A Bad Case of Stripes
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon tells the story of Camilla Cream, who loves lima beans but never eats them because she wants to fit in with her friends, who all hate lima beans. On the first day of school, Camilla finally decides what to wear and gets dressed, looks in the mirror, and realizes that she is covered in stripes of all colors.
Kids laugh at Camilla, the media follows her, and all kinds of cures are tried and fail, until one woman visits her and tells her to eat lima beans. Camilla admits that she loves them, eats them, and is cured. “I knew the real you was in there somewhere,” the woman tells Camilla.
Raising questions about identity, conformity, authenticity and friendship, as well as about causation and knowledge, the book’s vivid illustrations and story are captivating.
