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Big Feelings #1
Sometimes I'm Bombaloo
A warm book about losing your temper, and how to feel like yourself again. With its bright illustrations and sweet story, this title is the perfect read aloud for librarians, teachers, and parents. Five-year-old Katie is a good kid -- most of the time. But sometimes...well, sometimes, say when her little brother knocks down her beautiful castle after she told him not to touch it and she knows she'll never be able to make it look that good again...sometimes Katie gets so mad she's Bombaloo, she's just not herself. Being Bombaloo is scary. But a little time out and a lot of understanding from Mom help Bombaloo calm down. And cleaning up the mess that Bombaloo made, then sharing hugs and sorries with her family, help Katie feel like Katie again.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
10 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Vail
57 books457 followersBirth
I was born on July 25, 1966, in NEW YORK CITY, and grew up in New Rochelle, NY, with my mother, my father, and my younger brother Jon. (And down the street from my future husband, though of course I didn't know that until much later.)
Interests
Some details, I do know-I was very into reading and theater, so I read every book I could get my hands on (especially realistic fiction, either contemporary or historical) and took acting workshops and auditioned for every play in school, camp, or the community. I played Peter Pan, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls, the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, and lots of extremely memorable chorus parts-for instance, I was "girl number two" in Fiddler on the Roof-the one who said "We heard about your sister, Chava". I didn't care -I just wanted to be on stage. Waiting backstage before curtain call, after giving my all in a performance, was the best feeling I knew. In seventh grade I started taking magic lessons, and by eighth grade I was making all my own spending money by performing at kids' birthday parties as a clown named Tallulah. I liked the freedom of wearing all that grease-paint-I could be as wacky and un-cool as I wanted. I tried dance but felt so clumsy. I faked a sprained ankle to get out of the recital. I took voice lessons which made me a little light-headed (and I was afraid of the voice teacher's growling, drooling Doberman) and both saxophone and piano, neither of which I ever practiced. I did well in school but started a lot of my work at the last minute, in a crazy mad dash, so that it was never late but there were usually careless errors or areas I had to fudge. I had this idea that to work hard at something was sort of a negative, an admission that I didn't have natural talent. If I wasn't going to be Mozart and have the music (or dance, or math, or social studies term paper, or whatever) channeled through me from God, then I was just embarrassing myself by all that workmanlike effort. I didn't get over that idea until after college, by the way.
Career Ambitions
I never really planned to be a writer. I planned to be a financial wizard after learning about option-spreading at age 10, then a poet after discovering Shakespeare at 11. After overhearing "the real power is held by the lobbyists" on a class trip to Albany, I planned to become a lobbyist. Secretly, of course I always imagined myself as an actress, but that didn't seem hard or important enough, and also I worried I wasn't naturally gifted enough.
Parents
My parents were always great. I liked to make them proud, and they trusted me and supported my efforts and interests, which was sometimes weirdly tough. There was so little for me to rebel against.
As a Kid
When people ask me what I was as a kid, I always feel like my answer is at best incomplete.What are you like, as a kid? I'm still trying to figure out what I'm like as an adult.
Socially
Well, things went in waves. Sometimes I felt very "in", very aware of and tied in to the whole scene, excited by who liked whom, all the gossip, some of it less than kind. Other times I felt so alone-like there was nobody like me, nobody who liked me, nobody to talk to. And much of the time it was somewhere in between. A best friend when I was lucky, and a few people in each crowd I liked and who liked me. I resisted being classified as a brain or a jock or alternative or popular-too limiting. I would have to shut down too many parts of myself to be just one type.
Adolescence
I went through a very intense stage in middle school (Junior High). I worried about being too ordinary. I also worried about being too weird. I also worried about changing states of matter, my inability to be morally certain, ignorance (my own and world-wide), and making a fool of myself.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rachel...
I was born on July 25, 1966, in NEW YORK CITY, and grew up in New Rochelle, NY, with my mother, my father, and my younger brother Jon. (And down the street from my future husband, though of course I didn't know that until much later.)
