A Case of the Zaps helps young readers understand anxiety

A CASE OF THE ZAPS, by Alex Boniello, April Lavalle, James Kwan, Abrams Books for Young Readers, Aug. 16, 2022, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 4-8)

A little robot learns about anxiety and how to manage it in A Case of the Zaps, written by Alex Boniello and April Lavalle and illustrated by James Kwan.

Meet 3.14159265358979323846264338327950 . . . Or Pi, for short.

Pi’s just like any other kid robot: They love to listen to music, play with their dog, and hang out with their friends. And when their teacher announces a field trip to Olde Silicon Valley, Pi couldn’t be more excited! They daydream of all the awesome things they want to see and do there –– but also begin to worry about all the things that could go wrong . . . Then, on the way home, Pi feels a ZAP! They try to avoid the strange feeling, but the Zaps keep happening. Pi doesn’t understand. They have a firewall installed! What could be going on? —Synopsis provided by Abrams Books for Young Readers

Anxiety comes in all shapes and sizes and at all ages. A Case of the Zaps is a great way for little ones to not only identify what they’re feeling but how to deal with those feelings, too.

Pi is a sweet little character that readers will immediately be drawn to. Who doesn’t love a robot? And the comic-book style inspired illustrations really help to emphasize action and emotions.

The book’s text has an easy flow to it. Of note is the use of onomatopoeia words (zap, sparked, buzz, etc.) that make it fun for less advanced readers to co-read with an adult or older sibling.

The publisher’s suggested age range for A Case of the Zaps is 4 to 8. While my 8-year-old may give it a quick read through, it’s better geared toward 4-7-year-olds.

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