Book Review: Nick and the Shrinking Inner Spaceship

Nick and the Shrinking Inner Spaceship is a fiction picture book that only focuses on the villi. There is a picture in the book of healthy villi, and an explanation about what happens to the villi when someone has celiac disease. In the book, Nick is a kid scientist who invented a shrinking spaceship and uses it to go in his little brother’s body to find out if he has celiac disease. This would not be the book to read to learn all about celiac disease and eating gluten-free. Some people may not like the end of the book, while others might think it is cool.

The book is written by Nick, a boy who has celiac disease, and his mom. You might want to read the note from the authors before you read the book to give you more knowledge. In the back, there are recipes for ribs, pancakes, cookies, and pumpkin loaf cake. That is a useful tool. For a good book that explains about celiac disease, read Mommy, What is Celiac Disease? or Cilie Yack is Under Attack.

This review was written by my daughter, who is 9-years-old. She does not have celiac disease, but knows a lot about it. The author sent us this book for free to review. You can buy the book on the website.

Book Review: The Celiac Kid

The Celiac Kid is a new book that would help young kids understand celiac disease. The book is written for kids around preschool to first grade. Since the book is for young kids, it does not mention cross-contamination or eating out. Unfortunately, The Celiac Kid does not mention barley, rye, or oats. It says that “gluten is in wheat, but it also hides in a lot of other foods.”

I like that The Celiac Kid says that “most of the time I am a regular kid.” It is important to know that you are just like other kids, except for how you eat. I also liked that the book makes it sound like eating gluten-free is easy, and that is how you should feel. It talks about how you might think that it is hard, but that it is not that bad. It is good to have a positive attitude. I think they did not need to mention birthday parties, but that may be helpful for some people. Overall, this book is a good one.

This review was written by my daughter, who is 9-years-old. She does not have celiac disease, but knows a lot about it. The author sent us this book for free to review. You can buy the book on the website or Amazon.

Book Review: Mommy, What is Celiac Disease?

Mommy, What is Celiac Disease? A look at the sunny side of being gluten-free is a new picture book for kids. Katie Chalmers sent me the book for free for me to review. I am 9-years-old, and I feel a bit too old for this book partly because they say Mommy instead of Mom. Mommy, What is Celiac Disease? is a conversation, not really a story. The mom and the child take turns speaking about the child’s new diet and celiac disease. The book is all facts about celiac, but does not talk about getting diagnosed or cross-contamination, which is an issue.

I would recommend the book for ages 4-8. You can read the book to your child, and they will probably know about celiac disease. The book’s setting is in the park. To explain what they are going to do when they go home, they make connections about what she is doing at the park like “we can spread the word just like you are blowing that dandelion fluff around.” I think that your child will love the book, and have a positive attitude about eating gluten-free.

Comment from the author, Katie Chalmers:

"This is really meant to introduce the child to celiac disease and get them thinking positively about it from the get-go. The book's website does talk a lot about cross-contamination issues, so hopefully when both resources are put together, everything is covered."

Book Review: Cilie Yack is Under Attack

Cilie Yack is Under Attack is a new fiction chapter book for kids ages 5-11. I am 9-years-old and do not have celiac disease, but I know a lot about it because my mom does. Caryn Talty sent me the book for free to review. It is a very funny book about a 9-year-old boy named Cilie Yack who gets diagnosed with celiac disease and does not want to give up cake and other foods. He is worried about not being able to eat some foods he loves. Cilie comes up with a way to be able to eat what he wants.

The book’s narrator is Cilie. He is a troublemaker in some of the book. It does have some Irish words in it because the setting is in Ireland. The Irish words make it a bit harder to understand, but the author does try to explain what they mean. Cilie Yack is Under Attack has some true facts about celiac disease.  It is fun to have a book that has both fiction and facts.  I think that you don’t have to have celiac disease to love the book like I did! Be careful - you won't be able to put the book down once you start it!

