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Bobo the Sock Monkey
[I Must Have Bobo!] [By: Rosenthal, Eileen] [January, 2011]
When Willy woke up there was trouble. Where was Bobo? Willy needs Bobo. But, Earl the cat likes Bobo, too. A favorite toy is hard to share…even when it’s a sock monkey. With sparse text and a modern-nostalgic vibe, this retro-fun book about friends (sock monkeys) and frenemies (devious cats) is an ode to favorite toys everywhere. Oh, Earl! Leave Bobo alone.
Hardcover
First published January 25, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
April 29, 2020
the wonderful tommy tomato gave me this book, and since i rarely review my picture books, i figured now was a good time to start.
this book is so cute!
it is all about a little boy who cannot function without his stuffed monkey, bobo. i can totally relate - if i have to sleep without my bunny, i become very unhappy. i no longer carry him everywhere with me, as i did my entire freshman year of college (job interviews were fun, let me tell you!) earning me the nickname "bunny girl," but i still have him and love him, and if my cat were to keep stealing him on me, like the cat in this book, there would be problems. oh - who am i kidding - i would think it was adorable. the boy in this book seems to have a problem with sharing bobo with his cat, earl, but i think i would be okay with it. maggie does not seem to like to snuggle with toys as much as i do. she is way more mature than her owner.
i love how bobo seems to make this kid bratty, "BOBO DOESN'T LIKE RAISINS IN HIS OATMEAL!!" "BOBO THOUGHT WE WERE HAVING PANCAKES", but bobo also protects him from scary dogs and buggas. and that is an admirable quality in stuffed pals.
the illustrations are very simple, but i love the frowny expression on earl's face whenever willy takes bobo back. earl will have his vengeance. adorable.
i particularly love that when i typed in the title to review this, goodreads politely asked me, "did you mean i must have boob??" goodreads, have you been reading my mail??
when you click the link for "i must have boob," however, it takes you exactly nowhere. way to prank me, goodreads...
come to my blog!
this book is so cute!
it is all about a little boy who cannot function without his stuffed monkey, bobo. i can totally relate - if i have to sleep without my bunny, i become very unhappy. i no longer carry him everywhere with me, as i did my entire freshman year of college (job interviews were fun, let me tell you!) earning me the nickname "bunny girl," but i still have him and love him, and if my cat were to keep stealing him on me, like the cat in this book, there would be problems. oh - who am i kidding - i would think it was adorable. the boy in this book seems to have a problem with sharing bobo with his cat, earl, but i think i would be okay with it. maggie does not seem to like to snuggle with toys as much as i do. she is way more mature than her owner.
i love how bobo seems to make this kid bratty, "BOBO DOESN'T LIKE RAISINS IN HIS OATMEAL!!" "BOBO THOUGHT WE WERE HAVING PANCAKES", but bobo also protects him from scary dogs and buggas. and that is an admirable quality in stuffed pals.
the illustrations are very simple, but i love the frowny expression on earl's face whenever willy takes bobo back. earl will have his vengeance. adorable.
i particularly love that when i typed in the title to review this, goodreads politely asked me, "did you mean i must have boob??" goodreads, have you been reading my mail??
when you click the link for "i must have boob," however, it takes you exactly nowhere. way to prank me, goodreads...
come to my blog!
March 30, 2011
This is a heavily requested read-aloud at my house this week. Perfect for preschoolers (Warning! included in the book are the following scary things: bitey bugs, big slides, and oatmeal WITH raisins). I want a print of the illustration of the boy, Bobo and Earl on the couch together - too sweet.
March 1, 2011
Picture books in which beloved toys go astray are the heart and soul of the industry. The reasons are infinitely clear. When dealing with a four-year-old reader, you want to present them with a tale that taps into their insecurities and fears without going overboard. Showing them losing their mom or dad would be WAY too serious for the format, and that goes for the family pet as well. Better to keep it low-key. In this way books like Knuffle Bunny (in all three of its various incarnations) remains a beloved institution. The newest entrant to the field is the beautifully named I Must Have Bobo! by Eileen Rosenthal, illustrated by her husband Marc Rosenthal. Part epic rage against the dying of the light/losing of the toy, part battle of wits between a boy and a cat, Bobo is about the kind of struggle that any preschooler can understand. And while I might have put a different ending on it, when it comes to stuffed monkeys, Bobo is where it's at.
Willy wakes up one morning to find there's something wrong. Something, or someONE, missing. Bobo, Willy's stuffed monkey, is always on hand when the boy needs to go down a scary slide or sneak past a large dog. So where is he now? After a quick investigation it becomes clear that Earl, the family housecat, is the unapologetic Bobo snatcher in question. Thus begins a battle of wits between Willy and Earl as each find and take back the beloved Bobo. Finally, when Earl has proved particularly clever, Willy finds the two on the couch and surprisingly enough envelopes BOTH in a big, affectionate hug.
It's a great little readaloud if you're willing to give it your all. I mean, if you intend to read this to a group of kids then you really have to let you lungs rip with this book. Interestingly, the story begins between a third personal omniscient narrator but after that first sentence of "When Willy woke up, there was trouble" it switches over entirely into Willy's own dialogue. This means that the reader has to embody Willy and his pain. That first cry of "I must have Bobo!" has to come from the heart or you might lose your audience. Plus it's a lot of fun to scream. So really, win-win.
Of course, one thing you really want when you're reading a picture book aloud to a room of kids is a kicking ending. You want something that's gonna stop `em dead in their little sneaker-wearing tracks. Good endings to picture books can go the surprise twist route (My Lucky Day, Bark George, etc.) or they can just feel satisfying (Fortune Cookies, Fortunately). I felt that I Must Have Bobo came close to the latter ending. After searching through the home not just crying "Bobo" but also "Earl", Willie finds both pet and toy snuggled on the couch. "Bobo! Earl!" he cries. Then, surprisingly, he drapes himself over both cat and toy. The text reads, "Here's my Bobo." So I full expected the final page to show a resigned Earl sharing Bobo with his human master with the final line, "And my Earl." Instead, the last page just shows Earl taking off with Bobo yet again. It's not introducing much of anything new, nor does it feel like a conclusive ending. I don't think it's a bad ending necessarily. If you read the book to a kid or a bunch of kids in such a way where it seems like "Here's my Bobo" is the last line then that final picture can be an amusing capper on the piece. Still and all, I can't help but think it would have been stronger with just that final heart tugging "oomph".
The art of Marc Rosenthal has been pared down for this particular picture book, I see. Drawn in pencil and colored digitally, Bobo is a minimalist cousin to Mr. Rosenthal's other picture books Phooey and Archie and the Pirates. Not that it looks unlike his style or anything. Bobo himself bears a stripy-sweater similarity to the aforementioned Archie, a different monkey who wins the affections of a slightly larger cat. But where Archie had a lush tropical island to serve as his backing, Bobo sets its story against a cream colored world. The love triangle of Willy, Earl, and Bobo exists in a universe where only the essentials are required. I had fun watching the facial expressions of the characters as well. Willy is by far the most expressive of the three, Earl reserving his backwards ear displeasure for moments when it truly counts, and Bobo lounges eternally blank-faced through it all.
This particular book would pair well with other lost-to-the-arms-of-another titles like Olivia . . . and the Missing Toy or even Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. I don't know how many households in America are bedeviled by pernicious toy-snatching pets, but if you happen to know of one then I Must Have Bobo is a must have title. Personally I would have cranked up the ending a notch or two, but it still makes for a fun preschool readaloud and a charmer of a book. A husband and wife co-effort that yields adorable results.
For ages 4-8.
Willy wakes up one morning to find there's something wrong. Something, or someONE, missing. Bobo, Willy's stuffed monkey, is always on hand when the boy needs to go down a scary slide or sneak past a large dog. So where is he now? After a quick investigation it becomes clear that Earl, the family housecat, is the unapologetic Bobo snatcher in question. Thus begins a battle of wits between Willy and Earl as each find and take back the beloved Bobo. Finally, when Earl has proved particularly clever, Willy finds the two on the couch and surprisingly enough envelopes BOTH in a big, affectionate hug.
It's a great little readaloud if you're willing to give it your all. I mean, if you intend to read this to a group of kids then you really have to let you lungs rip with this book. Interestingly, the story begins between a third personal omniscient narrator but after that first sentence of "When Willy woke up, there was trouble" it switches over entirely into Willy's own dialogue. This means that the reader has to embody Willy and his pain. That first cry of "I must have Bobo!" has to come from the heart or you might lose your audience. Plus it's a lot of fun to scream. So really, win-win.
Of course, one thing you really want when you're reading a picture book aloud to a room of kids is a kicking ending. You want something that's gonna stop `em dead in their little sneaker-wearing tracks. Good endings to picture books can go the surprise twist route (My Lucky Day, Bark George, etc.) or they can just feel satisfying (Fortune Cookies, Fortunately). I felt that I Must Have Bobo came close to the latter ending. After searching through the home not just crying "Bobo" but also "Earl", Willie finds both pet and toy snuggled on the couch. "Bobo! Earl!" he cries. Then, surprisingly, he drapes himself over both cat and toy. The text reads, "Here's my Bobo." So I full expected the final page to show a resigned Earl sharing Bobo with his human master with the final line, "And my Earl." Instead, the last page just shows Earl taking off with Bobo yet again. It's not introducing much of anything new, nor does it feel like a conclusive ending. I don't think it's a bad ending necessarily. If you read the book to a kid or a bunch of kids in such a way where it seems like "Here's my Bobo" is the last line then that final picture can be an amusing capper on the piece. Still and all, I can't help but think it would have been stronger with just that final heart tugging "oomph".
The art of Marc Rosenthal has been pared down for this particular picture book, I see. Drawn in pencil and colored digitally, Bobo is a minimalist cousin to Mr. Rosenthal's other picture books Phooey and Archie and the Pirates. Not that it looks unlike his style or anything. Bobo himself bears a stripy-sweater similarity to the aforementioned Archie, a different monkey who wins the affections of a slightly larger cat. But where Archie had a lush tropical island to serve as his backing, Bobo sets its story against a cream colored world. The love triangle of Willy, Earl, and Bobo exists in a universe where only the essentials are required. I had fun watching the facial expressions of the characters as well. Willy is by far the most expressive of the three, Earl reserving his backwards ear displeasure for moments when it truly counts, and Bobo lounges eternally blank-faced through it all.
This particular book would pair well with other lost-to-the-arms-of-another titles like Olivia . . . and the Missing Toy or even Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. I don't know how many households in America are bedeviled by pernicious toy-snatching pets, but if you happen to know of one then I Must Have Bobo is a must have title. Personally I would have cranked up the ending a notch or two, but it still makes for a fun preschool readaloud and a charmer of a book. A husband and wife co-effort that yields adorable results.
For ages 4-8.
September 27, 2011
A boy who is psychologically attached to a toy sock monkey finds it missing one day, only to discover that Earl the cat has taken it. The boy takes it back, only to have Earl sneak off with it again. I'm not sure what the message here is supposed to be. The boy seems to have no thought of sharing. In fact, at one point he builds a "fort" and says "Earl can't come in," which isn't very nice. When the boy has the monkey, Earl the cat watches with a sad look on his face, probably thinking "Why can't we share?" Though I liked the illustrations (Earl looks like my cat Toby), I didn't care for what seemed to be the message of the book (selfishness, no sharing). Maybe I missed something here, but not recommended.
May 17, 2014
This is so dang cute. A sock monkey named Bobo vs. the kitty cat. Must buy to appease my sock monkey addiction!
May 18, 2019
Willy wakes one morning, and discovers Bobo, his beloved sock monkey is missing. He looks for him everywhere and finds the Earl the cat has him. Bobo is very important to Willy, he protects him, provides courage, and spends quiet time with him. Bobo is also very important to Earl.
January 27, 2020
Katy rated it 4 stars.
Great for storytime and off-site visits.
Great for storytime and off-site visits.
October 5, 2021
Willy is very attached to his sock monkey Bobo. Earl, the family cat, is also fond of Bobo. (Probably because Willy wants nothing to do with him, I'm guessing.)
I was not charmed.
I was not charmed.
January 20, 2021
minus a star for lack of politeness
November 29, 2011
"I Must Have Bobo" deals with the age old dilemma of a child (Earl) losing a beloved belonging - in this case, a sock puppet monkey named "Bobo." Earl soon discovers that his pet (a cat?, Earl, is just as attached to Bobo as he is, and whenever Willy sets Bobo down, Earl runs off with him. Every kid can relate to losing something important to him or her. I still think about the day that my mom sold my wooden doll cradle at a garage sale without asking me - when I was in my twenties! In this sense, I think kids will find the story appealing.
The story is told, with the exception of the first line, completely in stream-of-consciousness. We know what Willy is thinking the entire time. I did not find Willy very endearing, so it was hard to invest in the story. He is a pretty cranky kid - and Rosenthal quite effectively portrays Willy's scowl. I did, however, love the names of all of the characters.
The retro, sparse feel to the illustrations effectively told the story, but not very warm, which may be another reason that the story didn't particularly appeal to me.
There is talk about this book being a Caldecott contender. Hmmm...I would have to disagree. Just so so in my book.
The story is told, with the exception of the first line, completely in stream-of-consciousness. We know what Willy is thinking the entire time. I did not find Willy very endearing, so it was hard to invest in the story. He is a pretty cranky kid - and Rosenthal quite effectively portrays Willy's scowl. I did, however, love the names of all of the characters.
The retro, sparse feel to the illustrations effectively told the story, but not very warm, which may be another reason that the story didn't particularly appeal to me.
There is talk about this book being a Caldecott contender. Hmmm...I would have to disagree. Just so so in my book.
June 1, 2011
Willy does everything with his stuffed monkey, Bobo, but he's not the only one in the house who loves Bobo. His cat, Earl, also loves to cuddle up with Bobo. When Willy wakes up one day and can't find his beloved companion, he seaches everywhere before finding Bobo nestled under the covers with Earl. From there on, the battle is on with Willy trying to keep Bobo to himself, and Earl dragging him off. The simple illustrations capture Willy's determination not to share, and Earl's own persistence in sneaking off with Bobo.
September 9, 2011
Willie has a favorite toy - Bobo the sock monkey. Bobo helps Willie with everything. They go down the slide together. Bobo holds Willie's hand when they walk past the big dog. And, just like Willie, Bobo doesn't like raisins in his oatmeal. Somehow Bobo keeps disappearing. It's that evil cat, Earl! The text is minimal, and the illustrations focus on Willie, Bobo, and that despicable Earl. While these three characters are in color, the rest of the picture is outlined in brown on cream pages. This makes for a good effect as the eye is drawn to the Willie and Bobo. And Earl.
January 28, 2011
A simple yet hilarious short account in the day of a young boy named Willy, his favorite stuffed monkey Bobo, and his naughty cat Earl. The author and illustrator captured the humor of Willy and Earl both fighting for Bobo, both needing Bobo for their own reasons. Willy's upset with Earl is understandable, but you give extra points to Earl for persistently trying to sneak away with Bobo. For ages five and up.
