Dixie Wants an Allergy

K-Gr 3—Dixie is starting school and learning interesting things about her classmates. One of her most intriguing discoveries is that many of them have allergies. Special meals, sparkly bracelets, ambulance rides—all sound fantastic to her. Oh, how she wants an allergy, too. Determined to find one, she exposes herself to dust, frolics in the garden among the flowers, and gobbles too many pistachios—to no avail. One day, however, while working in the garden, the neighbor's new cat wanders over, sending Dixie into a sneezing fit. She has found her allergy, but is it really all she had hoped it would be? Dixie may think twice about the possible results of future wishes. This lighthearted and humorous story shows children the possible downfalls of wanting what others have. It also gives a subtle message that "all that glitters isn't gold" and encourages children to think about all aspects of a situation. With allergies being a huge concern in today's society, this is a topic that young children will undoubtedly be exposed to. The story briefly mentions various allergies and reactions to them as well as precautionary measures. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and inviting and add to the story's overall appeal. A great addition, particularly for opening a discussion of allergies.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE