Katie’s Really Bad Day Blog Tour Review

Katie's Really Bad Day: A Story About Test Anxiety by Kathleen Jeffrey, Susan Kilmartin
Genres: Children's
Format: eARC
Source: Provided as part of book tour
Goodreads

It's spelling test day and Katie feels anxious...

Cheerful fun-loving Katie sometimes gets anxious before tests, even when she knows the answers. One day Katie's feelings were so enormous, she panics and can't seem to do the test at all. She even disrupts the entire class. Luckily, with the guidance of her teacher, Katie discovers calming tools to soothe her nerves. Pretty soon the whole class is joining Katie to beat that test stress!

A beautifully illustrated relatable story with teaching points and practical advice for anxious kids.

Big feelings often arrive without warning, especially for children navigating expectations they don’t fully understand. In Katie’s Really Bad Day: A Story About Test Anxiety by Kathleen Jeffrey, illustrated by Susan Kilmartin, anxiety interrupts familiar routines and leaves a child unsure of how to respond.

Although Katie is cheerful and capable, tests make her feel uneasy in ways she cannot explain. On one spelling test day, her anxious thoughts and physical reactions spiral quickly, preventing her from completing the assignment. The situation escalates in front of others, intensifying her distress and confusion.

Rather than framing the moment as misbehavior, the story follows a compassionate response from Katie’s teacher. Katie is introduced to practical calming tools designed to help her regulate her breathing and slow her thoughts. With reassurance and practice, she begins to understand that anxiety is something many students experience. Over time, these techniques are shared and normalized, creating a supportive environment that encourages emotional awareness and self-regulation.

 

Kathleen Jeffrey is an author of children’s picture books, fulfilling her mission to create stories that shine with love, light, spirit, truth, and joy—helping children navigate life’s challenges, explore big emotions, and grow with courage, kindness, and wonder. 

Visit Kathleen at her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4qDMemF

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210447560-katie-s-really-bad-day

 

 Julie’s Review:

Katie’s Really Bad Day is a wonderful book to read with kids experiencing school stress and especially test anxiety. It is a universal experience but it can feel like you’re alone when it’s happening. I loved how the teacher was helping Katie with anxiety relieving techniques and breathing exercises, because everyone can learn those techniques and apply them in real life. 

The illustrations were absolutely stunning. The details and individual pen strokes made the illustrations very realistic. For example, the characters have actual strands of hair. And the shading and color use are so pretty.

I also liked the author’s note showing the inspiration for the story and more resources.

 

Author Interview

What’s a detail, theme, or clue in your book that most readers might miss on the first read—but you secretly hope someone notices? 

Empathetic, concerned faces of Katie’s teacher, Mom & Dad, and her classmates when Katie is upset. No one is making fun of her.

 

When did this story or idea “click” into place for you—was there a single moment you knew you had to write it? 

During critique group sessions with a long manuscript, I discovered I actually had two books to write.  The first became Katie’s Really Bad Day: A Story About Test Anxiety, to identify Katie’s character with school & test anxiety, which is based on my personal story I had to tell for authenticity. The second book will feature Katie once again and will be illustrated sometime this year.

 

If your book had a soundtrack, what three songs would be on it and what scenes or moments would they pair with?  

“Inside Out” by  Michael Giacchino, (From joyful school yard to Katie’s sudden test anxiety.)

“When I Breathe” by Stephanie Leavell  (Learning belly breathing with Miss Julie and later with the class.)

“When I’m Nervous” (A song for kids about overcoming anxiety.) 

Overall story wrap up. Would play at the end of the book.

 

What’s one belief, question, or emotional truth you hope readers carry with them long after they finish your book? 

That many students are anxious in school or before tests so you are not the only one. Because you are anxious before a test does not mean you are not smart or capable.  

 

Tell us about a moment during the writing process when the story (or message) took an unexpected turn. 

I was determined to have Mom take Katie into school the day she did not want to go because that was my personal experience.  Through teacher critique partner advice and their experiences with children in today’s classrooms, I realized Katie would have to take the bus, work through it and tell Miss Julie what was going on.

 

If your protagonist (or the central figure in your nonfiction) could give the reader one piece of advice, what would it be? 

Lots of kids get anxious before tests! Let your teacher and caregivers know when you are anxious. There are always solutions!

 

What’s something you had to research, learn, or experience to write this book that genuinely shocked you?

Through my research on childhood, school and test anxiety, I learned test anxiety can start as early as second through fourth grade and may lead to underachievement.  Between this research, writing my bio, interviewing my mom, older sister, adult neighbor and childhood classmates, I was able to make connections. The seeds of my overall school anxiety started with significant separation anxiety my first three weeks of kindergarten. By fourth grade my overall school anxiety did lead to test anxiety and eventually underachievement. Anxiety triggers fear and panic which makes it hard to concentrate when learning new concepts or taking notes while trying to keep up with the teacher or actually taking a test.

 

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