Book Review: Bagels, Buddy, and Me

On Twitter, my mom found out about Bagels, Buddy, and Me: A story about gluten intolerance and celiac disease. She emailed the author, Melanie Krumrey, to see if she could send me a free copy to review. The book is based on the true story of the Krumrey family, and the story is told by a boy named Cooper, who is 8-years-old like me.

Bagels, Buddy, and Me is a great book! I especially like that it was also about gluten intolerance and that somehow Melanie Krumrey made the pictures in the book look like crayon drawings. It looks like she drew it in black and then colored it in.

The book is funny, and it is hard to believe that it is based on a true story. I think that kids in elementary school would love the story. You can buy the book at the Bagels, Buddy, and Me website and learn more about the Krumrey family on their blog called Gluten-Free Krums. If are looking for a book with more facts about celiac disease and eating gluten-free, read my review of The GF Kid. If you are looking for a funny story about finding out you need to eat gluten-free, then Bagels, Buddy, and Me is the book for you!

Book Review - The GF Kid: A Celiac Disease Survival Guide

This book was written in 2005. The GF Kid is for ages 8 and up and teenagers would like it too. The girl in the book is named Paris and she is 11-years-old. I am 8-years-old, and I could easily read almost all the words. I read it by myself and only had a few questions about the book because my mom has celiac disease and I know a lot about it. I would recommend that if you are 8-years-old and you only know a few things about celiac disease, then you should read it with a grown up.

The only thing that upset me was that the author made up a few words like “glutenfied” and “gluteny”. I was happy that there was a list of gluten-free companies with phone numbers and a list of candy. I also like that it had recipes in the back of the book to use as a cookbook and that it listed restaurants and stores.

I think this book would be really helpful for kids that are newly diagnosed and would help parents too. I especially like that it mentioned that celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, not an allergy, and that it is not contagious! This book had several details about cross-contamination. We got this book from our public library. Also read my other book review called Eating Gluten-Free with Emily.

Book Review: Eating Gluten-Free with Emily

I am in second grade, and I do not have celiac disease. I found Eating Gluten-Free with Emily at my school library, and my mom asked me if I wanted to do a review on her blog. This book is for ages three to seven and was written in 2003. I think it left out some stuff and didn’t really give enough detail, but overall it was a good book. I think it should have added that not everyone has to go to the hospital to find out they have celiac disease. It said gluten is wheat, rye, and barley, but it didn’t say anything about oats. Oats have gluten in them unless they are certified gluten-free. I didn’t like that it didn’t say much about cross-contamination.

I did like that it mentioned how to order food in restaurants. The book said when you order a hotdog, you say "Hot dog, no bun please…What kind of ketchup? Are your fries fried with anything?" It says you should ask questions in restaurants. The book is right! You must always make sure what you are ordering is gluten-free. Check your library before buying Eating Gluten-Free with Emily!

A Special Update: My Daughter’s Letter to President Obama

The new summer issue of Gluten-Free Living magazine has an article about my daughter’s letter to President Obama. We were so happy to see her picture on page 10 and read the great article. It has been so exciting for my daughter to have her letter published in a book, appear in two local newspapers, and now a national magazine. So, how did she end up in Gluten-Free Living?

Amy Ratner, the associate editor of Gluten-Free Living, follows my blog and read my post, Celiac Disease Mentioned in Kids' Letters to President Obama. She emailed me and wanted to do a story about it. Amy interviewed my daughter by email. Of course, she could not include all the information from the interview, so I thought I would share with you some of the questions and answers that don’t appear in the magazine. I encourage you to buy the summer issue. It is full of great useful information, and I especially enjoyed the review of Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s book.

What gluten-free food do you think President Obama would like if he tried it?
-Shabtai Gourmet brownie bites

How does it feel to have a book with your name in it?
-I feel very special and proud to be in a real chapter book! When I found out I was going to be in the book, I was so happy and excited.

Where do you keep your copy of the book?
-I keep it in my room with my other books and my Mom is keeping one in a special place.

What did you friends at school and your teacher think of you having your letter in the book?
-I read my letter and some of the other letters in the book to my class, the principal, and the librarian. Everyone loved it and said congratulations.

