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When Bo Bimble Went Elsewhere: Something magical (and VERY cute) lives in a forgotten valley at the end of the world
"This charming story will delight readers, igniting their imaginations." – Mandy Hager, author of Singing Home the Whale
Perfectly round, impossibly green, and irresistibly soft and fluffy, the bimbles live a quiet, nervous existence in their hidden valley. Nervous … except for one. Bo Bimble is different. She's full of questions, and when she learns about a predator fence that will cut them off from the land beyond, she sets off to visit before it's too late.
Touring New Zealand with his parents in a campervan, Scottish bird-nerd Bernie is startled to find a creature unlike any he's seen before hiding in his bedside cupboard.
And so begins a touching tale of friendship and adventure, between a misfit boy and a curious bimble. Can Bernie help Bo find the answers to her questions while keeping her existence a secret? Because if people find out about the bimbles, Bo might never make it home to Bimble Sound.
Perfectly round, impossibly green, and irresistibly soft and fluffy, the bimbles live a quiet, nervous existence in their hidden valley. Nervous … except for one. Bo Bimble is different. She's full of questions, and when she learns about a predator fence that will cut them off from the land beyond, she sets off to visit before it's too late.
Touring New Zealand with his parents in a campervan, Scottish bird-nerd Bernie is startled to find a creature unlike any he's seen before hiding in his bedside cupboard.
And so begins a touching tale of friendship and adventure, between a misfit boy and a curious bimble. Can Bernie help Bo find the answers to her questions while keeping her existence a secret? Because if people find out about the bimbles, Bo might never make it home to Bimble Sound.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 18, 2024
3 people want to read
About the author
Sue Copsey
27 books66 followers*If you're after my alter ego, Olivia Hayfield, she has a separate profile here on Goodreads.*
I grew up in England, in the town of Rugby. My childhood favourites were Enid Blyton (golly!), Tove Jansson (the Moomins) and anything about ghosts. My writing goal is to create a character as genius as a Hattifattener. If you don't know what a Hattifattener is, please google this very soon.
After working as a press officer at London Zoo, and as an editor at Dorling Kindersley, I moved to New Zealand with my husband, Michael. We have two grown-up(ish) children. My day job is book editing, and in my spare time I write spooky children's fiction and women's fiction, under the pen name Olivia Hayfield.
Visit me at www.suecopsey.com and oliviahayfield.com
I grew up in England, in the town of Rugby. My childhood favourites were Enid Blyton (golly!), Tove Jansson (the Moomins) and anything about ghosts. My writing goal is to create a character as genius as a Hattifattener. If you don't know what a Hattifattener is, please google this very soon.
After working as a press officer at London Zoo, and as an editor at Dorling Kindersley, I moved to New Zealand with my husband, Michael. We have two grown-up(ish) children. My day job is book editing, and in my spare time I write spooky children's fiction and women's fiction, under the pen name Olivia Hayfield.
Visit me at www.suecopsey.com and oliviahayfield.com
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 14, 2021
Loved it! Sue Copsey is my favourite children's author ;)
September 27, 2021
In a fiord deep in the South of the South Island, live a couple of secret species unknown to the rest of the country, and the world at large. The humble Bimble: small, round, vivid green, and somewhat Kakapo-like, but with some unique qualities all their own, and the greenberry: a fruit luscious, sweet and a wee bit magical. The insecure little Bimbles fear the unknown, the wider world, and the great Bimble-eating Haastbird. At least, that is, all Bimbles but one. Young Bo has questions, and enough bravery for ten of her kind. What is the moon made of? What is the star that shines down on her in the evening? And what lies beyond the great fence?
Young Scottish tourist and enthusiastic twitcher (bird watcher), Bernie, is in New Zealand for several weeks, tootling around the South Island with his parents in a campervan. He has his 'Young Spotter’s Guide to NZ Birds' to help him identify the local avian fauna, and his diary to write down his thoughts and experiences in.
Fortunately Bo and Bernie's paths cross when Bo ventures out into the wider world. Bernie is just the youngster Bo needs to help her complete her mission.
There is a strong conservation message. Through the Spotter’s Guide, through Bernie’s own interests and values, and through the main plotline, Copsey reminds us of the fragility of many species, and the loss of others. Our unique flora and fauna must be protected and preserved. The reaction in the story when people think they’ve seen a kakapo is a reminder that the notoriety of having seen one so often trumps the practical measures of protecting our endangered birds. The Guide is a great little introduction to native species for young readers too.
There is also a lovely message about keeping a sense of wonder, about not being satisfied with what we already know, but always searching for answers for the things we don’t know. About wanting information and enlightenment and a chance to understand and have a better grasp on the world around us. Bo’s own world is full of misconceptions and assumptions and her own journey is an opportunity to rectify this.
This is a lovely read for the young naturalist in your family.
Young Scottish tourist and enthusiastic twitcher (bird watcher), Bernie, is in New Zealand for several weeks, tootling around the South Island with his parents in a campervan. He has his 'Young Spotter’s Guide to NZ Birds' to help him identify the local avian fauna, and his diary to write down his thoughts and experiences in.
Fortunately Bo and Bernie's paths cross when Bo ventures out into the wider world. Bernie is just the youngster Bo needs to help her complete her mission.
There is a strong conservation message. Through the Spotter’s Guide, through Bernie’s own interests and values, and through the main plotline, Copsey reminds us of the fragility of many species, and the loss of others. Our unique flora and fauna must be protected and preserved. The reaction in the story when people think they’ve seen a kakapo is a reminder that the notoriety of having seen one so often trumps the practical measures of protecting our endangered birds. The Guide is a great little introduction to native species for young readers too.
