
Reach for this book when your child is in a defiant 'no' phase or using pretend play to dodge requests like dinner or bedtime. It is an essential tool for parents navigating the transition from toddlerhood to independence, where a child needs to assert their own identity separate from their parents' expectations. Through the story of Bobby, who transforms into lions, monsters, and even spaceships to avoid being 'Bobby,' the book celebrates the boundless power of a child's imagination. It offers a gentle, humorous way to acknowledge a child's need for autonomy while ultimately reinforcing the security and warmth of the family unit. Parents will appreciate how the mother uses play to reconnect with her son, making it a perfect read for those days when your little one feels like a wild creature you can't quite catch.
The book deals with identity and the rejection of parental authority through a purely metaphorical and secular lens. The resolution is realistic and hopeful, grounded in the physical needs of the child.
A high-energy preschooler who is currently testing boundaries through roleplay. This is for the child who refuses to answer to their name because they are currently a 'puppy' or a 'superhero.'
This book can be read cold. Parents should be prepared to use different voices for Bobby's various personas to maximize the impact of his imaginative shifts. The trigger is the frustration of being ignored. A parent reaches for this when they feel like they are talking to a brick wall or when their child is using 'no' as a default response to every instruction.
Younger children (3-4) will take the transformations literally and enjoy the animal sounds and 'scary' monster bits. Older children (5-7) will recognize the tactical use of imagination to avoid chores or dinner and will appreciate the humor in Bobby's eventual surrender to his stomach.
Jules Feiffer's signature loose, expressive line work captures the kinetic energy of a child's movement better than almost any other illustrator. It prioritizes the feeling of the tantrum or the play over tidy aesthetics.
Bobby's parents repeatedly call for him, but he insists he is not Bobby. Instead, he transforms into a lion, a monster, a dinosaur, and an airplane. Each transformation allows him to push further away from parental authority, eventually 'flying' into outer space as an eagle. However, the call of hunger eventually grounds him, leading him back to his identity as Bobby just in time for dinner.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a review