Interests
Some details, I do know-I was very into reading and theater, so I read every book I could get my hands on (especially realistic fiction, either contemporary or historical) and took acting workshops and auditioned for every play in school, camp, or the community. I played Peter Pan, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls, the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, and lots of extremely memorable chorus parts-for instance, I was "girl number two" in Fiddler on the Roof-the one who said "We heard about your sister, Chava". I didn't care -I just wanted to be on stage. Waiting backstage before curtain call, after giving my all in a performance, was the best feeling I knew. In seventh grade I started taking magic lessons, and by eighth grade I was making all my own spending money by performing at kids' birthday parties as a clown named Tallulah. I liked the freedom of wearing all that grease-paint-I could be as wacky and un-cool as I wanted. I tried dance but felt so clumsy. I faked a sprained ankle to get out of the recital. I took voice lessons which made me a little light-headed (and I was afraid of the voice teacher's growling, drooling Doberman) and both saxophone and piano, neither of which I ever practiced. I did well in school but started a lot of my work at the last minute, in a crazy mad dash, so that it was never late but there were usually careless errors or areas I had to fudge. I had this idea that to work hard at something was sort of a negative, an admission that I didn't have natural talent. If I wasn't going to be Mozart and have the music (or dance, or math, or social studies term paper, or whatever) channeled through me from God, then I was just embarrassing myself by all that workmanlike effort. I didn't get over that idea until after college, by the way.
Career Ambitions
I never really planned to be a writer. I planned to be a financial wizard after learning about option-spreading at age 10, then a poet after discovering Shakespeare at 11. After overhearing "the real power is held by the lobbyists" on a class trip to Albany, I planned to become a lobbyist. Secretly, of course I always imagined myself as an actress, but that didn't seem hard or important enough, and also I worried I wasn't naturally gifted enough.
Parents
My parents were always great. I liked to make them proud, and they trusted me and supported my efforts and interests, which was sometimes weirdly tough. There was so little for me to rebel against.
As a Kid
When people ask me what I was as a kid, I always feel like my answer is at best incomplete.What are you like, as a kid? I'm still trying to figure out what I'm like as an adult.
Socially
Well, things went in waves. Sometimes I felt very "in", very aware of and tied in to the whole scene, excited by who liked whom, all the gossip, some of it less than kind. Other times I felt so alone-like there was nobody like me, nobody who liked me, nobody to talk to. And much of the time it was somewhere in between. A best friend when I was lucky, and a few people in each crowd I liked and who liked me. I resisted being classified as a brain or a jock or alternative or popular-too limiting. I would have to shut down too many parts of myself to be just one type.
Adolescence
I went through a very intense stage in middle school (Junior High). I worried about being too ordinary. I also worried about being too weird. I also worried about changing states of matter, my inability to be morally certain, ignorance (my own and world-wide), and making a fool of myself.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rachel...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
October 24, 2007
I love reading this book out loud to kids. It's awesome! I forget the little girl's name, but she's a sweetheart, until something makes her upset and she becomes "Bombaloo"!!! It's like a little kid version of the Incredible Hulk.... no not really, but that would be a funny way to look at it. This book gives a name and character sketch to that other raging person hiding inside all of us whom we'd all like to keep hidden until someone does us wrong. Bombaloo is that other persona that wants to kick people in the throat, pull their hair out, and raise Cain. We're all Bombaloo's sometimes....hopefully only in moderation.
This is a really fun and insightful children's story.
This is a really fun and insightful children's story.
November 20, 2011
"But when I'm Bombaloo I don't want to think about it! I want to smash stuff!" This is my favorite line in the book. Every time I read this book, I love getting to that line and hitting the table or my leg or the chair I'm sitting in. I used this book to read aloud to my kindergarten class. It is great as a read aloud for young children. They stay engaged with the short sentences and bright pictures. The topic of the story leads to some wonderful conversations about being angry. Children relate to Katie when she's angry and her unwillingness to "take some time and think about it." We all get angry. Things happen that we can't change and they make us mad. We may throw fits, but eventually, we need to come out of it and make up.
February 26, 2015
I read this book for the first time recently, and it made me laugh. Bombaloo is what the little girl in the story calls herself when she throws a tantrum. I think it is very easy for young readers to relate to. It justifies their feelings but also shows them that throwing tantrums is not a good thing to do. The pictures really add to the text, as well, by clarifying the tantrum Bombaloo is throwing.
