I'm Bored!

by Christine Schneider, Hervé Pinel (Illustrator)

It’s Sunday afternoon and Charlie’s bored. Then he trips over his teddy bear, who, much to his surprise, responds by shouting, “OW!” It turns out that Teddy is bored, too, because Charlie never plays with him anymore. Together they round up the other toys and launch a full-scale attack on boredom, using tubes of paint and kitchen implements as weapons and pot lids as shields.

As Charlie and his toys cast boredom out, the blue-gray and white pages begin, bit by bit, to fill with vivid color, capturing the energy of the battle and the mess that ensues. This unique illustration treatment will appeal to young children just learning their colors, and the energetic story will inspire them to approach their old toys with new imagination.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 17, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Charlie's parents and sister don't want to play with him, he's bored. But so are Charlie's toys because he never plays with them anymore. Then Charlie has an idea, with the help of his toys, Bear, Robot, and Donkey, Charlie builds a fortress to battle the monster Boredom.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

When no one in Charlie's family has time to play with him, he gets so bored! But, as he begins to use his imagination, life begins to get better. The illustrations get brighter and brighter as the story goes on. A fun addition to a story time about feelings.

[Y.Poston]

cute book about childhood boredom

[Deidra Chamberlain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read aloud. Does anyone know what the game at the end is called? I’m curious.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the use of color in this book, and I really enjoyed the child's imagination. This will make a great read-aloud book in storytime or as a lap-read, but particularly if you can use some good voices. There are a couple of times when I'm not sure who is talking, so I'd have to figure that out. But otherwise, I think this is a pretty good choice.

4/27/10 & 4/29/10: The kids were OK with the story. They didn't show much attention until the end. I think the way it was written (with so much dialogue) kind of went over their heads--even with my attempt at the voices. But the pictures told the whole story anyhow. And the imagination of the pictures as well as the use of color--it mesmerized the preschool kids.

5/3/10 & 5/5/10: Again, these kids were completely taken by the illustrations. But the Tuesday audience wasn't quite into the story, and the Thursday audience was too young to really sit through the book.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit surprised at how much Asher (5 y.o.) and Dex (2 y.o.) enjoyed this book. It's about a little boy animal (of unspecified species - fox? dog?) who is bored and complains about it to his parents. His toys come alive and start complaining to him how bored they are. Together with his toys, the little boy decides he's out to defeat boredom! Using his imagination, he devises a way to banish being bored.

Illustrations are good - I especially like how when the little boy is bored they illustrations are all kind of a grey shade, but as he uses his imagination, they become colorful.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm Bored is not a phrase I personally allow in my house. Chores or sure to follow if heard being muttered. A little boy (critter?) gets a lesson in why not to say bored from his forgotten toys who have been ignored and rather bored themselves. They decide to solve the battle of boredom with an actual battle. I love the style that the illustrations where done in. All things "boring" were done in greys, then colors infused the pages as the fun ensued.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part is when he mentions that's it's Sunday afternoon and he can't use the computer or tv. My kids can so relate! Second favorite part is when he toys tell him they're bored because he doesn't play with them. Third favorite part is the truth that sometimes not being bored is messy!

[Scott Roark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could be used for a text to self exercise, all kids have times were they are bored, and their parents are busy. Imagination takes priority here, so students could write a similar story of what they did when faced with the same situation.

[Rose]

E Sch

[Ardis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable and clever- not only the words, but the way the book is illustrated as well.

[Kris DeLabio · Rating 4 out of 5]

What imagination can be like during play. Good book.

[Sarah Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures are what really make this book; so detailed and colorful. I thought the storyline was really unique and kids would find it intriguing. Recommended for first to third graders.

[MJ]

ODC this copy

[Taralee Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Picture Book) I loved the way the pictures demonstrated his getting rid of boredom. A great book for teaching about dialogue or imaginative play. Every child can relate to the story!

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just ok.