What's Wrong with Tom?: A Veterinary Tale of Courage and Compassion

by Gal Chivvis, Mischa Pearson (Illustrator)

What's Wrong with Tom?
A veterinary tale of compassion, courage, and a cat in crisis.
Winner of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award

When playful Tom the cat suddenly falls ill, it takes a devoted family, a clever vet crew, and a dash of feline courage to unravel the mystery.  

Thomas LeBrat is a fun-loving cat who fills his home with joy and laughter. But when a sudden health emergency strikes, Tom's carefree world turns upside down.
With support from his attentive family and the skilled team at the Critter Care Crew, the mystery of Tom's illness begins to unfold.

Written in playful rhyme by a veterinarian and homeschool mom, What's Wrong with Tom? is the first book in the Critter Care Crew series. This heartwarming story blends imagination with real-world insight—helping children explore pet health, empathy, and the importance of working together.
A surprise storytelling element gives readers a glimpse into Tom's thoughts and feelings, encouraging emotional connection and deeper understanding of what pets might experience when they're sick or stressed.

Perfect for ages 4-8, classrooms, homeschoolers, and animal-loving families, this engaging picture book
*    A gentle introduction to veterinary care and pet emergencies
*    Social-emotional learning through empathy, advocacy, and teamwork
*    A memorable story experience filled with rhythm, heart, and humor
*    A creative way to spark conversations about caring for others

Bonus content
*    A kid-friendly glossary of veterinary terms
*    A visual stress management guide to support emotional resilience
*    Free educational resources for teachers, caregivers, and homeschoolers

Whether your child is curious about pet care, you want to gently introduce what can happen during a pet emergency, or you simply want a story rooted in kindness, What's Wrong with Tom? fosters curiosity, confidence, and compassion—for pets and people alike.

Genres: Childrens

Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2025

About the author

Dr. Chivvis is a homeschool mom, wife, veterinarian, author, and indie publisher. As an internship- trained veterinarian, Dr. Chivvis takes great pride in helping pets and relieving pain and suffering. She also loves interacting with pet families, collaborating with them, and education them about their pets. Her writing journey began after the birth of her first child, when she felt a strong pull to create a children’s book. At the time, the idea felt impossible—but years later, she found a way to blend her passion for storytelling and education with real-world experiences from her veterinary career.

Since then, she has created educational coloring books for kids and adults, an activity book, and practical guides that make veterinary topics accessible to families. She also launched a pet-owner education website, CritterCareCollective.com, and published The Dog Owner’s Guide to Health Emergencies, which received the Literary Titan Gold Book Award. Her long-anticipated children’s picture book—the one that sparked it all—is nearly ready for release.

Dr. Chivvis is always working on several projects at once—some practical, some playful, and all close to her heart. She believes in transparency, growth through trial and error, and the power of making pet care and education approachable for everyone.

Reviews

[Sheila The Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s Wrong with Tom? is an adorable and vibrantly illustrated children’s book that follows a little cat named Tom who isn’t feeling quite like himself. Told in charming limerick-style rhymes, the story gently introduces young readers to what happens during a vet visit, from the waiting room to the exam table, all through the eyes of a concerned feline friend. It’s sweet, silly, and just the right mix of fun and factual.

This would be such a hit with a group of curious preschoolers… three- and four-year-olds will absolutely eat this up. I especially loved how inclusive the book was, with veterinarians, nurses, and staff of all races, ages, and genders represented throughout. It’s got a lovely glossary of terms for little readers who want to learn more, and a helpful guide at the end for pet owners about signs your cat may be sick and how to keep them healthy. Overall, it’s a thoughtful and engaging story that makes a great read-aloud and a gentle learning tool for animal-loving kids. Super cute and very well done!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This is a great book for kids who are worried about taking their pets to the veterinarian. It actually would be a great resource to have at the various vet offices for the kids to read while anxiously waiting to see if their pet is going to be okay.

Definitely would recommend this book.

[Kaitlyn Lopez-Collier · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids really love animals and they were really excited to read a book about a cat. This book was really informative on how to deal with stress not just for cats, but for humans too. I think this would be a great book for a kid that wants to be a veterinarian when they grow up.

[Literary Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s Wrong With Tom: A Veterinary Tale of Courage and Compassion is a charming and educational story that’s perfectly tailored for young readers. At its heart is Thomas, a cheerful, free-spirited cat who loves to roam and explore his world. One morning, however, his playful routine is interrupted by a mysterious pain. Confused and uncomfortable, Thomas relies on his caring parents and the devoted Critter Care Crew to uncover the problem: he’s having trouble urinating.

Thanks to a minor surgery, plenty of support, and an extra dose of affection, Thomas recovers smoothly and is soon back to his old, adventurous self. His journey offers young readers a gentle, reassuring introduction to the idea of veterinary care and the healing power of compassion.

Dr. Gal Chivvis delivers a captivating narrative that balances entertainment with education. The language is accessible, the pacing is thoughtful, and the storyline keeps readers engaged without overwhelming them. One particularly delightful element is the inclusion of a machine that translates animal speech into words, an inventive touch that sparks imagination and adds a layer of whimsy.

The illustrations are vibrant and expressive, bringing Thomas’s world to life with warmth and humor. Each page invites young readers to pause, observe, and enjoy the visual storytelling, which complements the text beautifully. Thomas’s playful personality shines through, especially in scenes that depict his curiosity and love for exploration.

