Book About Girl Losing Weight Draws Criticism

An upcoming children's book in which an overweight 14-year-old girl loses weight is drawing criticism from parents, pediatricians and nutritionists.

Maggie Goes On A Diet by Paul Michael Kramer will hit bookstores on Oct. 16.

Maggie has so much potential that has been hiding under her extra weight, the book synopsis reads. Through time, exercise and hard work, Maggie becomes more and more confident and develops a positive self image.

The book cover features Maggie wearing jeans, pigtails and a yellow sweater. She is standing in front of a mirror holding a smaller-sized pink dress. In the mirror, she sees a thinner version of herself holding the same dress.

Amazon suggests that the book is for children ages 6 and up. Barnes and Noble recommends the book for children ages 6 to 12. So far, comments on the B&N Web site are scathing.

Body dissatisfaction is a major risk for eating disorders in children all the way up through adulthood, Joanne Ikeda, a nutritionist emeritus at University of California-Berkeley, told ABC News.

Kramer has written books for children that deal with issues such as personal hygiene, bullying and wetting the bed. The books are written in rhyme, according to Kramer's Web site, and some will be released this year.

He published the books Bullies Beware! and Booger Bob last year. Bullies Beware! is about a bullied boy named Mikey and Booger Bob aims to teach children about personal hygiene.

One of his books, which will be released in October, is titled Do Not Dread Wetting the Bed, which is meant to reassure children that wetting their beds is something that will go away.

Kramer's book about Maggie, however, is generating controversy.

Ikeda told ABC News that Kramer seems well-intentioned but very misguided.