Blob: An Irresistible and Funny Story About Discovering Who You Are for Children

by Anne Appert

A humorous picture book featuring a blob (n. a creature that can be anything they want) who finally finds out who they really are after a series of small discoveries.

Blob is a creature of indeterminate kind. Blob can be a giraffe, cotton candy, and even an octopus. It’s not until a negligent (albeit well-meaning) narrator continuously calls them “Bob” that Blob starts to question who they really are.

After a series of funny yet enlightening discoveries about all the possible things they can be, Blob realizes that the best thing to be is . . .

Blob.

(With the L.)

This debut picture book by talented author, artist, and auntie Anne Appert is sure to please fans of What If, Pig?, Tiny T. Rex, and other hilariously charming and meaningful picture books.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Humor, Juvenile, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

Published September 14, 2021

Reviews

[Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charming picture book! A beautiful way to share the lesson that you don’t have to be just one thing.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blob has quickly become a favorite in our house; we all love the fun story, beautiful encouragement, and the great comedy! I think this book belongs in the hands of every kid. We do such a wonderful job as a society encouraging kids that they can be anything they want to be, but this book goes beyond to show kids that just because they can do anything, doesn't make it easy. In fact, it helps them see that so many choices can make it hard, but it also encourages them that as long as they stay true to themselves, they'll always get where they're meant to be in the end. Truly a book I wish I had as a kid, and I'm so glad Anne Appert brought it into the world for my little one to fall in love with, which she did immediately!

[Brittany Thurman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What should Blob be??? Sometimes, there are just too many choices. From a giraffe, to unicorn, to a rock star, until finally, Blob decides it's perfectly fine to be himself.

This is a picture book that sparks interest in staying true to who you are, while exploring a multitude of avenues. You never have to settle on one path, which is the perfect message for young children. There is such pressure associated with finding one set path in life and sticking to it. Why not be all the things/ But most of all why not just be yourself?

The illustrations are bright, energetic and will spark even the youngest readers curiosity!

[Anna Lazowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something so incredibly charming and affirming about BLOB. As a "creature of indeterminate kind," readers follow Blob along their journey of self-discovery, cycling through all the options of what they can be. From a rock star or an octopus, to a panda or cotton candy taster, Blob ultimately realizes they just want to be themselves. It's an excellent book for teaching themes of self-acceptance and understanding. The entertaining text paired with Appert's colourful illustrations are sure to connect with kids and prompt them to come up with fun and fantastical ideas of what they can be too.

[Leah Hong · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Blob is a creature of indeterminate kind.”
But even though Blob can be whatever animal you want them to be, Blob can’t decide what they want to be. The playful dialogue between the narrator & Blob has an at times humorous Mo Willems vibe but Appert deftly weaves a journey of self actualization for Blob into the narrative. After all Blob may be a, well, a blob—but they sure have backbone! Kids will be captivated by the cheerful illustrations in the book and fall head over heals for the delightful and loveable Blob.

[Markeology · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm 49 years old and still think about what I want to be when I grow up. Reading BLOB made me feel like everything is going to be okay whatever I decide to do, as long as I'm true to myself. I should probably mention that my 8-year-old daughter also loves this book, and we've read it several times together even though we've only had it for a week.

[Elizabeth]

The one thing that bothered me about this book is that the main character asked to be called a certain name, but the narrator kept calling the main character something different. Everyone has the right to choose what they prefer to be called, and everyone that is told the name should abide.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told in a funny and irreverent way, this book brings an important message to be yourself, to accept others as themselves. Both the dialogue and illustrations are fun and light...the perfect vehicle to tell this story.

[Y.Poston]

cute!

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sensational

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensational

[S.K. Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is insatiably adorable in all the layers it holds for self-exploration, self-discovery, and self-acceptance. Kids will love going along with Blob's journey as he moves from being able to be any animal that the narrator dreams up to choosing any shapes that he dreams up for himself to ultimately figuring out what he wants to be for just himself, a blob. The misunderstanding of the name for Blob/Bob at the beginning of the story is a perfect launching pad for Blob's quest which wraps up in a perfect landing.

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOB is a creature of "indeterminate kind" and they would thank the narrator to stop calling them by the wrong name. They are Blob, not Bob! This hilarious and super relatable story is one of my favorite picture books of 2021. As a blob, Blob can be whatever or whoever they want. But with so many terrific choices, how to choose?! Blob makes a wise choice -- they'll be Blob. They'll be themself. This tale of self-acceptance is filled with humor and heart. Highly recommended!

[Jess Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable and affirming, Anne Appert’s BLOB is a delight. The pun-filled text is fun to read aloud, and the illustrations beg kids to create their own visions of what Blob could be. It’s perfect for kids (and adults) who haven’t quite figured out who they want to be and lets them know it’s okay not to pigeonhole yourself.

[Mindy Alyse Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun, funny, and creative book with awesome illustrations. I giggled as Blob played around with all the interesting animals and things they could be…then realized what they really wanted. I can imagine kids playing around with all the things they might want to be—and then discovering who they truly are.

[Norene Paulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you want to be when you grow up? Finally, I know the answer. I want to be ME like Blob (not Bob). What a wonderful message author/illustrator Anne Appert sends in her debut picture book. The voice, the word play, the art all work together in this delightful story to showcase all the possibilities out there when you are allowed to simply be "you".

[Alicia Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

For: readers looking for a silly book about discovering who you want to be when you can be anything.

Possible red flags: anxiety over too many choices; having the wrong name used repeatedly after being corrected.

[Tori Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Writing: 2/5
Art: 1/5
Family friendly values: low. Red flags: promotes ideology behind LGBT+

Overview: This book was meh, and raised some red flags for me. When I looked up the author, I understood why. Although the book is in NO way explicitly LGBT+, the author is and that fact confirmed my suspicions about the goal of this book. "Bob" wants to be called "Blob" and is unhappy that the narrator continues to call him "Bob" instead of his preferred name, and he is also unhappy with the narrator's suggestions for what kind of creature Bob could be. "Blob" would prefer to be a creature of fluidity, who can change based on how he's feeling at any given time. At face value, this book is not necessarily problematic- a blob is not a human, after all. However, in our culture today, this book very clearly pushes the ideology behind preferred pronouns and queerness/gender fluidity. It's a hard pass for my family.

[Anitra Rowe Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Blob" is a picture book about an ambiguous being that wants the freedom to choose. The narrator informs Bob that, as a blob, you can be "whatever animal you want." Bob jumps at the chance to be all the things - a panda, a giraffe, a unicorn, and more. In a peppy palette of gold, light blue and bubblegum pink, and hilarious, conversational text, Bob explores all the possibilities of what to be. But after all those transformations, Bob feels "seriously stretched out." In the end, the character makes a very important decision of who to be: Blob, with an L. "Blob" is as thought-provoking and clever as it is adorable and playful, and casts a sparkling beam of hope and reassurance for children who are stressed or burdened by labels and expectations.

[Gloria Amescua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blob is imaginative, clever and just so much fun! The narrator keeps trying to call Blob, "Bob" and telling him that Bob can be this animal or that. But Blob tires of that and turns into almost anything Blob can thinks of--a cloud, a skydiver, cotton candy, a haystack, etc. It can be a little overwhelming until Blob realizes he can just be Blob. The illustrations are so whimsical and perfect for the story. I’m buying this book for my fourteen-year-old granddaughter who is worrying about what she’s going to study and what she’s going to be when she grows up.

[Neesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOB is a funny quirky story about a character named Blob (with an "L") who the narrator exclaims can be anything they want to be. After the narrator gives Blob a few choices, Blob takes it into their own hands to decide first what they could be, and finally what they are. Blob morphs with each funny suggestion making for a visually interesting book that kids will want to read over and over. I also liked the message of the importance of just being yourself. This is a great debut by Appert and I can't wait to read more of her books!

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really cute, although I think that the "lesson" in the book could be of more help to the parents than to the children having this read to them.
Blob, not Bob, is trying to figure out what to be. The narrator isn't much help, especially since the narrator keeps getting the name wrong. Still, Blob keeps experimenting with who and what to be, ranging from a giraffe to a cotton-candy taster. By the end of the book, this has a really good resolution.
The art is really cute, and the story moves along smoothly, or at least as smoothly as any story about a Blob can move.

[Sylvia Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOB super-shines for its witty wordplay, adorable and savvy dialogue, and wonderful interplay between the text and illustrations which present a clover plethora and delightful blob transformations. Anne Appert knocked it wayyy out of the park with this excellent and most-important book about identity affirmation, being your true self, and pursuing what you want (and not what others expect). BLOB also shows how it's okay if you can't decide, and how listening can be life-changing. Such a wonderfully created must-read!

[James McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look… I get it. Sometimes you just don’t know who to be when you wake up. I can tell you, I know who I am: this book’s biggest fan. Anne Appert is a new talent to watch. She’s taken this familiar story of a character learning to be themself and turned it completely on its head. Blob is a hilarious picture book character, not here for the narrator putting them in a box, and perfectly confident in one thing: Blob doesn’t know who Blob is exactly, but Blob does know their name is BOB. Anne’s text is so fun and lively. The only thing that can beat is Anne’s art.

[Kira Bigwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne Appert wows with her storytelling, both written and visual, in this bright and whimsical debut. A blob can be anything, but that’s precisely the problem! Kids will adore main character, Blob (not Bob), and all the fun things they try to be…a rock star, cotton candy, a haystack (which had me cracking up). Parents will adore the message: You can be whatever you want to be, especially, yourself. Funny, charming and positive…what’s not to love?

[Debra Shumaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, I love this book! Blob, (not Bob) is a "creature of indeterminate kind." When Blob (not Bob) is told they can be anything they want, they actually can't decide what to be. . . can they be just "Blob"? The playful conversation between Blob and the narrator will keep kids giggling throughout, just as I did. And it delivers a great message about being true to yourself. The text and the illustrations are superb! A must-read, indeed.

[Melissa Escobar · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this charming debut by author/illustrator Anne Appert, Blob goes on a journey to discover who they are. What follows is a heartwarming story about being yourself complete with Anne's whimsical, colorful illustrations. Blob is sweet, funny and wonderfully appealing. With the wonderful component of the narrator, Blob finally figures out they just want to be a Blob! I would highly recommend this book for kids and adults alike. It reminds us that the most important thing we can be is ourselves.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blob can be anything! Which is actually kind of the problem in this book. Through charming illustrations and hilarious dialogue, the reader joins Blob in a journey to discover what they can be. Blob tries being a number of things, from a rock star, to a unicorn, to a cotton candy taster, but none of them fit quite right. This is the perfect book for that child who constantly changes their mind about what they want to "be."

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep down Blob (not Bob) knows who Blob is but might just be trying a little too hard to conform to others expectations. As we journey with Blob, we feel it is an endearing character who has spunk, shows patience with others and possesses a great sense of humor. This is a great story that everyone both young and old will relate to.

[Aolund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blob is a blob, and can be anything, but ultimately decides to simply be a blob. I wasn’t wild about this one. I find books with lots of dialogue bubbles challenging for readaloud, and also the concern of what to “be” something that mostly adults and teens get stressed about, not kids.

Themes: Be Yourself
Age range: Prek-Kindergarten