I'm Not Bobby!

by Jules Feiffer

Bobby's parents keep calling him, but today he is not Bobby--he is a lion, an airplane, a dinosaur, anything but Bobby. That is, until he gets hungry. Illustrations. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0756798531
• ISBN13: 9780756798536
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Hyperion
• Length: 28 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Age Range: 6 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 4

Customer Reviews

Not Intended for Preschoolers

Not all picture books are intended for preschoolers, even those with large illustrations and few words. This is a book whose best audience is elementary children. After 30 years of parenting and even more teaching, I can assure you that Bobby is as real as any character depicted in literature. He's a bright, active, willful little boy who is frustrated and occasionally angry at the lack of power he, at 7 or 8, exercises over his own life. He has a wild and fertile imagination - which even he doesn't take completely seriously, and neither should we. It is important to realize that this entire story is in Bobby's head. Perhaps the adults in his life yell and demand (plenty do,) but it is more likely that this is how the big-people sound to Bobby when they want one thing and he wants another. Not only did I teach many Bobbys, but I raised one, a real Bobby, who when he read this book a few years ago in his mid-twenties, declared that the author must be someone who knew him well. Small children will have no appreciation for this book, because they will not recognize themselves and therefore won't understand it. I read it each year to my fifth graders and they love it.

Typical of most children- LOVE THIS BOOK!

I think this book is typical of many children- and also the "REAL" way parents react in similar situations with their own children. It is a bit difficult to read aloud the first few times- but I'm a real pro at it now and have "BOBBY's" character down so well when I read to my boys! He's a real character. The ending- is rather odd- he eats his parents because he becomes a lion in disguise.

Not for everyone, but we are enjoying it

In today's PC environment, the monster being torn up or the giant punching the monster are not correct. I will admit, I paused at these parts, a little surprised. However, since my three year old cannot read, I know I can simply edit what I don't want him to hear. And I've noticed, he is aware of violence, despite efforts to limit exposure. Or, I'll just talk to him about how it isn't nice to hit or punch. Or why we would want to hurt a monster or be a big giant to hurt the monster. In any event, that is a small part of the story. Sometimes, it is good to turn negative things into a learning experience. Kids have violent feelings, and a charming book to help them work through them is helpful. Also, another reviewer talked about the "negative tone" of the parents. That's true, and I guess her children always come when called. I'll admit, I sound like the adults in this book at times. The story is written from the child's point of view, and that was intentional. I'm sure adults sound like this to a child, more often than we would like to admit. Ultimately, I found it to be fun, I really liked the illustrations, and it is different. Creative. The author turned what can often be a daily irritant (getting your child to come when called) into a great story. Bobby the lion wears a Bobby face at the end, and that gave my three year old something to think about, an abstract concept to process. His conclusion -- "that's just silly." Perhaps not for all children, your call. Unlike a lot of stories out there, this has the potential to open up a dialogue with a child -- discuss the ending -- do you really think Bobby got to watch TV after being so naughty? etc. We both liked it, and it does ask a little something of the reader.

This is soooo my child!

I actually saw this book in a local bookstore and I had to buy it for my five year old son! This book is simple in content and the illustrations are wonderful! The boy- Bobby- is the perfect image of my son! He is always pretending to be someone or something other than himself. My son asked to have this book read to him every night at bedtime for two weeks straight! So, he evidently saw something familiar in Bobby, too. I loved it and so did my son. I highly recommend this book to parents of young very imaginative children.