Hello My Name Is Bob

by Linas Alsenas

Bob is a bear who feels he's very boring, especially in comparison to his lively friend Jack. But in the course of this book, Bob learns that every bear has his own way of doing things -- and there isn't a right way or a wrong way.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Animals, Storytime, Fiction, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2009

About the author

Linas Alsenas has spent - OK, spends - way too much time singing show tunes to himself in the mirror. He has written several books for children and young adults, including Gay America, Peanut and Mrs Claus Takes a Vacation. His latest book is Beyond Clueless, a novel about teens living in s a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, that is very much like Linas's hometown. Linas now lives in London with his husband and works as an editor at a children's book publisher.

Reviews

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linas Alsenas's "Hello My name is Bob" is a children's picture book that features a brown bear named Bob who thinks of himself as pretty boring.

Bob likes to sit. Sometimes he likes to count toothpicks or dust or knit scarves, but mostly he likes to sit. He thinks sitting is pretty great.

Bob has a panda bear friend named Jack, who likes to do totally crazy things like dance or surf or ride roller coasters, which aren't things that Bob would normally do, but he does them because Jack likes to do them. And Jack doesn't think Bob is boring at all, just different.

This is a great book that teaches the valuable lesson that you and your friends don't always have to enjoy the same things in order to be friends. Sometimes, different is good. Opposites are usually just flip sides of the same coin.

I think members of Congress and the people running for President this year and all the political pundits out there could learn a lot from Bob and Jack.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello my name is Dee. I like to sit. Sometimes I knit when I sit. Most of the times I just sit and think about all the things I should be doing.

[Emily Krafcik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute and simple story that explains the classic sayings opposites attract! Bob and Jack have two completely different characterizations, and they even look different in comparison to each other! Bob is a brown bear who likes to do laid back activities like counting tooth picks and sitting in an empty parking lot, while Jack is a lively panda bear who likes to go to the crocodile swamp and ride crazy roller coasters, but at the end of the day they still are good friends! This is an important lesson to teach young children because they might quite understand that different is not weird, it is just not normal to you. Looking at the cover of this text I would have never guessed this is what this story would be about. This was another hardcover book, so it was sturdy and had colorful and simple illustrations. The language used was also elementary and explained the message perfectly!

[Kalynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like how it demonstrates that you don't have be the same in order to have a strong friendship, but other than that, I just didn't love it. If I read it, I would push back on the description of "boring".

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob thinks he's a boring bear. He likes to stay home, dust his plants, and knit. But he is friends with a crazy bear who has adventures and paints and such. As different as they are, they are still very good friends.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is so funny! I can't wait to read it in storytime!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to start out by saying...My brother is not boring. That said, I think this is what my brother thought about me when we were younger.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick read aloud after one of the children's summer reading programs. I thought the cover was cute, but I probably would never have looked into it if one of the volunteers at the library hadn't brought it over and said it was good. A group of us promptly opened it up, and it was instantly charming. Bob the Bear is boring. His favorite place is empty parking lot, and his favorite thing to do is sit. His friend Jack the Panda is zany and energetic. Bob and Jack are contrasted through out the story, with Bob concluding that even though they are such very different bears, they make great friends, a cute and unobtrusive moral. The illustrations are deceptively simple, revealing great work on closer examination. Bob's and Jack's characters are obvious even through their illustrations, and their differences are humorous and charming. The language is simple and straight forward, and really seems to give Bob voice. There really wasn't anything about this book I didn't like.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob is a very quiet bear. His favorite things are counting toothpicks, humming and mostly sitting. His best friend Jack is the opposite. Jack likes roller coasters, dancing and adventure. But the two of them can still be best friends and very different.

The differences between the two bears are vivid and make for a funny and interesting juxtaposition. We all have a bit of Bob and some Jack in us. There are small touches that make the book very clever and funny, including the end papers each painted by one of the bears. Bob’s boring activities are livened up by Jack and then when Jack is exhausted they are moving at just Bob’s speed.

Clever illustrations and a friendly message make this book a winner. Children will enjoy the dramatic differences between the two friends. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

[Molly Craig · Rating 1 out of 5]

The opening page of "Hello, My Name is Bob." states, "But I should warn you, I'm very boring."

And right it is. This book is entirely boring from beginning to end. Bob's story is that he is a boring bear but his friend Jack is exciting and unusual.

The differences between Bob and Jack are played off one another in an attempt to impress upon young readers the idea that friends can be different in personality and interest, but the author fails in his attempt. We never really learn enough about Jack or Bob and their individual driving impulses. The boring activities Bob enjoys miss their mark. I doubt a young child would really laugh over Bob counting toothpicks or sitting in an empty parking lot.

Just as Bob suggests, "You really shouldn't bother reading this book."

[Katie Bible · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has such a good storyline. I love the characters and how they interact with one another. Bob is a very boring bear and his friend Jack is not boring at all. This book teaches kids that you can be different from others and still get along. It also teaches children that friendship is about not only doing what you like to do but what your friend likes to do as well. The bears illustrated in the book are adorable. There are only a few sentences one each page which makes it a fast fun read. Next time I'm at the book store I will be buying this book.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob is a pretty boring bear. He likes to do things like count toothpicks or just sit and do nothing. His best friend Jack is an adventurous bear who likes to explore swamps and go on roller coasters. Though they're very different, Bob and Jack are still able to be good friends.

A cute story about two very different bears who are both ok with who they each are and who their friend is. Would be a great compare/contrast book or book about friends.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A study in contrasts between two very opposite friends: boring Bob and wacky Jack. Told from the viewpoint of Bob, this story contrasts these friends' interests visually and portrays each friend in the other's world. Illustrated with simple, flat shapes and large font, this is an ideal selection for toddler storytimes.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was part of the letter B showcase at story time. Its been two months since then, so my memory of this book is hazy. If I'm correct, Bob is kind of boring, but his friend is more adventurous. Through the simple contrasts, we can see how these two can still be friends, even if they are very different.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just loved this book! A hilarious and charming pick for kids who liked the banter in the 'Chester the Cat' books. The language will amuse parents, and illustrations for each of the bears are distinctive, characteristic, and funny.

As someone who sometimes (jokingly) self-identifies as boring, I appreciated this book's dry sense of humor. :)

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not everyone lives for adventure. For those kids who are at peace with their inner introvert, Bob will be a welcome companion who derives enough pleasure in life from walks outdoors, quiet crafts and reading while still enjoying the friendship of more exuberant types. He is comfortable with himself and will likely give kids wired the low-key way a role model!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty funny! Bob thinks he's boring. He's a bear who loves to... sit. His buddy Jack, on the other hand, is a silly adventurous panda. Despite their differences, they are good friends and enjoy each other's company.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob is a bear. He is boring. He likes to knit and practice humming, but mainly he likes to sit.

His friend Jack, a Panda, is wild. Jack & Bob are friends, although complete opposites. The illustrations capture the bears' personalities - cute story.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this story with Bob (who you should know is boring) and his best friend Jack (who is not). I like this because bob likes to count toothpicks and hang out in a laundry room. This is a great book about liking each others differnces. Ages 4+

[Joenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob is a bear and Bob will admit that he is very boring. He likes to sit around all day, maybe dust the plants or sit in a parking lot. He has a crazy friend though Jack who likes to do lots of stuff. Though they're very different, they are best friends.

I like Bob, he's pretty cute.

[Jadin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is completely wonderful to read aloud to anyone age 2 - 12. (I read it to 3 teenagers and they liked it, too.)I love the way it illustrates the differences in people and that it's still okay to be friends even if you are total opposites!

[Liliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book on how different people can be friends. Bob is "boring" while Jack is "fun" overall the differences, they are both friends. Great book to show children that friends can be totally different and have one thing in common, friendship.

[Rochelle Sondae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book by myself didn't impress me all that much. However, when our storyteller, Susan, read it at storytime last May... WOW! The kids loved her voices and were eager to continue the story on their own.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this story. I think my favorite line is, "Sitting is so great." There's just something about Bob, and the fact that him and Jack can each be who they are and still be friends, that is hysterically funny and touching all at once. I also love how the endpapers tie it all together.

[Megan Mccale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent for children to realize that it's okay to be who they are. Bob is a boring bear but throughout the book he realizes that it's okay and that each bear has their own personality.

[Sam Bloom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, I was expecting a whole lot more from this; Peanut is one of my favorites. Cute, I guess, but just a completely unexceptional book.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob is related to "Telly Monster" and "Bert" on "Sesame Street".
And to my 14 year old daughter :D

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is for all of the introverted, introspective kids out there. I loved how both Bob's quiet and Jack's exuberance are shown as qualities to value.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not only is Bob boring, but so is this book.

[Amy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob is boring and only likes to do boring things. His friend isn't boring but even though they are very different, they are still friends.