Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

What's Wrong with Tom by Dr. Gal Chivvis Mischa Pearson is a very charming children's book with beautifully engaging graphics.

The book is a great way to engage children and introduce them to the fact that just like humans have doctors to care for their needs, animals have veterinarians. It builds empathy in children for our furry friends and introduces them to a potential career path.

I was so impressed with the wonderful art work and the gentle introduction to a potential event that can help decrease a stressful time for children - however, the book implies every medical condition that an animal experiences can be healed, and a child might feel betrayed if their pet has a condition that cannot be healed by medicine. Perhaps rather than the "we will make your pet " good as new" message could be changed to " we will do our best to help your pet"?

Also, I have numerous pets, but a vet with a machine that can interest a cats meows introduces something that doesn't exist and can set up children for a feeling of betrayal when vets do not have this detailed "pet voice translation machine. Personally, I think the story would have been improved if that page was pulled.

That said, I found this story delightful, engaging, and adorable!

Review: What’s Wrong with Tom? by Dr. Gail Chivvis, illustrated by Mischa Pearson

What’s Wrong with Tom? is an adorable and vibrantly illustrated children’s book that follows a little cat named Tom who isn’t feeling quite like himself. Told in charming limerick-style rhymes, the story gently introduces young readers to what happens during a vet visit, from the waiting room to the exam table, all through the eyes of a concerned feline friend. It’s sweet, silly, and just the right mix of fun and factual.

This would be such a hit with a group of curious preschoolers—three- and four-year-olds will absolutely eat this up. I especially loved how inclusive the book was, with veterinarians, nurses, and staff of all races, ages, and genders represented throughout. It’s got a lovely glossary of terms for little readers who want to learn more, and a helpful guide at the end for pet owners about signs your cat may be sick and how to keep them healthy. Overall, it’s a thoughtful and engaging story that makes a great read-aloud and a gentle learning tool for animal-loving kids. Super cute and very well done!

This book was a little hard to read at some points but I was reading on a laptop I don't know if a real life book would be easier. It was mostly the colors between the words and background being to similar (both very white) at some points. The story was also a little confusing at the end as it just kind of ended without a resolution of the cat but then gave a bunch of large worded explanations of different things that I guess *could've* been wrong? I was hoping this would be more of a good book for kids about what happens when you need to take a pet to the vet to reassure them that the vet is helping.

EDIT: I believe that it was my dark mode that was causing this color issue

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an advanced reading copy of What’s Wrong With Tom” in exchange for my honest opinion. This book will be released to retailers on July 6, 2025.

As an elementary librarian, there is so much to love about this book. Students are learning about the job of an emergency vet while being entertained why reading. Students will love the easy to read font and great pictures. Students also will love that they have a happy ending with this book. It’s a win/win!

This is a wonderful little story about a sick kitty. What I love about this, and boks like this, is that they take something that causes a lot of fear and anxiety for children and explains it to them in a way that they can understand. It removes the knowledge gap. This way, children can process their feelings and have some hope - without all of the worry about the unknown. Also, this is a great little story for the kid who wants to be a vet one day.