Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!
Can you believe it’s Memorial Day weekend already?
Once Memorial Day has been celebrated with proper gratitude and solemnity and thanks to our veterans, it’s just a matter of moments before pools and ice cream stands open, and shorts and flip-flops, bathing suits and sunscreen are everywhere you look!
Woo hoo!
Hello, Summer!
But we’re still in May, and May is Asthma Awareness Month. So today, our Perfect Picture Book is about what it’s like to be a child with asthma.
Author Jake Lockett is offering a signed copy of his book, My Life As An Asthmanaut, to one lucky winner! To qualify to be the randomly selected winner, please leave a comment on today’s post by Thursday May 28th at 3 PM Eastern!
Title: My Life As An Asthmanaut: A Book About Asthma (Disability Books for Kids)
Written By: Jake Lockett
Illustrated By: Adriana Predoi
ISBN#: 979-8885547970
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing, April 14, 2026, informational fiction
Suitable For Ages: 5-9
Themes/Topics: coping with asthma, empowerment, empathy
Opening:
“So many things make me me.
My curiosity.
My passion for adventure.”
text copyright Jake Lockett 2026, illustration copyright Adriana Predoi 2026, Free Spirit Publishing
Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “When an asthma attack occurs, Jacob feels like an astronaut floating off to outer space― with an empty air tank. Sometimes outer space is lonely―Jacob can’t always join his family and friends when they exercise or play outside during allergy season. But he has tools to manage his asthma. And when Jacob sees someone else who’s low on air, he helps them find solid ground too.”
Links To Resources: Straw Asthma Experiment – designed to demonstrate the effect of air pollution, but also to allow kids to experience and appreciate how difficult breathing can for an asthmatic; Pom-Pom Maze – use a straw to blow pom-poms through a maze, to simulate the difficulty of breathing when you have asthma.
text copyright Jake Lockett 2026, illustration copyright Adriana Predoi 2026, Free Spirit Publishing
Why I Like This Book: Asthma can be very scary, and this book makes it accessibly to children in a way that is not scary. In very down-to-earth language, it talks about the experiences of a boy who has asthma – how it sometimes prevents him from going places and doing things he wants to do, makes him feel different from others, and a little distant. It talks about the sensations he feels of being unable to draw in enough air, putting it in the context of an astronaut whose air tank is running low. But he has his tools to manage his asthma attacks and he uses them effectively. Not only that, he keeps an eye out for others who might be in his situation so he can offer help, reassurance and comfort until an adult arrives. A nicely written book that will be reassuring to children with asthma, and help children without asthma to better understand their friends who have it. A note from the author about his own experience with asthma, and a helpful glossary round out this much-needed book. A great choice for school and library shelves and for anyone who has asthma (or knows someone who has it!)
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, everyone! 😊
And remember – leave a comment on today’s post by 3 PM Eastern on Thursday May 28th and put yourself in the running to be the randomly selected winner of a signed copy of today’s Perfect Picture Book – My Life As An Asthmanaut!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
I enjoyed reading the review above. More than anything else, the themes of this book mentioned above are of interest to me. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
You’re welcome, Art! I hope you get a chance to read it!
Thanks, Art! I hope readers enjoy my story’s themes.
I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of this sweet book. Jake did a great job providing a kid-friendly way to explain a sometimes complicated condition. My many students who had asthma over the years would’ve loved this book! An important read for ALL kids.
I completely agree, Kim! I think as a person who has struggled with asthma himself he is in a strong position to be able to explain it to kids in an understanding, helpful, and accessible way. It’s a great book for kids who have asthma, and a great book for kids who don’t to help them understand what their asthmatic friends might be experiencing.
Thanks so much, Kim! I love your review and kind words.
Thanks for sharing this, Susanna, and thanks, too, to Jake. What a great idea to write this. I’ve suffered from asthma in my later years (or at least it was just discovered), so it will be nice to have a book for little ones to know how to spot it early, etc. Have a wonderful holiday weekend, all!
My pleasure, Barb! I’m always glad to be able to share books that are going to be meaningful in some way, whether it’s informative and helpful like this one, or based on interesting topics, or comforting or silly and fun. So many great books! Have a great weekend, too!
Thank you, Barb! Asthma can be scary sometimes, so I hope my book provides comfort to readers.
Great book – never seen one on this topic!
I don’t think I have either, Robin! But I have to confess that since I (thankfully) don’t have asthma and don’t know anyone who does, it’s not something I’ve ever intentionally looked for.
Thank you, Robin! As I wrote the book, I did research and found there are barely any children’s books aimed at asthma, which I found weird because asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the country, especially among kids. I live in Pennsylvania, which has some of the highest asthma rates in the country.
What a wonderful (and creative) way to handle an important topic like asthma. I’m retired now, but I would have read this to my students each year. I will gift it to a teacher instead. Well-done!
What a wonderful idea, Theresa! Thank you – I know Jake will be pleased!
Thank you so much, Theresa! I would really appreciate it!
An astronaut with an empty oxygen tank – what a perfect description! As one of those kids, I wish there had been a book like this for me. And now, as a kid’s writer: why didn’t I write one? Can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for sharing.
I know, Sue! Wasn’t that clever? A great way to explain, and based on something lots of kids are interested in – astronauts and space. Plus, astronauts are such cool and amazing people, it’s the kind of thing that will make kids feel good to associate with.
Thank you, Sue! I wrote a book that I wish I had as a kid.
I’ve seen information about this book from the publisher and think it’s a good concept. I’m sure there are many families who will benefit from a book like this. Definitely a good way to explain it and it makes it less stigmatized as well.
Yes, very true, Laura. There are a whole lot of things that it’s good if kids know about and understand, and books like this make those things accessible.
Thank you, Laura! I wanted to make asthma a more accessible topic to readers of all ages and spark conversations.
I saw this book on another blog and told my library about it. I think it’s a great book for all those kids who have to suffer. My son had asthma as a child and outgrew it but those days with the inhaler and medicine were not fun. Thanks for highlighting this book.
Thank you, Deborah! I had a rough time with the medicine as well as a kid.
So kind of you to recommend to your library, Deborah. It’s a book libraries should have so it’s widely available to kids who need it!
As an adult who has had COPD since childhood, I know reading about another child coping with a breathing disorder would have been helpful. Thanks for sharing this amazing book.
Thank you, Dianne! My heart goes out to you. My youngest sister has COPD and asthma, and it’s rough.
I wish you could have had this book when you needed it, Dianne! ❤
This is such a clever way to help young readers understand what it means to have asthma! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! It really means a lot.
Yes, Susan! It makes the topic so accessible!
I’m glad to know about this book. We have had several students with asthma over the years. This looks very kid friendly. I’ll recommend it to parents with an asthmatic child, or for teachers with an asthmatic child in their class.
So nice of you, Sue! They will benefit!
Thank you so much for wanting to recommend it!
What a great topic and resource! Sounds like a must need in all the libraries! Thanks for sharing this, Susanna and Jake!
It’s is a much-needed topic presented in a very accessible way, Angie. I think a lot of kids will benefit.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Angie!
I got to read an ARC of this book, and loved it. The title is amazing, and I love the illustrations. It shows the perspective of someone with asthma in a fun and relatable way. Through the words I could feel some of what it must be like to have asthma, and there are tips on how to help others. It will help those with asthma feel seen and help others understand what they’re going through
It really is a wonderful and much-needed book, Jodie!
Thank you, Jodie! 🙂
This book is fantastic!! Loved the resources included as well! 🙂
Thank you so much, Alicia! I love your book!
So glad you like it, Alicia!