There is also a lovely message about keeping a sense of wonder, about not being satisfied with what we already know, but always searching for answers for the things we don’t know. About wanting information and enlightenment and a chance to understand and have a better grasp on the world around us. Bo’s own world is full of misconceptions and assumptions and her own journey is an opportunity to rectify this.
This is a lovely read for the young naturalist in your family.
August 17, 2021
Bo Bimble is small and green with black beady eyes and little hands at the ends of her stumpy wings. She lives deep in the NZ bush in the South Island. Somewhere safe, far from where humans ever go.
She lives in a burrow with her twin sister Binnie, little brother Quokk and her over protective parents. Binnie is happy preening her fur-feathers and Quokk just wants to play, but Bo drives her parents mad with worry with all her questions. No other Bimble behaves like Bo. Along with her never-ending questions, she spends ages staring into space…wondering.
Bo’s friends try to help, sharing what they’ve heard from birds and other creatures of the bush. These snatches of information feed Bo’s wondering even more.
She learns of a fence. It’s something that goes all the way around where they live, keeping everything on the other side – out. That place, that Elsewhere is what Bo wants to know about. What if the fence is finished before she gets her chance to visit Elsewhere? She must go, and soon!
Kuia, the wise, old, reclusive tuatara has some advice for Bo, and finally with her friend’s help she makes a decision. It’s now or never!
Bernie (real name Hamish) loves birds. On holiday from Scotland with his mum and dad, he is enjoying travelling around NZ in their campervan. He has a copy of Young Spotter’s Guide to New Zealand Birds and is endeavouring to tick off the birds within, after seeing them on their travels.
One evening, Bo has been led to the predator fence she has heard all about, by two cheeky Keas. She has made it to Elsewhere!
Bernie is parked on the other side of the fence in his campervan.
These two intrepid explorers meet and help each other with their personal quests. Both are left in awe of what they learn and sadness at parting.
An adventure story, starring a small, round, green creature called Bimble, and a young Scottish bird-lover called Bernie. Bo’s viewpoint is in third person, following her adventure, and Bernie’s is in 1st person in the form of a holiday diary. These viewpoints then blend seamlessly into a wonderful friendship.
Bimble is a gorgeous character, not wanting to upset her family, but unable to stop her inquisitive mind. She’s a brave wee thing, venturing out into the big wide world, trusting her bird friends and advice that turns out to be a little different than at first thought.
Her curiosity and Bernie’s love of anything with feathers brings them together, finally giving Bo what she needs and making Bernie’s NZ holiday more special and memorable than he could ever have imagined.
When Bo Bimble went Elsewhere has an environmental thread running through it, beginning with Bo Bimble herself. She’s an undiscovered species and Bernie wants her to remain that way. All are aware how people spoil things, even if well intentioned.
Really enjoyable story for not just Kiwi kids. Bo and Bernie’s adventure will touch the hearts of any young environmentalist or animal/bird lover, worldwide.
She lives in a burrow with her twin sister Binnie, little brother Quokk and her over protective parents. Binnie is happy preening her fur-feathers and Quokk just wants to play, but Bo drives her parents mad with worry with all her questions. No other Bimble behaves like Bo. Along with her never-ending questions, she spends ages staring into space…wondering.
Bo’s friends try to help, sharing what they’ve heard from birds and other creatures of the bush. These snatches of information feed Bo’s wondering even more.
She learns of a fence. It’s something that goes all the way around where they live, keeping everything on the other side – out. That place, that Elsewhere is what Bo wants to know about. What if the fence is finished before she gets her chance to visit Elsewhere? She must go, and soon!
Kuia, the wise, old, reclusive tuatara has some advice for Bo, and finally with her friend’s help she makes a decision. It’s now or never!
Bernie (real name Hamish) loves birds. On holiday from Scotland with his mum and dad, he is enjoying travelling around NZ in their campervan. He has a copy of Young Spotter’s Guide to New Zealand Birds and is endeavouring to tick off the birds within, after seeing them on their travels.
One evening, Bo has been led to the predator fence she has heard all about, by two cheeky Keas. She has made it to Elsewhere!
Bernie is parked on the other side of the fence in his campervan.
These two intrepid explorers meet and help each other with their personal quests. Both are left in awe of what they learn and sadness at parting.
An adventure story, starring a small, round, green creature called Bimble, and a young Scottish bird-lover called Bernie. Bo’s viewpoint is in third person, following her adventure, and Bernie’s is in 1st person in the form of a holiday diary. These viewpoints then blend seamlessly into a wonderful friendship.
Bimble is a gorgeous character, not wanting to upset her family, but unable to stop her inquisitive mind. She’s a brave wee thing, venturing out into the big wide world, trusting her bird friends and advice that turns out to be a little different than at first thought.
Her curiosity and Bernie’s love of anything with feathers brings them together, finally giving Bo what she needs and making Bernie’s NZ holiday more special and memorable than he could ever have imagined.
When Bo Bimble went Elsewhere has an environmental thread running through it, beginning with Bo Bimble herself. She’s an undiscovered species and Bernie wants her to remain that way. All are aware how people spoil things, even if well intentioned.
Really enjoyable story for not just Kiwi kids. Bo and Bernie’s adventure will touch the hearts of any young environmentalist or animal/bird lover, worldwide.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews