The Boring Book

by Shinsuke Yoshitake

Overview

A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2019

Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

The Boring Book is a humorous picture book that follows the story of one particularly bored boy.

As the story progresses, our protagonist discovers there's actually more to boredom than what meets the eye—more questions, more theories, and heaps of humor.

This exploration of boredom from acclaimed author-illustrator Shinsuke Yoshitake playfully—and hilariously—unpacks the ways in which a seemingly stagnant state is actually a portal into a dynamic, life-enriching experience.

• Embraces the topic of boredom—an ever-so-popular kid complaint—and runs with it
• The unique comic format, fast pace, smart humor, and narrative approach makes it ideal for reluctant readers
• A universally hilarious book that will amuse children ages 5 to 8, as well as adults

In addition to banishing boredom, Yoshitake's distinctive illustrations promote visual literacy and show young readers what the process of creative thinking looks like.

This smart, laugh-out-loud picture book just might change your child's perspective on the state of boredom forever.
• A wonderful gift for parents, teachers, educators, librarians, caregivers, and anyone who has to answer to the statement "I'm bored!"
• Perfect for readers of early chapter books
• Great for fans of the Fox & Chick series by Sergio Ruzzier, Waiting Is Not Easy! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems, and I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452174563
Publisher:	Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date:	08/06/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	510,094
Product dimensions:	8.45(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.45(d)
Lexile:	520L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Shinsuke Yoshitake is the author-illustrator of The I Wonder Bookstore and the creator of many award-winning picture books. He lives in Japan.

Editorial Reviews

05/13/2019

Japanese author and illustrator Yoshitake (Still Stuck) zeroes in on a ubiquitous childhood experience and probes it with dry wit. The creator’s human figures draw smiles from the get-go as a boy sprawls on the couch, dead bored: “My toys are boring. There’s nothing to watch on TV.” His mind wanders: “Why am I bored? What does ‘boring’ mean, anyway?” In vignettes and multistage spreads, the boy considers the many permutations of ennui. “I wonder what the world’s most boring amusement part is like,” the boy says, as Yoshitake shows children in an advanced state of stupor shuffling through a park (“The Ferris wheel is low. The roller coaster is slow. Most of the rides are closed for repairs”). Is everything either fun or boring, or is there something in between, “like when I’m peeling a hard-boiled egg”? Just don’t ask the adults about being bored. Their replies are... dull. The uncredited translation conveys the book’s humor, though the warm, handwritten text of the original is swapped out for chilly printed type. Alive to paradox, Yoshitake demonstrates that talking about what’s boring can be a lot of fun. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"Sure to entertain self-proclaimed bored children everywhere, provide them with food for thought, and inspire a few chuckles as well." — School Library Journal

"Sure to entertain self-proclaimed bored children everywhere, provide them with food for thought, and inspire a few chuckles as well." — School Library Journal

"The clean, attractive art and the clever details in this Japanese import together create a thought-provoking exercise."— The Horn Book Magazine

"The clean, attractive art and the clever details in this Japanese import together create a thought-provoking exercise."— The Horn Book Magazine

"Alive to paradox, Yoshitake demonstrates that talking about what's boring can be a lot of fun."—Publishers Weekly

"Alive to paradox, Yoshitake demonstrates that talking about what's boring can be a lot of fun."—Publishers Weekly

"A terrific reminder for readers of all ages that boredom is always optional." — Kirkus Reviews, Starred

"A terrific reminder for readers of all ages that boredom is always optional." — Kirkus Reviews, Starred

From the Publisher

08/01/2019

PreS-Gr 2—A fluffy-haired boy says the commonly heard childhood phrase, "I'm bored." Mom is busy, so he wonders to himself just what makes things boring. Why is he bored? What does boring actually mean? He imagines boring situations, parks with no playgrounds and such. While pondering the concept of boringness, he discovers that the act of thinking is not boring at all. The boy continues musing on the state of being bored: Is it fun when 300 boring people get together or is it 300 times more boring? He concludes that no matter how bored he feels, it is up to him to make his own fun. Cartoon illustrations in primary colors depict the boy in various whimsical scenarios as he analyzes his mental state and observes the world around him. Short sentences of prose, segmented throughout the page, work well with the illustrations to keep readers engaged and thinking critically along with the boy. VERDICT This book was first published in Japan, and is sure to entertain self-proclaimed bored children everywhere, provide them with food for thought, and inspire a few chuckles as well.–Mindy Hiatt, Salt Lake County Library Services

School Library Journal

★ 2019-05-26
The oft-heard childhood phrase "I'm bored" becomes the jumping-off point for this philosophical picture book.

There is nothing to entertain or distract this child today, and so the protagonist becomes inquisitive about boredom. What does it mean exactly? Does everyone experience it? Even animals? Is life a continual dichotomy between fun and boring? Is boredom a matter of perspective? As the child demonstrates with bemusement, sometimes wandering through such answerless wonderings can itself be the antidote to boredom. Each page offers a thought experiment examining the nature of boredom sure to provoke curiosity and insight. This English translation of a book originally published in Japan in 2017 makes reference to Japanese culture through the illustrations; school children wear traditional uniforms, and adults sit cross-legged at tables low to the ground. All characters have the same paper-white skin, simple facial features, and brown or gray hair; the repetition of hairstyles, clothing, and facial expressions on the people emphasizes a sameness that is characteristic of boredom, yet even so, the illustrations are interesting and evocative. Adults and children will find this boring book a wonderful resource for sparking conversation. It's a terrific reminder for readers of all ages that boredom is always optional.

A perfectly mild unpacking of the nuances and subtleties of boredom. (Picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews