Maxine’s Critters Get the Vaccine Jitters

Concern about vaccines and shots is a common issue for young kids, even before COVID. This book follows young Maxine who takes all of her various critters to the vet for their shots before going to get her own. Kids will enjoy seeing the wide range of animals on the page and can listen for rhyming words at the end of each line.

Maxine's critters have varying reactions to the prospect of their vaccine, which is validating for kids. They will be able to relate to seeing the various animals work through the same feelings they may have had. None of the characters are shamed for their feelings and the overall tone threads the needle well between realistic (yes, it will hurt a little bit) and reassuring (it's no big deal and everyone will be fine). This is a great resource to discuss getting vaccines and staying healthy and would be a great addition to pre-K and early elementary school and classroom libraries.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

A cute and catchy book with a clear message. The rhyming scheme will make this a fun read for kids. The illustrations going along with the fun names for every stuffed animal are adorable and will keep kids engaged. An important and topical book for every bookshelf. It talks about vaccines (and the importance of getting them) from a child's perspectives--no politics or complex explanations are needed, because this book is meant for kids. Definitely recommending for my library and anyone I know who has kids!

A brightly illustrated tale of a little girl, Maxine, who is anxious about an upcoming vaccine first takes her stuffed animals in for their shots in preparation for her own. When it came time for her shot, it was over and done with before she knew it and wasn't as hard as she thought. A sweet little story to help kids with vaccine anxiety.

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

I got this book for my daughter because vaccine is truly a part of our everyday conversation now. I wanted her to read a book that can ease her jitters about vaccines. In this book, Maxine helped to get all of her animal friends vaccinated, as well as herself while explaining things like "I loved this line "Let's let out a cheer! The science is clear, as clear as a bell: Vaccines keep us well!"

Very cute story, bonus points because the whole book rhymes.

Maxine's critters are worried about getting their shots! But Maxine assures them that it's not all that scary and getting your shots is a good way to stay healthy. So timely and relevant to current events and also SO cute.

I really enjoyed this! In my day job I work as a child life specialist, we help prepare kids for all kinds of procedures in a developmentally appropriate way. For this reason, I couldn’t resist requesting this book. I think it’s adorable with the rhymes and the illustrations are great. We need more multicultural books for kids so this is perfect. I read that the illustrator, Corlette Douglas, “loves creating images of POC kids and silly animals” and she does that exquisitely for this story. It features a range of animals that Maxine needs to take to the vet for their vaccines and they are oh so nervous!

The story validates kids fears about needles along with educating them on the why and finally provides them with support and encouragement. When kids cope well through a frightening procedure, you can see the relief and sense of pride written on their faces. That’s how the story ends, pure happiness at getting through something they were afraid of. I love that because I love to see that look on kids.

I think this would also help kids who seem like they didn’t cope well during a procedure. It can be a conversation starter to process and talk about their fears.

It’s geared towards 2 to 5 age range. Younger ones may not remain focused for the whole story which is totally developmentally appropriate. The story could be read in chunks. If you start reading and they go play with a toy, leave the book out, they may go back to it. Kids also process information in different ways. They may need a break to play with that toy and that’s okay.

Last point is about how the book validates tears and nervousness. If a child cries while getting a shot, but keeps their arm still, they did their job! Crying is a great coping mechanism.

This is a fun and adorable book that I think will help many kids! Bravo to the author and illustrator.

Oh boy, a jab is not fab, an injection can be frightening even though it is administered quickly and skillfully. Maxine knows all of that so she works with her stuffies to get them vaccinated because she is aware that it's very important to keep them all safe from that dreaded monster called COVID!

She encourages her beloved pets to take the shot and she stands by them to comfort and tell them everything will be safer and better when they are inoculated.

This relevant book arrives in time for kids to discover and understand why getting the vaccine, or any paediatric shot is so important. Kids will have many fears and questions about doing so. Sharing this book with young ones will open up meaningful dialogue to talk about the experience. These discussions together will greatly ease their apprehensions and worries.

Brave Maxine, at precisely three o'clock in the afternoon, takes her daddy's hand and off they go around the block to receive her own vaccine. She courageously faces her fears and exclaims:

" It was a cinch,
a super fast pinch!
Then without any jitters
She went home to critters..."

..." all together they celebrate their victory with snacks - a well deserved treat for getting their vax!" Hurray!!!!

The illustrations are bold, bright and detailed. This reassuring book would be a wonderful addition to a classroom as well as a school library. "Maxine's Critters Get the Vaccine Jitters" is a sweet, rhyming, heartfelt story, that is sure to ease the nervousness around getting that dreaded jab! I highly recommend this book.

Cute story and good way for kids to understand vaccines, especially if they have pets. Many rhyming words! Nice twist at the end where the main character gets the vaccine too.

Cute book with a clear message! Even before COVID, kids has always struggled with worries about getting shots. This text being written from a child's perspective, without any underlying political statement or complex explanations, is an important timely add for any elementary classroom library to help ease worries and encourage vaccinations. Message aside, both students and adults will enjoy the fun rhyming scheme, diverse characters, and rich illustrations.

What a great way to explain about getting a shot. Sure everyone gets nervous and a bit anxious about needles. But Maxine’s pets were brave as they finally got their shots. Then Maxine got hers. Wonderful way to present an uncomfortable situation.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ebook.

I read it to my 6 year old and he thoroughly enjoyed trying to guess the next word in the book, since most of the book rhymed.

He enjoyed the story and I had a lot of fun reading it with him.

The illustrations were cute and colorful which is great for keeping young children engaged.

Maxine’s Critters Get The Vaccine Jitters is a very cute and short story book about a little girl and her pets needs to go to the dr/vet to receive a vaccine and the feelings of dread that may accompany that. I believe this book is intended to normalize getting a vaccine and make it easier for your young children to get a vaccine as well. It was an appropriate length story and very well illustrated but does have an on and off rhyming pattern that feels a little obscure to read aloud.

An adorable story about a girl who helps her pets feel comfortable getting a vaccine. A great way to open up the conversation with children who might be scared of shots. The book validates the various feelings that come with a trip to the doctors. Well written book. Highly recommend.

This was such an adorable book! First, Maxine's little critters are anxious about getting their vaccine shots so she eases their anxiety and congratulates them all for getting their shots. And then, Maxine goes to the vet to get her actual shot, and her and her critters all celebrate together.

I'm a huge fan of the artwork! I think that this is such a delightful book for children getting all of the shots they need to and can be so useful. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to help ease the anxiety of little ones needing their shots - it does so in such a fantastic, beautifully illustrated way. So make sure you get a copy either for your little ones, or anyone with young children.

Thank you to the publisher, the authors/illustrators, and to NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy for an honest review.

This is a cute and diverse book about the importance of vaccines and how to deal with the very normal feeling of being afraid. While it is especially useful in the current push to get kids vaccinated against Covid, it will also be helpful for the myriad of vaccines kids receive throughout their childhood. I loved the bright illustrations!

This is a sweet young kid friendly book about getting vaccines. The illustrations are colorful and the message is in an easy to understand rhyming format.