January 27, 2009
I wasn't sure if I would like this at first, but it turned out to be very sweet and a thoughtful story and a good platform to discuss the venting of feelings of anger and frustration with children. Besides, the little girl's name is Katie, and I remember all too well being Bombaloo myself sometimes! ;-> (Probably my husband would say I still am on occasion, haha!)
July 31, 2012
Wonderful feelings book that addresses that not only do we sometimes have out-of-control anger, but that it can be scary to feel that way. I like how it demonstrates that when we are out of control we are only absorbing pieces of what is going on outside of us. Great for use with kids - probably would help a lot of adults, too.
I also recommend "When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry."
I also recommend "When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry."
March 4, 2020
Summary: Katie Honors is a normal girl who enjoys playing with all her toys and is usually well behaved. However, sometimes she gets very angry and turns into "Bombaloo." Bombaloo can't control herself and destroys everything in her path. However, after she calms down, Bombaloo becomes Katy again and realizes how angry she can get and apologizes to her family.
Theme: The main theme is how to deal with your feelings, especially anger.
Star Rating: 5/5
Personal Response: I really enjoy this book because my mom used to read it to me as little kid whenever I got really angry. As a young child, it can be really scary to deal with all the emotions you have, and I think this book is a good tool to help explain feelings to children. I also love the illustrations because the use of bright color immediately captures my attention.
Why I Recommend: I recommend this book because it can be used as a tool to explain to children their different emotions and how to deal with them. It is also a good tool to use for children who have siblings because it illustrates how to play together in a civil manner. The book stresses the importance that your family loves you, even if you get angry sometimes. The pictures are easy to follow and the book is short in length so it is easy for even a young child to understand.
Theme: The main theme is how to deal with your feelings, especially anger.
Star Rating: 5/5
Personal Response: I really enjoy this book because my mom used to read it to me as little kid whenever I got really angry. As a young child, it can be really scary to deal with all the emotions you have, and I think this book is a good tool to help explain feelings to children. I also love the illustrations because the use of bright color immediately captures my attention.
Why I Recommend: I recommend this book because it can be used as a tool to explain to children their different emotions and how to deal with them. It is also a good tool to use for children who have siblings because it illustrates how to play together in a civil manner. The book stresses the importance that your family loves you, even if you get angry sometimes. The pictures are easy to follow and the book is short in length so it is easy for even a young child to understand.
September 29, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book, not only was it a good book but the illustration was wonderful. The illustration is eye catching, colorful, and very engaging. As a young adult I enjoyed reading the book simply because it is a cute book; therefore, I know that children of any age would love it too. This book would also be a great book to use in the classroom, especially if the teacher is having discipline problems with children. This book portrays a child who gets angry and goes “bombaloo” and then has to face the consequences. This book had a good moral story of facing consequences if you are mean to other children or adults. I feel that students in a classroom could learn a lot about behavior simply from the book. As an individual in society I highly recommend this book because it is a sweet and funny book, also, as a future teacher I recommend this book because it has a useful lesson behind it and is a book children would enjoy.
September 30, 2025
A young girl describes herself as becoming a person called "Bombaloo" when she becomes angry.
"Sometimes I'm Bombaloo. I show my teeth and make fierce noises. My face scrunches tight like a monster's. I use my feet and my fists instead of my words ... There is a lot of yelling when I'm Bombaloo."
This picture book discusses the emotion anger and very accurately describes a child's meltdown. This helps teach emotional awareness, which is the first step for developing emotional self-regulation.
Young readers will relate to the experience of losing emotional control and feeling as it they have become a different person.
As a parent, caregiver, and former children's librarian, I was very pleased to see that the child's emotional disregulation was met not only with understanding but also with immediate consequences for her behavior.
"Sometimes I'm Bombaloo. I show my teeth and make fierce noises. My face scrunches tight like a monster's. I use my feet and my fists instead of my words ... There is a lot of yelling when I'm Bombaloo."
This picture book discusses the emotion anger and very accurately describes a child's meltdown. This helps teach emotional awareness, which is the first step for developing emotional self-regulation.
Young readers will relate to the experience of losing emotional control and feeling as it they have become a different person.
As a parent, caregiver, and former children's librarian, I was very pleased to see that the child's emotional disregulation was met not only with understanding but also with immediate consequences for her behavior.
