Sit Still! --Nancy Carlson

(image from kids.aduible.com)

Carlson, Nancy. Sit Still! New York: Viking Juvenile, 1996.

Unlike the previous two picture books, “Sit Still!” did not include an author’s note.

“Sit Still!” is a story about a boy named Patrick, who, like the title describes, cannot sit still. The first half of the story shows Patrick in numerous settings; he gets in trouble because he cannot stop moving. It is not until half way through the book that Patrick’s teacher makes a recommendation to see a special doctor. The doctor cannot find anything wrong; he tells Pat’s mom that he “simply can’t sit still” (20). His mom decides that she is going to find things to keep him occupied. Then he will not have all of his nervous energy. By the end of the story Patrick has a bunch of new activities to keep himself occupied.

Nancy Carlson’s picture book is a great story for children, both with or without attention difficulties. For children with AD/HD, they can see themselves reflected in the main character of Patrick. Children without AD/HD will see that Patrick is a lot like them at times. Every child has a problem sitting still sometimes, and because the book never mentions AD/HD, the story is more relatable to them. The illustrations in the book accompany the text in a humorous way that makes the story enjoyable. Even though the book is humorous, the underlying message of the story is still a good lesson. By the end of the story, all parties are happy. Children without attention difficulties have heard a good story and learned a little bit about what it is like for those who do have those difficulties. Children with AD/HD have found a funny story to which they can relate. Even caretakers and teachers benefit from this book. In the end of the story, there are several suggestions as to how to keep these individuals productive. Instead of just focusing on the negative aspects of those with attention difficulties, Carlson gives suggestions and shows that these children might just need more structure.

To sum it up, Carlson’s “Sit Still!” is a humorous story that appeals to all audiences. Children with attention difficulties see themselves inside the story, whereas those without AD/HD still get a relatable story. It is a good story to read and follow up with a discussion.