Sometimes I'm Bombaloo

by Rachel Vail

Book Overview

A tender story that explores BIG feelings and includes a wise take on tantrums and learning how to feel like yourself again! Katie Honors is a really good kid -- most of the time. But sometimes...... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0439087554
• ISBN13: 9780439087551
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.3" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Because We All Get BOMBALOO

I think this is a psychologically adept book that strikes a good balance between message and entertainment. The young narrator talks about how she's generally a good person: "...I'm a really good kid. I smile a lot because usually I'm happy, and I give excellent hugs." She behaves even when her brother knocks over her blocks."But," she explains, "sometimes I'm Bombaloo." She shows her teeth, makes fierce noises and scrunches up her face." I use my feet and my fists instead of my words." She knows that later, after a time-out ("I have to go take some time for myself and think about it"), she'll calm down and apologize to her brother. But the book doesn't minimize the strength of the feelings: "But while I'm Bombaloo, I'm not sorry; I'm angry. I hate everybody and everything..."The author shows a calm, factual empathy in her narrator's voice "And I'm sorry and a little frightened. It's scary, being Bombaloo. My mother knows that. She hugs me and helps me clean up...," and, after making up with her brother, "we build a new castle together." The book neither excuses nor judges Bombaloo-style anger. Instead, it shows the feelings that occur before, during, and after it, and offers parents and kids the hope of resolution. 29 pages, with excellent, evocative illustrations by Yumi Heo.

Highly recommend

My 2-1/2 year old daughter loves this book. It gave us a way to talk about out-of-control emotions. Now when she gets mad, I can ask her, "Are you bombaloo?" The question focuses her attention -- and she either acknowledges that she's mad or she shifts her mood, and says "I'm not bombaloo!" and laughs. The book has wonderful illlustrations. The writer communicates in a direct way that young children can understand.

Because We All Get BOMBALOO

I think this is a psychologically adept book that strikes a good balance between message and entertainment. The young narrator talks about how she's generally a good person: "...I'm a really good kid. I smile a lot because usually I'm happy, and I give excellent hugs." She behaves even when her brother knocks over her blocks. "But," she explains, "sometimes I'm Bombaloo." She shows her teeth, makes fierce noises and scrunches up her face." I use my feet and my fists instead of my words." She knows that later, after a time-out ("I have to go take some time for myself and think about it"), she'll calm down and apologize to her brother. But the book doesn't minimize the strength of the feelings: "But while I'm Bombaloo, I'm not sorry; I'm angry. I hate everybody and everything..."The author shows a calm, factual empathy in her narrator's voice "And I'm sorry and a little frightened. It's scary, being Bombaloo. My mother knows that. She hugs me and helps me clean up...," and, after making up with her brother, "we build a new castle together." The book neither excuses nor judges Bombaloo-style anger. Instead, it shows the feelings that occur before, during, and after it, and offers parents and kids the hope of resolution. 29 pages, with excellent, evocative illustrations by Yumi Heo.

Instant Calm

Reading this book to my 4-year old daughter instantly resonated with both of us. We pick it up now whenever we need to reflect on a hard day. I highly recommend this title.

Does your preschooler get *A*N*G*R*Y*?

We found this book at the library not knowing what it was about, but I was drawn to the pictures and short text and of course the silly word "Bombaloo". Reading it the first time was like a breakthrough in helping me discuss the feelings of being mad and out of control with my 3 yr old twin boys. They often fight with each other and "lose it" over the silliest of things. The story is about a little girl who is usually happy and tolerates her little brother's interference with her play. However, sometimes she gets REALLY mad at him and turns into "Bombaloo". Bombaloo does mean things and yells and expresses her anger by trashing her room (where she has been previously sent). Eventually, the tantrum settles down and "Katie" is allowed to come out, after which her mother acknowledges her feelings of anger. And to finish with a happy ending, she works together with her toddler-age brother to build a castle together. (HA!)Short of a video camera, this book is great for "showing" the play by play events of a tantrum to children. It is perfect for the sibling relationship. And I love the fact that while the mother does understand that Katie is angry, she still gives a "time out" (although the book realistically depicts what usually happens during the cool down time). My guys are a little scared of the "monster" faces that introduce Bombaloo, but they love to go back to different pages and review and verbally reenact the pictures. I highly recommend it for tantrum prone siblings especially, but also for any child who likes to talk about pictures in books as a means of understanding a situation.