This rhyming book is a first-person account of Sammy, a cartoon child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) who hears the angry words, “Sammy, sit still!” so often that he thinks that’s his name.

Written and illustrated by Catherine Thompson, a Toronto psychologist, the book fits a clear need although it has major problems. The first two-thirds of the book chronicles Sammy’s difficulties: Teachers and parents are constantly annoyed with him, classmates laugh at him, he is uncoordinated, and his academic abilities are unpredictable. Enter the doctor, who promises Sammy he’ll feel better if he eats no sugar, chocolate, meat, or dairy products; drinks eight glasses of water a day; gets lots of fresh air and exercise; and tries various techniques to control his behaviour and relax. Part of the doctor’s advice: “Don’t eat ice cream / Or cheese or meat / And you’ll find it much easier to stay in your seat.”

The treatment advice in this book is not all generally accepted, so parents will have to edit the story to fit their child’s needs, perhaps leaving out the extreme dietary advice to cut out meat and dairy products. Therapists and doctors who don’t agree with the suggestions in the book are unlikely to recommend it to their patients.

Three other criticisms: The delightful cartoon characters are black and white, but for $22.95, I think most buyers expect colour. The poetry does not always scan well, and the rhymes sometimes push the envelope (like “sure” and “fewer”). The book is long, even for a child without an attention problem.

Nonetheless, kids with ADHD are scarce in children’s literature, especially at the Grade 1 to 3 reading level. Because of this, parents are likely to buy this book, despite its hefty price tag.