Feeling Boo: A Picture Book

by Alex Boniello, April Lavalle, Olivia Chin Mueller (Illustrator)

Overview

Authors and Tony Award-winning producers Alex Boniello and April Lavalle perfectly balance sweet and spooky in Feeling Boo, a charming and supportive picture book that reminds readers it’s ok to feel a little boo, especially if you have friends to help you through

It’s OK to feel a little bit BOO, especially if you have friends to help you through.

Ollie and Ellie have been friends for hundreds of years. They love taking long midnight floats through the graveyard, going on haunting sprees, and playing dress-up. But when Ollie wakes up feeling boo, Ellie isn’t quite sure what to do. She tries everything she can think of to cheer Ollie up, but nothing seems to do the trick. Finally, Ellie learns that just being present with her friend is all he really needs.

Told with equal parts humor and heart, this picture book is a kid-friendly, not-so-scary conversation-starter about mental health and the joy of friendship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798887072302
Publisher:	Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	08/06/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	63 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Alex Boniello is an actor, musician, singer, writer, and Tony Award–winning producer from New York City. Most recently, he starred as Connor Murphy in Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen, and has also appeared as the voice of Moritz in Deaf West’s revival of Spring Awakening and in numerous TV shows and films. Alongside April Lavalle, he’s also a producer on Hadestown, for which they both received Tony Awards. Boniello is a passionate advocate for mental health, having worked closely with some of the most prolific organizations in the country. April Lavalle is an actor, comedian, writer, and Tony Award–winning producer living in New York City. As an actor, Lavalle has appeared on television and on stages throughout the world, and as a writer, she has been featured in publications such as Reductress, McSweeneys, Medium, and Vulture. She is also a director for the Story Pirates, which celebrates the imaginations of children worldwide. Olivia Chin Mueller grew up in the small town of Chester, Connecticut, and now lives in Providence, Rhode Island. She attended the Rhode Island School of Design and graduated in 2014. Besides illustrating, Olivia loves playing with her cats, raising silk moths, and collecting anything cute!
Alex Boniello is an actor, musician, singer, writer, and Tony Award–winning producer from New York City. Most recently, he starred as Connor Murphy in Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen, and has also appeared as the voice of Moritz in Deaf West’s revival of Spring Awakening, and in numerous TV shows and films. Alongside April Lavalle, he’s also a producer on Hadestown, for which they both received Tony Awards. Boniello is a passionate advocate for mental health, having worked closely with some of the most prolific organizations in the country. A Case of the Zaps is his first book.

Editorial Reviews

06/17/2024

Boniello and Lavalle offer an emotionally attuned portrait of how to support a melancholic friend in this pun-filled picture book. When ghost Ollie starts “feeling a bit boo,” fellow spirit and longtime bestie Ellie does everything she can to cheer him: a “specter-tacular night” of activities includes a moonlight serenade with some friends in the graveyard, playing music on an old Victrola, and attempting to frighten passersby. Even after Ellie is left “half dead from the night’s activities,” Ollie’s sadness persists. The well-intentioned friend continues to offer suggestions until at last Ollie gets her attention long enough to entreat, “I don’t think we can outrun these boos.... What if we tried just... sitting here for a bit?” The quietly gladdening result points to the many forms care and support can take. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"Peppered with spooky puns...Children will appreciate this expressive spectral duo’s tender friendship...Hauntingly good fun."—Kirkus Reviews

"The important message found between the pages of this book needs to be heard by little ones, and even if they do not completely understand some of the text, perhaps the book is the spark to get their ­caretakers talking about mental health."—School Library Journal

"Boniello and Lavalle offer an emotionally attuned portrait of how to support a melancholic friend in this pun-filled picture book."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

06/01/2024

Gr 1–3—In a thoughtful, clever, heartfelt, and sometimes humorous look at mental health, Boniello, Lavalle, and Mueller introduce young readers to Ellie and Ollie—ghosts who have been friends for hundreds of years. They play together every night, but when Ollie wakes up "feeling a bit boo," Ellie feels it is her mission to make him happy again by doing all their usual games and tricks. Ellie convinces her friend to try making shadow puppets, slamming furniture, and more to no avail. Finally Ollie finds the courage to ask Ellie to simply sit together. It is then that Ellie learns sometimes all you need to do is be there for your friend. At times the worthy message gets lost in the language. The story is filled with many turns of phrase that occasionally feel forced and would be challenging for younger kids to comprehend, such as "To begin their specter-tacular night," "Ellie yawned, half dead from the night's activities," and "Maybe not, quoth, for evermore." For adults, they are fun and clever, but will require explaining for littler folks. Mueller's art, however, can be enjoyed by all, with her haunting hues and cute snowman-faced ghosts. The illustrations lend support to the story and context for some of the phrases. VERDICT The important message found between the pages of this book needs to be heard by little ones, and even if they do not completely understand some of the text, perhaps the book is the spark to get their caretakers talking about mental health.—Cassie Veselovsky

School Library Journal

2024-05-04
Boniello and Lavalle, the Tony-winning producers of Hadestown, tell the story of a ghost attempting to raise her pal’s spirits.

Besties Ollie and Ellie have haunted their house for centuries. When Ellie calls on Ollie in his “dead-room” so they can play her “grave-orite” game, Ollie tells her he’s feeling “a bit boo.” Supportive Ellie suggests doing fun activities. They visit old friends at the graveyard, slam the doors, make the furniture float, and play songs on the old-fashioned record player. Nothing’s working, Ollie says, but he thanks Ellie for trying. Still, she keeps pushing fruitless ideas. It’s nearly morning, and the pair are exhausted. When Ollie finally manages to get a word in edgewise, he offers a suggestion: that they simply sit together—silently. They do. The illustrations depict both pals’ faces visibly brightening at sunrise, and Ollie thanks Ellie for the period of hushed reflection, acknowledging that he feels better. Next night, Ollie’s ready for ghostly shenanigans again, apparently without a haunt, er, hint, of boo-ness. Peppered with spooky puns, this story reassures readers that we all feel “boo” at times and that companionable silence can work wonders; sometimes, just being there is enough. Children will appreciate this expressive spectral duo’s tender friendship. Though Mueller adorns Ollie and Ellie’s haunted house with details such as cobwebs and cracked walls, her illustrations have a warm, cozy vibe that’s more sweet than scary.

Hauntingly good fun. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews