Bored No More!

August 1, 2022
Banish the "I'm bored" days! Y is for "yawn." "Yes, yawn! It can get boring at home." But this book offers a variety of un-boring suggestions for individual children or groups. Some are active: "act out a play," "dance down the hall," "explore the basement," "invent something," or "volunteer in some way." Others are more restful: "grow a plant," "knit a hat," or "nestle down with a book" (or lots of them). A few are more cerebral: "face your fear" or "question things." Some are quiet: "send a note" or "write a poem"; others are loud: "howl and cheer" or "rock and roll." But all are fun and motivating. Each page or spread features just one letter described with a simple phrase, and although many ABC books stretch to find the perfect word for each letter, the choices here are apt. A simple ABCB rhyme scheme--subtle, as it is spread over many pages--adds a comforting pattern. Uncluttered illustrations with bold, contrasting colors make this a good group read-aloud, but the illustrations are so self-explanatory that young nonreaders will be able to understand the book without help. The illustrations depict a racially diverse cast of characters, including a brown-skinned child who uses a wheelchair. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An excellent resource for those days when there's "nothing to do." (Picture book. 3-7)

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October 1, 2022

PreS-Gr 1-A simple ABC book with ideas from A to Z to bust boredom. Whether children "Act out a play," "Bounce a ball," "Call a friend," "Dance down a hall," right on through to "Grow a plant," or "Volunteer in some way," the ideas are easy to follow and reinforce the notion that there is always something to do. Reiters uses bright graphics that frame each page like a poster; not only does this belong in every library, but it's the perfect book for every home. The pages show a diverse group of children getting motivated to do new things, and their activities and the primary palette will inspire the most listless onlooker to get going when they don't know what else to do. VERDICT This is not an ABC teaching tool, but a list of prompts to get children busy.-Heidi Dechief

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