Katie's Really Bad day: A Story About Test Anxiety by Kathleen Jeffrey, illustrated by Susan Kilmartin

 

Katie's Really Bad Day by Kathleen Jeffrey Illustrated by Susan Kilmartin
Published:  February 17th, 2025 by Kathleen Jeffrey
Format:  Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook
Pages: 30 

Find Katie's Really Bad Day at Amazon , and Goodreads

                      

Moments of anxiety can reshape an entire school day for a child. In Katie’s Really Bad Day: A Story About Test Anxiety by Kathleen Jeffrey, illustrated by Susan Kilmartin, one student’s stress escalates during a familiar routine.

Although Katie generally enjoys school, test days trigger uncomfortable feelings she struggles to control. When a spelling test begins, her anxiety intensifies, making it impossible for her to think clearly or stay on task. Her reaction draws attention and leaves her feeling overwhelmed and embarrassed.

Rather than reacting with frustration, Katie’s teacher offers calm reassurance and guidance. Katie learns simple breathing and calming strategies that help her manage anxious moments. As she practices these tools, she begins to understand that feeling nervous before tests is common and does not define her abilities. Over time, these techniques become shared and normalized, creating a supportive atmosphere focused on emotional awareness and reassurance.

Q&A with Kathleen Jeffrey:

What’s a detail, theme, or clue in your book that most readers might miss on the first read—but you secretly hope someone notices? 

Empathetic, concerned faces of Katie’s teacher, Mom & Dad, and her classmates when Katie is upset. No one is making fun of her. 

When did this story or idea “click” into place for you—was there a single moment you knew you had to write it? 

During critique group sessions with a long manuscript, I discovered I actually had two books to write.  The first became Katie’s Really Bad Day: A Story About Test Anxiety, to identify Katie’s character with school & test anxiety, which is based on my personal story I had to tell for authenticity. The second book will feature Katie once again and will be illustrated sometime this year.

Which character or real-life person surprised you the most while writing this book, and why?  

Katie’s sidekick Finn turned out to be quite the entertaining cut up as well a very concerned and empathetic friend.

If your book had a soundtrack, what three songs would be on it and what scenes or moments would they pair with?  

“Inside Out” by  Michael Giacchino, (From joyful school yard to Katie’s sudden test anxiety.)

"When I Breathe" by Stephanie Leavell  (Learning belly breathing with Miss Julie and later with the class.)

"When I'm Nervous" (A song for kids about overcoming anxiety.) 

Overall story wrap up. Would play at the end of the book.

What’s one belief, question, or emotional truth you hope readers carry with them long after they finish your book? 

That many students are anxious in school or before tests so you are not the only one. Because you are anxious before a test does not mean you are not smart or capable.  

Tell us about a moment during the writing process when the story (or message) took an unexpected turn. 

I was determined to have Mom take Katie into school the day she did not want to go because that was my personal experience.  Through teacher critique partner advice and their experiences with children in today’s classrooms, I realized Katie would have to take the bus, work through it and tell Miss Julie what was going on.

If your protagonist (or the central figure in your nonfiction) could give the reader one piece of advice, what would it be? 

Lots of kids get anxious before tests! Let your teacher and caregivers know when you are anxious. There are always solutions!

What real-world place, object, or memory helped shape a key element in your book? 

My second-grade elementary classroom and getting caught having scratched on my varnished desk was a deep-rooted memory. A boy noticed it and yelled out to the teacher. She was very angry and scolded me in front of the class. I was so embarrassed I refused to go to school the next day, so my mom had to bring me in and talk to the teacher.

What’s something you had to research, learn, or experience to write this book that genuinely shocked you?

Through my research on childhood, school and test anxiety, I learned test anxiety can start as early as second through fourth grade and may lead to underachievement.  Between this research, writing my bio, interviewing my mom, older sister, adult neighbor and childhood classmates, I was able to make connections. The seeds of my overall school anxiety started with significant separation anxiety my first three weeks of kindergarten. By fourth grade my overall school anxiety did lead to test anxiety and eventually underachievement. Anxiety triggers fear and panic which makes it hard to concentrate when learning new concepts or taking notes while trying to keep up with the teacher or actually taking a test.

If your book were invited to join a shelf with three other titles, which ones would make you happiest—and what would that shelf say about your story?

Wilma Jean The Worry Machine by Julia Cooke (Classic, Funny, Popular) 

The Big Feelings Book for Children: Mindfulness Moments to Manage Anger, Excitement, Anxiety, and Sadness by Sharon Selby MA (Respectable, Useful, Popular)

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Voist & Ray Cruz Total Classic! (Happiest)

Excerpts:

My thoughts:

Katie's Really Bad Day: A Story About Test Anxiety is a beautifully illustrated picture book that helps children understand and cope with their anxiety. Each illustration feels like a small portrait, capturing the children's facial expressions and playful energy with lifelike detail. The characters are relatable; the colors are vibrant and full of emotion and Katie's anxiety is portrayed with sensitivity.

I loved the moments when Katie talked with her parents and how encouraging they were. Her teacher, Miss Julie, also calmly explains what's happening and gives her practical, concrete strategies to help Katie relax and refocus during tests. These scenes brought me back to my days working with individuals with cognitive impairments. We used a similar approach called Brain Gym, created by Gail and Paul Dennison. One of our techniques was the "lazy eight," where you repeatedly draw an infinity symbol to support focus and attention. This cross-lateral integration exercise is designed to get the right and left hemispheres of the brain warmed up before writing. It's a very calming and useful technique and I was happy to see it included in the book.

Overall, it's a comforting, heartfelt, and authentic story that speaks to the anxiety many children experience and inspires them with practical skills they can use. This would make a wonderful read-aloud to children and I can see this being utilized by teachers as a means to open up discussions about children's feelings and fears with test taking. Highly recommend.

Kathleen Jeffrey is an author of children’s picture books, fulfilling her mission to create stories that shine with love, light, spirit, truth, and joy—helping children navigate life’s challenges, explore big emotions, and grow with courage, kindness, and wonder

Visit Kathleen at her website and follow her on Facebook or Instagram

Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King by Darin S. Cape , illustrations by Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto

Zicky:  Wrath of the Rat King by Darin S. Cape, illustrations by Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto
Publisher:  SHP comics
Format Read:  Paperback ARC
Number of pages:  160 pages
Publishing:  March 10th, 2026
Source: Books Forward

Opening Lines: "Zicky approaches the lair of the rat king, sneaking stealthy...keeping downwind..."

At night, Zachary dreams of daring adventures where he sneaks into the Rat King's lair.  In this dream world, he even becomes a stealthy ninja, slipping through shadows and battling an oncoming rat invasion.  At home, however, his family treats his adventurous stories as nothing more than a child's imagination.  But when Zicky's dream world begins to spill over into his reality and threatens his family, he must gather all his courage to save the day.  

Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is an adorable story about a young boy who dreams of being a hero.  The illustrations are vibrant and packed with action.  Some scenes, such as Zicky chopping off the head of a snake or attacking one of the rats, may feel a bit intense for younger readers, but overall, the story remains light heartened and fun.    I really enjoyed Zeno Decrux's manga art and Hiorsh Gabotto's real-world imagery.  With my favorite illustration being the one where Zicky is falling back into his bed after one of his nightly adventures.  You can see a few samples here at the publisher's website and a Teaser video here  

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog  HERE 

Table Titans Club #2 Sneak Attack by Scott Kurtz

Table Titans Club #2 Sneak Attack by Scott Kurtz 

Publisher:  Holiday House/Walker Books Group
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   224 pages
Publishing:  March 10th, 2026
Source: Edelweiss+

Opening Lines:  "The Summer Tournament! Jousting, sword fighting, archery... I can't wait!"

The Table Titans Club is thrilled to spend their summer at Camp Owl Care, a LARPing camp filled with quests designed to challenge camper's minds, bodies and spirits.  Val, Kate, Alan, Andrew and Darius can't wait to put their live-action roleplaying skills to the test as they solve riddles and tackle the camp's many challenges.  

But their excitement quickly fades when they're randomly sorted into different houses that will be competing against one another.  Could this be a chance to make new friends?  For Kate and Alan, it might be necessary as they've been arguing since the moment they arrived.   Their conflict stems from a previous D&D campaign in which Kate's character died after triggering a trap.  She believes Alan should have used their reward, a powerful scroll, to revive her character, but he refused.  What begins as a personal disagreement soon escalates into a camp-wide feud.  Can the Table Titans overcome their differences, or is their once-tight-knit group on the verge of falling apart?

Sneak Attack is the second volume of the Table Titans Club graphic novel series, which follows a group of middle-school Dungeons & Dragons players.  Val tries hard to make the camp experience fun, but Kate's negativity and her constant bickering with Alan drag down the camps morale.  When Val thinks she has spotted a troll lurking by the trash cans, the camper's band together to hunt for clues and set a trap for the mysterious creature. This is where the story really took off for me.  I especially enjoyed the scenes where the kids teach new campers the rules of the game, craft costumes, and participate in a Battle Royale style foam weapon showdown.

I also enjoyed the emphasis on using non-combative strategies, like spellcasting, which brings a refreshing layer of creativity to the otherwise battle heavy weapons fights.   The appeal of this book is easy to see, especially in the wake of the popular Stranger Things series and its renewed spotlight on role-playing games like D&D.  The illustrations are light and fun, showcasing boys and girls alike taking part in a triathlon, an archery competition, a race and even navigating a hedge maze with a Minotaur waiting at the center of the Labyrinth.  Such fun.   Sneak Attack is a great fit for fans of role-playing games, kids who enjoy summer-camp adventures, or anyone interested in LARPing.  

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog  HERE 

 

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with a review of The Unbreakable Crown by Carina Finn

 

The Unbreakable Crown (Feast and Famine book #2) by Carina Finn
Publisher:  Sourcebooks for Young Readers
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   304 pages
Publishing:  February 3rd, 2026
Source: NetGalley

Opening Lines from prologue:  "Silas Erebos swore he would never walk through the carved marble doors of Forum again."

The first book of the Feast and Famine series, The Last Great Heir, follows Merriment "Merri" Feast and Rue Famine as they prepared for their impending duel to determine who will rule the entire realm of Fauret.   The Unbreakable Crown picks up from that point but shifts the story to a new setting, Demonspace.  The point of view also changes from Merri and Rue to Wort Erebos and Abundance "Bun" Feast, which initially took me a minute to adjust to.  I found it easy to lose track of who the characters were and how they were connected.  Therefore, I recommend starting with the first book in the series. 

In The Unbreakable Crown, five young friends are brought to Demonspace in search of a satchel.  Unfortunately, the bridge or Interstice that once connected their world to this one is now inoperable, leaving them stranded in this new land.  

Within Demonspace, Wort discovers that his family descends from a line of demon royals, a truth his father, Silas hid when he took Wort and his younger sister, Sage to the forests of Famine.  There, Wort and Sage often went hungry, surviving only through the potions the land of Famine provided. Wort is angry and confused by this new revelation.  

Bun Feast has always lived a life of luxury, filled with parties and fashionable outfits. Unlike her sisters, she has never learned to use magic.  Merri, heir to House Feast, along with Bun and Rue, share the special bond of the Eternal Three.  Through this connection, they can communicate with one another, and their united bond drives their determination to return to Fauret.  

This second installment broadens the characters and introduces a magical school, Tenebrun, adding depth to the story's worldbuilding.  Tenebrun is a school for demons, that Wort's Uncle, Nicol insists he attends to gain power.  The school's purpose is to identify and shape future leaders.  The head scholar, Sister Alerune declares that Wort belongs there because he is not human, a claim that infuriates him and goes against what he knows thus far. Sister Alerune decree's that Merri, Wort, Bun and Rue must all attend Tenebrun if they hope to have their wish to return to Fauret granted.  Their only path home lies within the school's library on the eve of Silver Twilight, provided they can survive a series of trials and harness the magic needed to complete their wish.

At Tenebrun, the first trial goes to Wort and is a Trial of Fire.  He meets Howie and Jax, both higher demons, as well as Cyrena, a lesser demon.  His new friends seem more interested in his family's lineage than in Wort himself.  Bun faces a Trial of Deception and meets Avery.  Both Bun and Wort are placed among the Primes, an elite group within the school, while Merri and Rue become Seconds.  Rue undergoes a Trial of Combat, using shadow and potion magic but sustains an injury.  Merri, meanwhile, is faced with a solitary Trial of Fear.  During her second trial, she is unfortunately signaled out by the Sister's and following an emotional outburst is taken to the Monument Garden, cursed with becoming a statue.  At the same time, Sage has gone missing and is believed to be held in the Nyx Sister's Tower. 

The Unbreakable Crown feels similar to the Harry Potter series meets The Iron Trial (Magisterium series) by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare and The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani.  Tenebrun is a magical school which specializes in Chaos, Bibliomancy and Charm's.  It has the feel of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry yet doesn't emphasize the individual classes that the children take as much.  There are also children who are unfamiliar with their ability to wield magic and even floating, talking crowns that are part of a prophecy promising great power. While somethings felt similar, others made the worldbuilding stand out.  Although the ending itself felt abrupt, I really enjoyed the direction the story was taking.  Both Bun and Wort continue to grow in their abilities and confidence.  I'm eager to see whose perspectives the next book will follow and whether the friends will ultimately find their way back home. 
              

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog  HERE 

     

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It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with a review of The Book of Four Journeys by Veronica Del Valle

The Book of Four Journeys by Veronica del Valle
Publisher:  Silverwood Books
Format Read:  Paperback
Number of pages:   240 pages
Published:  May 18th, 2021
Source: Author Marketing Experts

Opening Lines: "I have a story to tell you.  A story about a well-kept secret." 

Alfalfa Spooly is very proud of being a postman, especially on the day when the Milner approaches him about delivering a yellow hat to Phineas in the bluest of blue houses in Blue.  His journey takes him across spiky hills, along a forsaken road through a tornado and across a river.  Once he reaches his destination, Alfalfa is given the opportunity to receive his own yellow hat, a thing of wonder and magic. Yet Alfalfa can't decide whether he should take the gift.   

The second story is about Mumik Opipok, not the most confident person in the world he is always filled with doubt, even over the simplest of things.  But on the day of the story, he makes his first choice, a wish to know something.  Yet, he did not know that his simple wish reveals he has a sibling he didn't know that he had.  A twin who he was separated from at birth.  One who lives in the south while the other is in the northernmost region.  Both chanters for their parts of the world.  Meanwhile, Pimnik, who has never doubted herself for one moment, always confident in her choices has her first instance of indecisiveness.   Pimnik still ventures in a ballon in search of her brother, who unbeknownst to her is traveling at the same moment to her by boat.  The story alternates between the two as they attempt to reunite.  

Neboo McCloudy sits in the white clouds of Floccusville, where he stands out because he is the only stormy grey cloud among the fluffy white ones.  Neboo is a very grumpy individual but luckily, he finds a scroll with a tale promising to lead him to a Great Treasure.  But finding the treasure may pose to be difficult as he must enter a formidable forest. 

The final story is of Lincoln Jax.  A young girl living in an orphanage who is visited by a crane bearing an invitation for her to venture toward a kingdom.  Before reaching it, however, she will have to pass three trials.  Lincoln is curious but impatient can she be truthful and rightful in answering the questions posed to her at each door?   As Lincoln enters each new doorway, she is faced with exploring her feelings and gains a better understanding of herself.  

The Book of Four Journeys takes four travelers on four incredible journeys.  Each story is filled with adventure, whimsy and surprisingly is very introspective.  My favorite tale is Neboo McCloudy's as he learns of kindness, selfishness, generosity and wisdom.  He learns about happiness and it's such an uplifting message.  The stories address friendship, exploration, and self-reflection.    The illustrations of each of the characters added to the reading experience.  An overall fun story with beautiful messaging.  

 I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

 **A huge thank you to Author Marketing Experts for the review copy in exchange for an honest review**         

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with a review of Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders

Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders
Publisher:  Sourcebooks for Young Readers
Format Read:  Paperback ARC 
Number of pages:   272 pages
Publishing:  January 6th, 2026
Source:  Publisher  

Opening Lines:  "I stopped my bike across the street from the run-down house and answered the question I knew Clemmie was about to ask."

In the small town of Everson, everyone suspects that Miss Geraldine's run-down house is haunted.  Even the old rowboat leaning against the siding has seen better days.   The place is in such bad shape that the mayor has threatened to have it condemned.

Tucker has his eye on the rowboat, hoping to fix it up so he can continue his passion for fishing.  So, when his friend Clemmie is asked to help clean up Miss Geraldine's property and prepare it for an auction, Tucker agrees to help in exchange for the rowboat. 

But when Tucker returns to collect it, he instead finds Miss Geraldine dead at the bottom of the stairs.  As an amateur sleuth, Tucker quickly recognizes that what everyone assumes is an accident might be a murder instead.  Although Miss Geraldine was considered mean by the town, and referred to as Miss fussy gussy, she didn't deserve to be murdered.

After speaking with his father, the chief of police, Tucker gets permission to examine the scene for clues.  With help from Sadie and Clemmie, he begins to interview the townspeople and track down leads, determined to uncover the truth about what really happened.

Everson has that small-town charm I absolutely adore.  Quiet streets, and a coffee shop and beauty salon serving as the town's hub for gossip. With Clemmie and Sadie's parents working in these two locations, it's easy to gather pieces of information listening in on the townspeople as they speculate on motives and reveal secrets.    It's the perfect backdrop for a classic detective mystery, plenty of suspects, quirky townsfolk, and a free-range for curious kids to explore.  I'd love to see more adventures with these kids. Ideal for younger mystery fans.   

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

 **A huge thank you to Sourcebooks for the review copy in exchange for an honest review**      

Tiny Worlds: A Story About Appreciating the Small Things by Brittany Cicchese

Tiny Worlds by Brittany Cicchese
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   32 pages
Publishing:  January 1st, 2026
Source: Edelweiss +

Opening Lines: "I'm staying with grandma again."

A young boy visits his grandmother where he builds tiny worlds from scraps of ribbon, a pocket watch and popsicle sticks.  These are intricate constructions made with lovingly care and attention to detail.  Sometimes grandmother helps, like providing a pie tin, but other times she encourages him to go outside with her to the playground.  He instead prefers quiet spaces.  Grandmother tries a nature hike, a petting zoo and a trip to the beach, but he finds secret spots, away from the noise and bustle.  Secret places for him to explore.  Eventually, grandmother begins to join him in exploring his tiny worlds. 

Tiny Worlds is an adorable story with gorgeous illustrations.  The young boy has a large imagination and thinks in creative ways.  He notices all the beauty of nature and how it houses many things to explore.  I love how he sees the smallest of details and is content to be still and enjoy what he finds.  The illustrations are soft pastel watercolors with lots of color and convey a lot of emotion.  The stunning loudness of the playground with all the children bustling around versus the peace of a pond with a turtle on a rock and dragonfly flittering.  My favorite is his inquisitive look while viewing mushrooms growing on a mossy log.  This is a beautiful picture book that encourages children to look closer at the nature around them and to create their own special worlds.