September 29, 2019
Summary:
The book "Sometimes I'm Bombaloo" is about a named Katie Honors. Katie tries to be the "perfect" little girl and do all the right things but sometimes she loses her temper and goes BOMBALOO. When her little brother teases her, she becomes mad and have to go take some time by herself. Katie does not like it when she becomes Bombaloo and she always becomes friends with her little brother again.
Themes:
Being siblings. Becoming a teenager
Personal response:
I think it was a nice book about having siblings and about getting older.
Recommendation:
I will recommend this book to children that have siblings so they understand that it is normal to get mad with them sometimes. The book also deals with the fact that some teenagers sometimes lose their temper more than others.
The book "Sometimes I'm Bombaloo" is about a named Katie Honors. Katie tries to be the "perfect" little girl and do all the right things but sometimes she loses her temper and goes BOMBALOO. When her little brother teases her, she becomes mad and have to go take some time by herself. Katie does not like it when she becomes Bombaloo and she always becomes friends with her little brother again.
Themes:
Being siblings. Becoming a teenager
Personal response:
I think it was a nice book about having siblings and about getting older.
Recommendation:
I will recommend this book to children that have siblings so they understand that it is normal to get mad with them sometimes. The book also deals with the fact that some teenagers sometimes lose their temper more than others.
December 10, 2017
Awards: None
Grade Level: Preschool through Second Grade
Original Summary: In this book, there is a character named Katie. She talks about how on sometimes she in Bombaloo when she gets angry and lashes out. She doesn't like being bombaloo because Bombaloo is scary, and she would rather be Katie.
Original Review: I love this book! I think that it relates well to the children trying to understand their feelings when they may want to be super angry sometimes and it is engaging for them as well.
2-3 In Class Uses: 1) The children can talk about times they've gotten upset/angry and how they have calmed themselves down. 2) The students can write a story about themselves.
Grade Level: Preschool through Second Grade
Original Summary: In this book, there is a character named Katie. She talks about how on sometimes she in Bombaloo when she gets angry and lashes out. She doesn't like being bombaloo because Bombaloo is scary, and she would rather be Katie.
Original Review: I love this book! I think that it relates well to the children trying to understand their feelings when they may want to be super angry sometimes and it is engaging for them as well.
2-3 In Class Uses: 1) The children can talk about times they've gotten upset/angry and how they have calmed themselves down. 2) The students can write a story about themselves.
March 11, 2018
Super cute story about the temper tantrums that children (and adults) go through sometimes. I read this book because it was on my school's pillars of character list under responsibility. It teaches children that even if they lose control and have a tantrum, there is always forgiveness and love from the family when they apologize and make amends. The art is cool and the story is very true to life.
January 11, 2021
Katie Honors is a good kid, but sometimes her anger gets the better of her. The book shows that we are still loveable after mistakes, and we can say sorry. I wish it had more about dealing with strong emotions in the moment, instead of the Bombaloo getting them out by having a destructive tantrum where she tears apart her room.
Tags: Anger -- Emotions -- Human Hands Solve Human Problems --
September 20, 2018
I chose this book as my read aloud book because it had lots of "mood" shifts. It would go back and forth between her calming down and her being angry so it was a good practice in shifting my voice during a story which I can struggle with. This was a good book but I wasn't crazy about it. I prefer When Sophie Gets Angry- Really, Really Angry as it tells a similar story but I think in a better way.
September 1, 2024
While I'm all for talking about feelings, I feel like this book somewhat disembodies feelings and behaviour from the person. The idea that you are a whole different person (I am Bombaloo!) when you have a feeling doesn't really sit quite right for me. That being said, I didn't mind how it was written and how it felt to read.
December 13, 2017
I love this book. This book I've probably read 30 times this year. It's great for talking to kids about their strong upset feeling, especially kids with more intense behaviors. And the illustrations are fantastic!
May 10, 2020
I feel like the book made it seem as though its ok to have a tantrum, push your brother, throw your toys and empty out your drawers, as long as you take time to calm down and apologize after. I do not recommend it.
August 16, 2021
We all have that inner peevish Bombaloo in us. This picturebook contrasts the cooperative and orderly person we may normally be with the inner monster that comes out sometimes. This little girl has a name for her inner monster and it is Bombaloo.
November 10, 2021
Even someone who is happy and well-mannered can feel bombaloo sometimes. Like throwing things and smashing stuff. Being out-of-control angry. Actually, it can be a little scary to be bombaloo. A little time alone can help. So can doing something that makes you laugh.
February 20, 2025
An accurate depiction of the fact that even the most well-behaved child can have a meltdown. It acknowledges that its a scary experience and reminds us that parents need to remember that. It also goes through al of the physical actions that might accompany the emotions. Highly recommended.
December 14, 2025
Absolutely love this book and how well it captures the whirlwind that is a toddler tantrum. ("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 the mess Bombaloo made...") The art is a little 90's dated (IMO), but I love this book anyway.
April 25, 2020
Personally I think this is a fantastic book. It handles the complexity of emotions in such an easy to understand way.
August 28, 2020
Sometimes I get cranky like she does. I like using the word bombaloo instead of tantrum.
June 21, 2023
3 stars
September 4, 2025
I like how this book shows kids what to do when they lose their temper, it help kids understand that its not okay to loose your temper, but when you do the book shows how to deal with it.
November 20, 2025
Great book that talks about big feelings!
October 7, 2009
Rachel Vail’s Sometimes I’m Bombaloo is an excellent book for children ages 3-7. Vail gets right inside a kid's psyche, and Heo's inventive artwork catches the kaleidoscope of emotions found there in a book that is both realistic and funny. Katie Honors is a self-proclaimed good kid who follows house rules and, most of the time, restrains herself from fighting with her brother. But sometimes she can't hold her anger in: she's "bombaloo." She bares her teeth and stamps her feet. Her brother doesn't fare well. She's sent to her room until she can control her temper; but with true honesty, Katie remarks that when she's bombaloo, she's not sorry: "I'm angry. I hate everybody and everything." She's so angry that she flings the clothes out of her drawers, her underpants land on her head, she laughs, and "when I laugh I'm Katie Honors again." Vail captures the intensity of emotion that children (and many adults) feel when they are angry, and then distills it with laughter. Heo uses lots of stripes and splotches of color to match Katie's emotions, and her pictures are best when focusing on Katie's face. With simple lines Heo shows not only Katie's anger but also her remorse and her fear of being out of control.
June 3, 2018
In story format, this book can be used to explore feelings and that they can be named but don't have to stay with us.
April 17, 2012
This book had a creative concept to it. This would be helpful to read to a kindergarten or first grade class. This talks about how a little girl who is usually nice is sometimes mean and turns into a monster that she refers to as Bombaloo. I could use this in the classroom at the beginning of the year to introduce our behavior that we will have in the classroom. I will say that sometimes we will be Bombaloo and we will be grouchy. In the classroom we could learn to be open and honest and let each other know that we are having a Bombaloo day. When I am aware of that I will give this student a little more space and we will work through bringing the child back to normal instead of being a monster. This book shows that we are not perfect and that it is okay to have those days. At the end of the story the little girl apologized and her mom told her that she forgave her.
March 17, 2008
This book surprised me. I wasn't expecting to like it, but the lesson was extremely on-target for those children who lose their tempers easily (and I have one that way).
The art didn't work for me (and perhaps that's why I wasn't expecting to enjoy it). The rough-dranw, cut-out look seemed to be aimed at a child younger than maybe appropraite for the content.
In order to fill the pages with content, it did seem to stretch the beginning out longer than was necessary.
The art didn't work for me (and perhaps that's why I wasn't expecting to enjoy it). The rough-dranw, cut-out look seemed to be aimed at a child younger than maybe appropraite for the content.
In order to fill the pages with content, it did seem to stretch the beginning out longer than was necessary.
September 30, 2013
Great for showing temper tantrums and how to recover from them. The only parental disagreement I have is that the parent helps the child clean up the tantrum mess of throwing things. My opinion is that the child cleans up the mess him/herself. The messes may become smaller over time when the child has to do it themselves.
Great for voice inflection and storytime. Discussion could take place afterwards for kids to understand the tantrum process and recovery.
Great for voice inflection and storytime. Discussion could take place afterwards for kids to understand the tantrum process and recovery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews