A charming and heartfelt picture book that's a great way to start a conversation about anxiety and mental health with readers a few generations old or fresh off the assembly line!

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? 
 
A tale with equal parts humor and heart, A Case of the Zaps is a great way to begin talking about mental health and anxiety for readers of all ages.

Alex Boniello is an actor, musician, singer, writer, and Tony Award–winning producer from New York City. Most recently, he starred as Connor Murphy in Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen, and has also appeared as the voice of Moritz in Deaf West’s revival of Spring Awakening and in numerous TV shows and films. Alongside April Lavalle, he's also a producer on Hadestown, for which they both received Tony Awards. Boniello is a passionate advocate for mental health, having worked closely with some of the most prolific organizations in the country. 

Categories

• Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Depression & Mental Illness
• Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Emotions & Feelings
• Juvenile Fiction / Robots

Product Details

ISBN: 9781419756726
ISBN-10: 1419756729
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 16th, 2022
Pages: 48
Language: English

Recommended Reading Level

Minimum Age: 4
Maximum Age: 8
Minimum Grade Level: P
Maximum Grade Level: 3

“A Case of the Zaps is a clever and charming way to help kids understand anxiety and feel comfortable talking about it with friends and the adults in their lives. It does a good job explaining how therapy works and giving children confidence that it can work for them. And it's fun!” 
— Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, President, Child Mind Institute

"With their expressive blue and yellow face, Pi is a charming young protagonist who provides a welcome introduction to the normality of the Zaps—or nerves—along with some coping mechanisms and words to boot up a conversation with friends or caretakers."
— Kirkus Reviews

"Readers of a carbon-based sort can learn more about. . .anxiety issues in general, from the authors’ closing note and the trio of online resources they supply."
— Booklist