A Cure for the Hiccups

By: Jennifer E. Smith

Narrated by: Samantha Turret

Is it possible to have the hiccups forever? In this delightfully fun audiobook, a determined kid who’s good at everything discovers that being patient and taking a deep breath may be the perfect place to start.

When Max gets a persistent case of the hiccups, she tries everything to make them go away. She tries holding her breath. She tries drinking water upside down. She tries standing on her head and doing a somersault, but nothing works. “The only way to get rid of the hiccups is to wait,” says her grandmother. But Max doesn’t have time to wait!

Soon, her imagination runs wild. What if she sets a record for the longest case of hiccups? Will doctors study her? Will babies stare at her? And what if, when she becomes president, the entire world hears her hiccup? But then, she starts to listen to the leaves rustling in the wind and feels the sun on her face. She takes a breath, she pauses, she waits…and the unexpected occurs.

Jennifer E. Smith’s imaginative and funny picture book reminds children—and adults— that discovering the solution to a problem sometimes requires taking a few breaths and slowing down.

Critic reviews

"No hiccups here: a charmer about helping a child handle a familiar problem realistically." —Kirkus Reviews

"An aptly gentle look at the connection between the mindful and the somatic." —Publishers Weekly

"Kiddos will giggle as [Max's] fantasies run wild and she imagines how hiccups will affect her future....will help any reader take a moment to breathe, and perhaps, get rid of their hiccups." —The Bulletin

"A delightful example of handling everyday frustrations, this story also doubles as a gentle introduction to mindfulness, encouraging readers to pause, breathe, and wait." —Booklist