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Saturday, September 8, 2012

I'm Bored, written by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by Debbie Redpath Ohi. Simon & Schuster, 2012. $19.99 ages 3 and up

How can a potato be bored?

"Cause I have to hang out
with a kid.

Kids are boring.

What are you talking about?

Kids are fun!"

When it comes to a tussle over boredom between a little girl and a potato, would you take bets? I would be inclined to put my money on the little girl in this book. I mean, she seems to have no spunk, no desire to find a better way to spend her days. Then, she meets a potato. You would think anything would be better than the preceding events.

But, what is she to do with a potato....especially a potato that seems equally as disinterested as she is. The potato likes flamingos...none to be found. Boring! When the potato blames the girl for his boredom, it is just enough incentive for her to prove that he's mistaken.

Wanting to prove the doubter wrong, she sets out to show him all that kids can do when they set their mind to filling time. She is a whirling dervish of activity, proving time and again that kids have skills beyond anything the potato can imagine. Without cessation, his response is 'boring.'

No matter what she demonstrates or imagines herself doing, the potato remains adamant that nothing has changed his mind. In frustration, she stalks off leaving the potato on its own. When a flamingo chances by, the potato must accept a little of his own medicine.

Kids will be tickled by the story's premise and its charming and detail-filled pages. They will want to get in on the act when she is demonstrating all that she really can do, and their imaginations will run wild ideas, all with the encouragement of the artist and her zany illustrations. Fun, and funny!

Join in the rant? Of course, they will:

"HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY THINK KIDS ARE BORING WHEN WE CAN DO ALL THIS COOL STUFF AND THINK ALL THESE AMAZING THOUGHTS AND BE ANYTHING WE WANT TO BE! I'D RATHER BE A KID THAN A POTATO ANY DAY!"

Who wouldn't join in when she is leading the charge? 

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