I’m Bored by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Simon and Schuster, 2012) is simply fantastic in every way. I’m Bored kind of defies all description. In this book, a bored little girl begins a conversation with a potato, in which she finds she must convince the potato that no, kids are not boring.
Ohi’s illustrations are digitally rendered and they bring the girl’s world to life. Some pages only feature the girl with lots of white space. Others have contrast between the foreground (the little girl) and the imaginary world of her play in the background. A book about a girl talking to a potato is not something many would have thought of enjoying. But it is perfect, a subject kids certainly will relate to brought together with abundant humor.
Watch this trailer for the book if you don’t believe me:
Note: I read this book from a library copy for consideration for the Cybils award. I was not compensated in any way for my opinions.
