WHEN YOU'RE FEELING SICK

The guitarist and organist for the Zac Brown Band outlines what to do and not do when you are feeling sick.

The advice runs the gamut from the humorous to truisms and upbeat platitudes, with a fair amount of silliness that has nothing to do with illness. Yes, chicken soup is meant for your mouth, not to be dumped on your head, and it’s possible purple elephants might just eat all your food if you invite them for lunch. But even wading through the foolishness, there’s not much to this. Simply saying something, for instance, doesn’t make it so: “Don’t be afraid of needles or your nurse. / She’s not a wicked witch with a broom and curse.” The author recommends two things to start feeling better and get rid of the germs: a silly face that involves sticking your fingers in your mouth (a sure way to share the illness) and a rhyming Sickness Song. But no matter what doctors or nurses do, no matter what silly faces one makes or rhyme one recites, there are some illnesses that won’t get better, and Bowles’ closing overlooks this fact: “Whatever you do, you must stay strong. / You might be sick now but you won’t be for long. / You’ll be running and swimming and swinging / And playing and dancing and you’ll feel just fine. / Don’t you worry one little bit, it’s just a matter of time.” The seemingly digital illustrations are brightly colored and show a wide array of diversity in gender and race and ability.

Skip this in favor of some chicken soup.