May 11, 2011
An adorable story of a boy and a cat, both of whom LOVE LOVE LOVE Bobo the stuffed toy. The boy keeps taking Bobo, then the cat sneaks in and steals him back again. It's minimalist and spare, the illustrations are so cute, and the story so amusing. It's not The Salamander Room, it's not Robert McCloskey, but it's nevertheless a keeper.
November 28, 2011
I got surprisingly invested in this battle of wills between Earl and Willy--rooting for Earl all the way. Loved the expressions on the cat, and loved the cat getting the last word. Illustrations of the boy reminded me just a little of Charles Schulz & early Peanuts.
January 28, 2014
I MUST HAVE BOBO... read to me at least four times in a row every day. I MUST ALSO remove the dust jacket before reading it, but also insist that it be put back on if it isn't there before we start.
February 3, 2017
Willy fights with his mischievous cat over his beloved stuffed animal bobo the monkey.
Good for silly ways to think about sharing.
Good for silly ways to think about sharing.
March 16, 2021
When Willy wakes up, he cannot find his stuffed animal, Bobo. After searching, he discovers that the cat, Earl, has stolen Bobo. Throughout the day, both Willy and Earl try to make Bobo their own.
Not entirely sure on the message being shared (sharing? mischief?), and the resolution (all three together on the sofa) is subverted by the last panel (in which Earl steals Bobo away for the last time). Illustrations are reminiscent of Family Circus.
Not entirely sure on the message being shared (sharing? mischief?), and the resolution (all three together on the sofa) is subverted by the last panel (in which Earl steals Bobo away for the last time). Illustrations are reminiscent of Family Circus.
March 16, 2018
The husband-wife effort, "I Must Have Bobo!" has all of the makings of a sweet story: a sock monkey, a toddler, a gray cat, and a makeshift fort - but I am not so sure of the story that it wants to be vs. the story that it actually is. Is the message about sharing? Is the message about mischief? The illustration style is nice and nostalgic, I just wish the text truly came full circle in the end.
September 10, 2019
I love this picture book! It builds emotions, and anyone who likes cats will understand Earl, the cat in the story. My 2 year old granddaughter loves being read this book, and she repeats some of the lines and mannerisms of the boy in the book.
If your library offers TumbleBooks for kids, be sure to watch the narrated eBook of this story. Great fun for kids and adults!
If your library offers TumbleBooks for kids, be sure to watch the narrated eBook of this story. Great fun for kids and adults!
January 12, 2022
Just Ok as missing lovie stories go, but the cat earns it an extra star. The kid is as annoying as Caillou (for any of you who had to suffer through that horrible cartoon with your kids), and I was rooting for the cat the whole way along.
February 23, 2022
This book has such creative illustrations. Willy absolutely loves his bobo sock monkey but so does Earl the cat. Even though this book is short, it is sweet and has a little lesson on sharing. This book would be great for Kindergarten aged children!
February 1, 2024
This story was very good and I loved the artwork, I just wish there was a little more textual description of the plot so that young readers would be able to understand without an adult's help what is happening (I felt like I had to keep explaining to my toddler what the pictures were showing).
September 27, 2024
I love how this book illustrates that a pet is a member of the family. Having had kids and a dog, I know it's true that my son and his dog often loved the same toys! I love how Earl just waits until he has the chance to snatch Bobo! Between the boy and the cat, Bobo will be loved forever!
March 7, 2019
Sharing your favorite stuffie! Impossible! But for Bobo and Willy they must find a way beyond stealing the toy back and forth. Sweet and relatable.
July 18, 2020
Toddler and cat fight it out for desired stuffed animal.
January 8, 2021
Would work great for a one on one read or small group to discuss what is going on in the pictures.
June 13, 2021
In the first and third books in this Bobo series I like the cat’s intelligence, quietness, and independence. The humorous endings in those two books in particular are sweet and cute.
June 23, 2021
The best thing about this book is Earl the Cat.
July 8, 2024
Not a favorite, but just ok
Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews