Review by Booklist Review
When redheaded Max develops a relentless case of hiccups, she tries every trick she's heard of: holding her breath, drinking water upside down, standing on her head, even attempting a cartwheel. Nothing works. Her grandmother advises patience: "The only way to get rid of the hiccups . . . is to wait." But Max insists she has too much to do to wait--and her racing mind spirals. Will she be known as Hiccup Girl for the rest of her life? Will she be thrown out of school, theaters, and museums for being too loud? What if she becomes president and the whole world hears her hiccup? Smith captures the humor and anxiety of overthinking with warmth and wit, while Scott's buoyant illustrations brim with movement and comic detail, skillfully reflecting Max's energy and mounting worry. The story takes a mindful turn as Max finally slows down, noticing the wind and sunlight, and discovers calm. A delightful example of handling everyday frustrations, this story also doubles as a gentle introduction to mindfulness, encouraging readers to pause, breathe, and wait.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Headstrong Max, portrayed with red hair and pink skin, has the hiccups, and none of the usual remedies are working. Digital cartoon vignettes by Scott (Metal Baby) show the comically discombobulated protagonist trying everything from drinking water upside down to plugging her nose while licking a lemon. Stepping out onto the front porch, Max's clearly chill grandmother counsels, "If you're patient enough, they'll tiptoe away on their own. You won't even notice." As Smith (The Creature of Habit) notes, this isn't new advice--Grandma is always telling Max "To pause./ To wait./ To be," and Max is always charging ahead. When the hiccups persist, Max pictures herself becoming a case study for baffled doctors, being "thrown out of schools and theaters and museums for being too loud," and even hiccupping through a tenure as U.S. president. Finally taking the mindfulness plunge, she listens to "the scritch of the leaves as the trees sway in the wind," breathes deeply, and "for the first time, she just is." And it works! Rooted in a silly premise, it's an aptly gentle look at the connection between the mindful and the somatic. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--8. Author's agent: Jennifer Joel, CAA. Illustrator's agent: Emily Van Beek, Folio Literary. (Nov.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A girl learns to solve a pesky, persistent problem. Plagued with the hiccups, Max tries several methods to banish them, from holding her breath and drinking water upside down to standing on her head and somersaulting. All fail. Max's grandmother offers sage advice: Be patient, and "they'll tiptoe away on their own." Max recalls that her grandmother's always encouraging her to slow down ("To pause. To wait. Tobe"), so she can listen to the rustling trees and feel the sun's warmth on her face. But impatient Max doesn't have time for that right now. Suppose she has hiccups forever and sets a world record? Suppose, when she's president, her hiccups are heard around the world? Max contemplates dire possibilities for a long time. While doing so, she waits--and hears the trees and feels the sun. "For the first time all day, she justis." Before Max knows it, the hiccups are gone. Children may not realize it, but grown-ups sharing this humorous, thought-provoking tale will surely note that it's also a gentle guide to mindfulness. Scott's cheery digital illustrations are enlivened by numerous "hics!" incorporated throughout the artwork. Saucer-eyed Max has curly red hair; she, her grandmother, and her younger brother have light tan skin. Background characters are diverse. No hiccups here: a charmer about helping a child handle a familiar problem realistically.(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
