I Get So Hungry by Bebe Moore Campbell; illustrated by Amy Bates.

Nikki is a girl who eats to feel better.  She even sneaks potato chips during class when she is teased.  Her new teacher, Mrs. Patterson is also heavy and Nikki sees her sneaking a cookie from her purse during the day too.  When Nikki goes to the doctor later, she is told to not eat any more junk food.  Her mother agrees, but on the way home buys them some doughnuts.  When they return from Christmas break, Mrs. Patterson has changed.  She isn’t sneaking food, she’s drinking water and she spends her early mornings walking.  Nikki joins Mrs. Patterson on her walks in the mornings and starts to watch what she is eating too. 

This picture book perfectly captures the issues of family and youth obesity.  I appreciated that Nikki has good friends.  She is not a loner, not disliked, but she is teased by one boy in her class.  The depiction of using food as a mood stabilizer is also well done.  There is no miraculous weight loss here, which is also a good thing.  Rather there is a change in attitude and lifestyle.  Bates’ illustrations are filled with doughnuts and potato chips at first and then transition to vegetables and the green of the outdoors. 

This book is ideal for classroom use when speaking about good nutrition.  Appropriate for ages 6-8.