I'm Not Bobby!

by Jules Feiffer (Author & Illustrator)

"Someone's calling Bobby. I'm not Bobby. I'm a lion." Bobby's parents are trying to get his attention, but Bobby is something else. For example, he's a monster, an airplane, a dinosaur. Anything but Bobby. It's not long before Bobby turns himself into an eagle soaring away with Mom, Dad, and every other grown-up in his life chasing after him. But after a daring escape into outer space, Bobby gets hungry and returns to Earth to claim his dinner" This hilarious escape story rings true to every child's struggle for independence--not to mention a full tummy.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2001

About the author

Jules Feiffer was an American cartoonist, playwright, screenwriter, and author whose work left a significant imprint on American satire and cultural commentary. Emerging from the postwar era of newspaper comics, he first gained recognition through his long-running comic strip published in The Village Voice, where his loose, expressive line drawings and psychologically sharp dialogue captured the anxieties, contradictions, and social performances of contemporary life. Feiffer used humor to critique politics, relationships, and everyday neuroses, developing a voice that felt conversational, self-aware, and deeply engaged with the shifting cultural moods of the United States. His graphic style, which often emphasized gesture and tone over detailed renderings, was equally distinctive, and helped expand the visual vocabulary of editorial and literary cartooning. Beyond his cartoons, Feiffer became an accomplished writer for stage and screen; his play Little Murders offered a darkly comic exploration of violence and alienation in urban America, while his screenplay for Mike Nichols’s film Carnal Knowledge drew widespread attention for its unflinching examination of intimacy and desire. Feiffer also wrote children’s books, including the popular The Phantom Tollbooth, for which he provided the illustrations that helped establish the book’s imaginative visual identity. He demonstrated an enduring commitment to making art accessible, engaging with students and general audiences alike through teaching and public appearances, and continued producing work across multiple genres throughout his life. His comics and writings were often autobiographical in spirit, even when fictionalized, providing commentary on his experiences growing up in New York and moving through decades of cultural change. Feiffer received numerous honors for his contributions to American arts, including major awards recognizing his innovation in cartooning, his influence on graphic storytelling, and his impact on theater and film. His later work included longer-form graphic novels and personal memoirs, reflecting on childhood, family, and the evolution of his artistic voice. Feiffer remained an active and inquisitive creator well into his later years, consistently exploring new creative forms and responding to contemporary political and social issues. His legacy is seen in the work of generations of cartoonists and writers who drew inspiration from his willingness to bring emotional depth, social critique, and literary ambition to comics and satire. Feiffer’s work stands as a testament to the power of humor to illuminate the complexities of human behavior and the cultural forces that shape everyday life.

Reviews

[Jaxie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ART GO BRAZY

[Melki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm normally a Feiffer fan, but in this "Truth isn't truth" world, I'm not sure a book celebrating denial of the obvious is such a great idea.

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bobby doesn’t want to go home, but his mom keeps calling, “BOBBY!” But he’s not listening, because he’s not Bobby. He’s a lion! An airplane! A dinosaur! As his family runs after him, Bobby becomes a horse, a race car, and then a rocket ship that takes him to outer space. His mom says he’ll come home when he’s hungry and wants to watch TV, but Bobby continues to rocket into the sky. Until he realizes that space is lonely and he’s hungry and he wants to watch TV. So he turns into a lion and goes back home.

The free, loose illustrations pop to the front of clean white pages. If you’re a fan of The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (one of my favorite books of all time), then you’ll recognize Feiffer’s classic style. Bobby’s mother never appears in the illustrations; much like the adults in The Peanuts you only hear/see her voice as bold, black writing on the page.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[Leslie ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phenomenal.
Helps the daily reader remember that 'its ok to fly away.' Take your day off and sleep and turn your phone off.

Balance.

Although classified as a child's book, it's really intended for adults. That's Jules Fieffer and his overall reviews for this book are lame! He's a genius.

We need to encounter the innocence of childhood. How easy it was to achieve balance without knowing. The pretension of an alter existence. The Lion. The Spaceship. We all wish for it on that a hectic day.

How about the dual life we all play? One at work and one at home. We try to incorporate, but really? We are one life and demands.

Bobby! Bobby!

S'ok. S' aright.

[Glen Russell Slater · Rating 1 out of 5]

At the time that I read this book, I was taking a course about writing for children. We were assigned to read some books from the children's section of the public library. I admire the genius of Jules Feiffer, so, naturally, I was curious about how he would write a children's book.

But this book is horrible with a capital "H". This book was obviously published because of the name "Jules Feiffer", ignoring the fact that this book should have never been published. The pictures are highly disturbing, and the text is just as disturbing.

A "children's book" that should never be allowed to be in the hands of children. It has violent overtones that are quite disturbing.

[Weisser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bobby is a naughty little boy. He does not answer when being called. Instead, Bobby uses his imagination to hide from his family and runs away to keep from being found. He imagines himself a lion, an astronaut, anything to keep from having to be "Bobby."

My students enjoyed the repetition in the sibling calling "BOBBY!" and Bobby's response "I'm NOT Bobby!" I did not feel it was a moral tale as the boy was not doing what he should but the students knew he was "gonna' be in trouble" when he finally went home. Good story to teach use of imagination!

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not impressed with this book. My kindergartner brought it home for another advanced reading selection. I did not agree with the parenting tone and felt uncomfortable with the obstinacy of the boy in the story. Beyond those objections I felt that the story was rather ridiculous as well.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hoot. The PandaBat is also a big fan of Bark, George. I hope Feiffer makes even more books for kids.

[Mary Taitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of kids books as a Grandmother and as a writer of kids' books. I like this one. It's cute and funny and sort of realistic even in its fantasy. Bobby, who doesn't want to come in, pretends he's a lion, a fighter jet, a space ship--anything but Bobby. Then, he gets hungry . . .

[Bobby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a thoughtful gift from a friend. We all think it's frightening how much I look like the "Bobby" in the book (down to the wardrobe).

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good but it reminds me a lot of Not A Box and Where The Wild Things Are, which were both better. Bark George is the best Jules Feiffer book.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Feiffer's cartooning, and his children's books are a similar pleasure. "Bobby" is about freedom to dream and to pursue dreams.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute imagination story.

[Kristen Mohr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Kid was kind of a dick.

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

The kid's a brat.