Bored

by Felicita Sala

Rita is bored. So, so, so bored. 

Flopped in her bedroom, limp and tragic, Rita tries everything to cure her malaise. But time drags on, and there she catatonic with boredom. 
 
If only there were a special place, a non-boring place just for bored people …
 
From award-winning creator Felicita Sala comes a slyly brilliant ode to boredom and imagination, and a guaranteed antidote to the doldrums.
 

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Emotion, Storytime

Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2025

About the author

Felicita is a self taught illustrator. She graduated in Philosophy from the University of Western Australia. She has worked on several animation projects along with husband Gianluca, but her passion is making picture books. She lives in Rome with Gianluca and their daughter Nina.

Reviews

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really adorable and entertaining picture book! The illustrations are fun and creative, and the story does a great job of sparking your imagination. Highly recommended for picture book lovers.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell, if that wasn't super relatable...

Sometimes, you're just so bored that you look like a floppy sock, and your brain feels like a fuzzy rock. But that's what your imagination is for, isn't it?

[Aolund · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful tale of extreme boredom leading to extreme imagination.

Themes: Boredom, Imagination
Age range: Toddler-Kindergarten

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rita is bored. BORED, she says!

This delightfully odd and energetic picture book is a wacky ode to boredom, and how it often leads us, quite unexpectedly, to creativity and curiosity. What begins as a dramatic declaration of "nothing to do" spirals into a wonderfully chaotic exploration of the ways we entertain ourselves when we least expect it.

Sala’s wiggly, expressive art - muted in tone but full of movement- perfectly matches the quirky, non-traditional storytelling. The result is a book that feels both spontaneous and meaningful, inviting young readers to reflect on their own moments of restlessness. It's a timely message for children growing up in a fast-paced world: boredom isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of imagination.

This would be a fantastic storytime pick, especially for kids who claim there’s “nothing to do.” Once again, Neal Porter Books delivers something special - unconventional, memorable, and refreshingly real.

[CONSTANCE]

Oh my gosh what a totally fun, laugh out loud book about a little girl named Rita. Rita is sooooo bored. She tries things like jumping up and down in front of a mirror as well as many other things to alleviate her boredom. Then she begins to imagine if all the bored people in the world were put together, then what would happen?
While not traditionally illustrated, the illustrations actually work perfectly for the story. And for any adult who absolutely hates to hear that title word uttered by a child (my hand is raised), here’s the book to help.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bored by Felicita Sala was the perfect read aloud for our first day back after break. The story follows a girl who feels bored and, as she begins to fill her time, her imagination takes over and turns boredom into an adventure. It was an easy and engaging way to jump back into our read aloud routine, and the students were instantly drawn in, especially by the illustrations.

We used the story to spark a great discussion about things we can do when we feel bored, without turning to technology. This one is a great addition to any classroom library or home bookshelf.

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Rita, we've all been there. So, so, so bored. There is absolutely nothing to do. Except lie there. And stare. And, eventually, let your mind wander and then daydream and then...

What a perfect portrayal of a child in a dreaded state of boredom! From the pacing to wonderful word choices, emotive illustrations to the surprising, but inevitable ending, Bored is just the thing every bored kid needs. Because being bored might not be so bad after all.

Huge thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance reader copy of the book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, poor Rita, so very bored, as Felicita Sala shows both in words and the hilarious expressions in her colorful illustrations of Rita, and others, who are BORED! Rita was so bored, it appeared that she tried numerous things, not exactly to be less bored but to just tell the world! For example, she repeated the word 100 times until "it didn't sound like a word anymore. She got bored with that, too. Other actions continued until one magic thing happened. You'll see, and it'll make you smile!

Thanks to Neal Porter Books, a division of Holiday House Publishing, Ltd. for my copy!

[Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rita is so BORED! She decides there must be other bored people in the world. What if... they all got on a bus. And then the bus driver had them sing Wheels on the Bus and they all filled up with gas and floated away - like balloons!

This is what happens when you're bored. You lose your appetite. You stretch. And you get very, very ... creative!

We all know what to do the next time someone says, "I'm bored!" Just hand them this book.

Take a peek under the dust jacket, the cover is different. This would also make a great read aloud.

[Tracyp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute! You won't have to be bored reading this book to kids. You could have the listeners try doing all of the things the main character, Rita, tries at the beginning of the story to relieve herself of boredom. She was so bored she couldn’t eat, read, or draw, so she started jumping, loud yawning, swinging her arms, stretching, etc. Then she starts to use her imagination, and the boredom dissipates. You could also map the places where the other bored people (in her imagination) were from: Savannah, Sydney, Mumbai, Japan, Brazil, Cairo, Ohio, and Sweden.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first realized I love Sala's picture books when I read If You Run Out of Words, and I've kept an eye out for her ever since (although looking at her back catalogue, she's illustrated some fantastic books by other authors). This one is also the perfect combination of delight and a realistic portrayal of the way kids think and feel. While most adults could predict the ending, each page turn is a surprise once Rita's bored imagination really gets going.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when a hyped-up book is actually so good. This book is actually so good. The illustrations have the most emphatic little figures who look just as bored as bored can be. The story is funny, but also sweet, but not saccharine. This is relatable for preschoolers or early elementary. This book is a total winner.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure where this one was going. I like the overall idea of embracing boredom and how just letting our minds be bored allows them to ignite with creativity. And also, the fart joke of it all was somewhat disappointing...but then again, a 40 something mom is not the intended audience. For the intended audience, a fart joke is a chef's kiss of a plot twist!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good one for older elementary read aloud. A girl is soooo bored that she mopes around the house...then she starts imagining what would happen if all the bored people in the world got together and went on an adventure. A clear message to kids that boredom can lead to imagination, invention and curiosity. The images are stellar and then humor is good for adults and kids.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was so fun to read! I am sure you have hear a kid say “I’m bored” and they will relate so much to this book but they will also understand the amazing things they can create because of it.
We loved the illustrations too.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC from Edelweiss.

[Melinda Divine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Rita who is bored. Her mind wanders into a daydream. The illustrations bring the adventure to life.

[Cherokee - Books With A Chance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book full of imagination.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my children said they were bored I would have them experience it and sit in the boredom. Wonderful ideas and ideas would come from being bored!

[Pinky LO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amato

[madeleine mascitti]

Got a few chuckles with this one

[Heidi Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so great!

[Emma Brackett]

I was anything but bored reading this. Each drawing is so fun and wiggly, I wanted to stare at them for hours laughing. I think a kid could read this over and over and never get bored.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything a picture book can and should be.

[Lynn Hardesty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't resist the picture on the front cover. Had to read it. Very cute and funny! Highly recommend.

[Kelly]

On second thought, I actually kinda like this book. And I really appreciate a book about a kid who is BORED. Boredom does exist and it's ok! Good ole imagination cure.

[Cope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had a good laugh and read with my son throughout this book. I started off being bored reading this book but the book helped make me unbored. I will be adding this to my personal bookshelf.

[Camilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and a great little lesson.

[Davi Kladakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish that this came out 20 years ago I would have loved to read this book to my children.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think everyone can relate to Rita's boredom.