Bob the Boo-Boo - Mélina Schoenborn - ★★★

AUTHOR: Mélina Schoenborn

ILLUSTRATOR: Sandra Dumais

GENRE: Children's Picture Book.

PUBLICATION DATE: June 3, 2025.

RATING: 3 stars.

In a Nutshell: A whimsical picture book about a boo-boo searching for a host. Not sure of the point of the book, but it offers some cute and funny moments.

This book was first published in Quebec in French under the title “Bob le bobo” in 2020. This English edition, translated from the French by the author herself, is to be published in June 2025.

Who among us has not had a boo-boo as a child (or even as an adult)? But have you ever wondered about the boo-boo’s point of view? Enter Bob the boo-boo to help us see the other side of the picture.

Of all the strange anthropomorphized things I have seen as fictional narrators, Bob has to be the weirdest. It is oddly funny and unsettling to see a boo-boo wandering around, looking for a human host. After a couple of failed attempts, he even succeeds, with a little boy gladly welcoming Bob on his injured leg. Bob’s reactions at the Band-Aids is hilarious!

However, if evaluated logically, much of the story won't make sense. Why would a child readily accept a boo-boo? Would his leg not hurt more? If he already had an injury when he accepted Bob’s offer, what does that make Bob – a boo-boo or a scab? Does Bob feel any pain when the bandaids are yanked off him? As Bob shrinks after the healing process begins, how is he still the same size at the end when he goes in search of a new spot? None of these doubts are clarified in this overly simplistic story. And pray tell, what mother would be pleased to see a boo-boo on her son’s leg? 🤔 The more common reaction would probably be anger or concern or maybe even a resigned sigh…

The only positive learning I can think of is that a child would learn that boo-boos are a common part of life, and if treated with care, they disappear on their own. But this conclusion might come only with the help of adult guidance. There’s not even a note at the end of the book to suggest proper boo-boo care. (Not every boo-boo heals with a band-aid!)

The illustrations, created digitally in crayon-style sketches, gave me mixed feelings. I love Bob and his expressions. And I adore the beautiful, colourful bandaids. But the human characters are just so-so.

Overall, this is a quirky picture book, I give you that. But it doesn’t really make sense to endear an injury to little children. Who knows, some boys (and girls) might be encouraged to get Bobs of their own!

Basically, it’s somewhat cute and also somewhat silly, so I don’t know whom to recommend it to. You can read the above feedback and take a call. The official target age group is 3-7 years.

My thanks to Kids Can Press for providing the DRC of “Bob the Boo-Boo” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.