Thank you Amy for doing this special article!

Celiac Disease Mentioned in “Kids’ Letters to President Obama”

I am so proud to announce that my daughter’s letter was just published in Kids’ Letters to President Obama. This new book was just released today by Random House and can be ordered on Amazon or found in stores, including Barnes and Noble in the new humor section. The book contains approximately 200 letters that were selected from the 2,000 letters that were submitted.

My daughter’s letter can be found on page 60 in chapter 3. The chapter is called “I Have a Few Questions, If You Don’t Mind.” I am so happy that not only was her letter selected, but her entire letter was published in the book. She asks President Obama seven questions, and I am so honored that she chose to include celiac disease. Here is the question that mentions celiac disease.

“Are there any foods you can't eat? My mom can't eat gluten because she has celiac disease. Can you make a law so that there are more gluten free foods for people with celiac disease to eat?”

Here is another question she asked.

“Do you ever forget where some of the rooms are in the big White House and get lost?”

For my daughter, who is 7-years-old, this is the most exciting thing to ever happen to her. I purchased an extra copy of the book to donate to her school library. I know she will have a wonderful time sharing the book with her first grade class, the principal, and school staff.

I found out about the request for letters from her school newsletter and submitted the letter in December. This series of books called “Kids’ Letters” is a tradition with every new president, which Bill Adler began when President Kennedy was elected. It is so exciting that my daughter’s thoughts are a permanent part of this historical time!

My Daughter's Review - Amy's Kids Meals Baked Ziti

The Amy's Kids Meals Baked Ziti was very good. It was even better than most of the school lunches I buy. I ate the entire thing, but I was still a bit hungry. I am in first grade and can eat gluten, but most of the food I eat at home is gluten free. This meal is gluten and dairy free. Mommy said it has 360 calories, 12 grams of fat, 7 grams of protein, and 460mg of sodium. Mommy tried a bite of the bread, pasta, and apple crisp and thought it was good.

The bread tasted good, except for the sun dried tomatoes on top of the bread. They were too strong for me. You can cut the top off the bread and just eat it plain. It tasted good plain too. The pasta was very good. The sauce was not too strong. They could have used more dairy free cheese on the pasta. The picture on the box is exaggerating the cheese.

The broccoli was great. The broccoli and pasta was cooked just right - it was almost perfect! The broccoli had a little bit of crunch to it. There was tomato sauce on top of the broccoli that made it taste great. The apple crisp tasted terrific. In fact, it was so good that I wanted more! My favorite food in it was the apple crisp. I can't wait to eat it again!

A gluten free story written by my 7 year old daughter

When Mommy found out that she had Celiac Disease, I was 5 years old and worried that I would not like trying gluten free foods. I do not have Celiac Disease, but I do like to eat some gluten free foods, but not all the gluten free foods. I love trying gluten free foods with Mommy. First, we tried some foods that were bad. Then, foods that were okay. Finally, we found foods that were great.

Sometimes, it is hard to find gluten free foods. At some stores, they put gluten free foods on the same shelf with gluten foods. It is like an adventure going to stores and hunting for gluten free tags. Mommy and I get really excited when we see a new gluten free product.

Mommy still misses eating gluten foods, but not as much as she used to. I won’t be worried if I get Celiac Disease because I know many gluten free foods are yummy and there will be even more gluten free foods when I grow up. It was so cool watching Emeril Green and seeing him shop at Whole Foods like we do and cook gluten free foods.

My two favorite gluten free foods are turkey meat sauce with gluten free pasta and chicken parmesan. I absolutely love them! I drew a picture of myself eating chicken parmesan. Here are some other gluten free foods that I like: hot dogs, peanut butter on George English Muffins, Gorilla Munch cereal, blueberry muffins and waffles, Utz potato chips, Glutino pretzels, turkey and cheese wraps, Yoplait yogurt (key lime and peach are my favorite flavors), and scrambled eggs. Sometimes I get jealous of gluten free foods that Mommy is eating. I like eating gluten free foods. I am glad that eating completely gluten free made Mommy feel better!