Chivvis masterfully conveys an important message: while medical procedures may seem frightening, they are often necessary and manageable with the right support. Through Thomas’s experience, children learn that recovery can be quick and that bravery comes in many forms.

The addition of a glossary at the end is especially thoughtful. It serves as a springboard for conversation between adults and children, clarifying medical terms in a way that is easy to grasp. This not only reinforces comprehension but encourages dialogue about health, care, and empathy.

What’s Wrong With Tom is both a delightful story and a valuable teaching tool. Whether read at home or shared in a classroom, it offers young readers comfort, knowledge, and inspiration. I look forward to more works from Dr. Chivvis, and her unique blend of heart and insight is a gift to children’s literature.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book to reassure pet owners of any age when their pet is ill or simply needs to see the vet. A little escapism about having a "pet Translator" but reassuring just the same. There is a glossary and bonus activities included.
The illustrations by Mischa Pearson are complex, imaginative, colorful, and FUN.
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age, including ESL, and great for gifting to EVERYone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.
#WhatsWrongwithTom by @thedvmauthor and illustrated @by_mischapearson @booksgosocialgroup @crittercarecrew *****review #NetGalley #goodreads #storygraph
#childrensbooks #readtokids @librarythingofficial #picturebookart #kidlit #storytelling #picturebook #illustration #imagination #caring #changinglives #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #indiebookstoresca @childrensbookcouncil #petcare #veterinarians

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is good if you want to have it to give out at a vet’s office, but it’s not necessarily something you would see in a bookstore.

I’m not sure what age group is the intended audience for this is as the storyline seems simple, but towards the end, the information gets very technical (i.e., medical words in a glossary and how to spot a urinary obstruction in cats)—is this for the parents?

It’s also a bit jarring for this to be a story helping kids identify if their cat is ill, but in the story, there’s an imaginary device so the cat can just speak and tell you what’s wrong.

The art was fine. The font was not.

Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, Dr Gal Chivvis (author), and Esther Mischa Pearson
(illustrator) for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lila Danisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was cute and educational.
My son loved it so much. He currently loves cats and in a mission to convince me and his daddy to have one as a pet. This book showed him that cats could get sick and we need a veterinarian to help.
We used to have iguana as a pet and it was difficult to find exotic veterinarian near where we lived, so our vet visits were limited. Hence, my son didn't get full experience with vet visits. But through this book, my son could experience how the veterinarian took care of the sick cat and my son was in awe. Especially with the pet translator device. I needed like an hour to tell him that the device was fictional 😅


Thank you to Dr Gal Chivvis, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for the ARC.

[bookcookery]

Written by veterinarian Dr. Gal Chivvis, What’s Wrong with Tom? is likely to be a hit with the little animal lovers in your life. While the inclusion of an imaginary animal translator detracts from the book’s otherwise science-based approach, the anatomical and disease information, paired with a fun rhyming scheme, keeps it engaging for a wide range of young readers. The graphic elements are somewhat underwhelming, but for dedicated pet lovers and aspiring veterinarians, the glossary and pet care tips offer a valuable bonus.

Thanks to Critter Care Collective, LLC and NetGalley for the advance reading copy.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rhymed narrative of a cat that wakes up one day in pain, so the family ring up a special vet who just so happens to have a communicator device that translates feline into human language. The strong rhymes here are fine, but they do change rhythm several times, depending on which page they're on, and I'd have preferred such a junior book to have been about something other than cystitis and therefore lots of pee-talk. That aside, it's quite a pretty and competent guide to how the trauma of sick pets can be easily overcome (with a bit of nonsense science and some well-placed tubes up the you-know-what). A somewhat generous four stars.

[Precious Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book teaching children/ adults signs to look for when our pets don’t feel to great, even helping anxiety when our babies have to go to the vet. It’s always anxious process cause we don’t know if they’ll be okay or what’s happening. I did like that it had to glossary in the back.

It did seem a bit long and wordy to me.

Thank you NetGalley & Dr.Gal for giving me an opportunity to read the story.

[Darlene Messenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Tom. He’s awoken in a strange place that’s unfamiliar to him and is upset. His people call the veterinarian because now he’s feeling quite ill. With her magical translator she is able to see he needs to come in for a visit.
With medical information regarding the procedure as well as clinical definitions for kids to understand, this book is excellent way to know your cat. Shows insights and tender responsible care for your cat that children will be able to read.

[BookLionQueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for a copy of this book. This was so cute! I think this was a very cute way to explain how the vet works to children. I thought it was very cute and look forward to sharing it with my niece and nephew.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's Wrong With Tom is a fun, rhyming book that explains a serious cat health issue in a way kids can understand. With engaging artwork, a helpful glossary, and bonus activities, it’s perfect for cat-loving families—and a great reminder to help pets adjust when moving to a new space.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

This book is a cute story about a fun loving cat who gets sick and how the family gets him help from a vet. The story is sweet and the pictures are fun. All in all a solid picture book for kids who love animals.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute story that explains the emergent treatment of feline interstitial cystitis. It does a great job of showing the compassion and care Tom receives while at the vet. This book has great illustrations. It also has great summaries at the end.

[Justin Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!

We loved this book! Cute and helpful. Great illustrations. We like the extra info pages that connect how the cat was feeling stressed to what we can do to alleviate stress.

[Miss A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming and Educational!

This adorable story is perfect for kids who love animals. It teaches empathy, teamwork, and basic pet care through a fun, rhyming tale. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful! The bonus resources are also a good touch. Highly recommend!

[Noor Arslan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book, love the concept of helping people understand cats through story books. Good for adults too.