Books for sick days

Or, books about sick days, for any day.

Here are two new additions to our library of children's books.  Both are great--the text and the illustrations are really well done.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Written by Philip Stead, Illustrated by Erin Stead

This book follows Amos McGee, who visits his friends at the zoo every day until one day he wakes up with a cold.  His animal friends, worried about him, decide to visit him for a change, and they care for him until he feels better.  It is a very simple story but well told and beautifully illustrated in great detail.  The pencil drawings and limited color on each page are just so charming.  If your kids like animals or if you read books primarily for the illustrations, this book is for you!  

Llama Llama Home with Mama

Written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney

We have (and love) all of the Llama Llama books, recounting the everyday adventures of little Llama Llama as he goes shopping, begins school, or tries to fall asleep.

In the latest book, Llama Llama is home sick.  Dewdney touches on typical kid behavior like not wanting to take medicine, feeling yucky, and getting bored and wanting to go outside and play.

Although the book starts with only little Llama being sick, before long his mother gets a runny nose too, and he ends up learning that he can help his mama just like she helped him.  Like all the books in this series, the illustrations are perfect at capturing emotions on the two characters' faces, and it has a moment of high drama in which little Llama loses control.  This one involves flying tissues (which my son finds hilarious).  I love the easy rhymes and the subtle messages of kindness and patience in this book.

What about you?  Any books you recommend for a sick day?