Maggie Goes on A Diet Hardcover – December 16, 2011

Maggie Goes On A Diet has long been a quest of mine...to read. As a consultant on Sizism and teacher reading the discussion threads was quite discouraging. I decided to decide on my own. I ordered the book and read it. I was amazed at the difference between the discussion threads and the reaction of my 6th grade students to the book. We followed a close lesson plan that I created centered on the book. Many students expressed things such as "...this book is inspiring, Maggie is a hero!." to "Hmmm, I think he is trying to say you need to be thin to be popular and I don't agree." to "The book is showing you if you want to lose weight you can, if you don't want to that is your choice too." Very balanced views. With the issues of diversity facing all educators from K-University, I believe this book is a great resource for educators looking to have some literature that deals with the issue of childhood obesity. The children do not see all of the negatives that the discussion comments point out. They were inspired on their own. It is my job as an educator to answer questions fully and to have a classroom that encourages this discussion. I suppose we might call it our hidden curriculum which should be implicit. I do not believe children should lose weight to "be" anything. Through education, parental support, and community support children in most things should have choice. Forcing children to "feel" a certain a way they do not "feel" is a dangerous thing. My purpose in using the book was for children to make connections, express opinons, and examine beliefs with this book we have done that. Bravo on taking a huge risk Mr.Kramer. With much chagrin I must move on to a Poetry unit the children are begging to continue our conversations about Maggie. Maybe we will see her in another book a cook book for children perhaps?

Most of the negative reviews pose ignorant view points confusing eating healthy with 'diets lead to eating disorders'. While I'd question the writers talent as a writer, his overall knowledge of nutrition, and inclusion of bed wetting at a sleepover, the book itself does make some good points.

Wow this is a very great book! My daughter who is 14 and fighting childhood obesity just had a birthday and this book arrived at her birthday party just a couple days after her birthday. So I let her open it up and she loved it. She could relate to the way Maggie was feeling. The pictures help her understand it gave her that visual. She love the book so much she actually took it to school today and read it to her speech teacher in speech class today. They discussed health food and exercise. After school she ask to use my treadmill and handweights. Just like the picture in the book the girl walking on the treadmill with handweights. But instead of using the handweights she use uphill and going faster. She went about 10 minutes today which is awesome. She been refusing to exercise even on the wii or xbox kinnect. Also she ask to eat healthy things when she got home first thing she grab was a bananna and apple with peanut butter. I saw a big change for the better. Which I am so thankful for this book. She has freddy fights fight another great book.That book is alot more to take in. She show the pictures to me and said look mom she lost weight. She was so thrill that she lost a pound. She now wants to weigh herself she would refuse to step on the scale. And we are working together and will also start logging our food and exercise. Her self esteem was so low because she is bullied because she is obese. And because she is different as she has autism as well. She is verbal and she can become nonverbal at times if she is mad. It was great to see her so happy today after school. This book is showing and telling her she can be healthier.When I read so may negative comments and people who want to band this book. Until you read this book yourself don't judge the book by its name or cover! It is similar to freddy fights fat and you don't see anyone trying to bann that one at least I haven't. So what is ok to say fat but not diet? It had the same concept of how kid goes from being overweight to a soccer player and becoming popular or having more friends. Just different books because one is a boy and one is a girl. The picture of the girl sneaking in the fridge is my daughter. Now she is willing to work on eating better and exercise again. And just got her into counseling as well because of all the bullying over the past few years that her self esteem is very low. I believe she used eating as a way to comfort herself and it was something she could control.I have seen so much better self esteem since she been reading this book. I was abit shock when she ask if she could take it to school. She was not embarrassed to take it with her to school. She even carried it on the bus and not in her school bag.I highly recommend this book!

NOT FOR KIDS!!!! Can cause eating disorders. Actually was a gift I had as a child that might have helped me had issues with my body but reading it again was funny.