ADHD experience of being in overwhelm.

I wish there was a bit more to the story, but I recognize that it is also trying to teach important things that get glossed over in the book, but mentioned in the authors note. I think this author makes a valiant attempt to teach healthy coping strategies and empathy in an accessible way.

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