I'm Sad

May 15, 2018
Bibliotherapy done right.In their latest picture-book collaboration, Black and Ohi (I'm Bored, 2012) serve up some good life lessons with the help of a quirky trio of friends: a child with a dress and pigtails; a talking flamingo, who is the titular sad character; and an anthropomorphic potato. As the flamingo expresses its sadness and the other characters, in their own ways, try to provide comfort, the text is delivered entirely in color-coded dialogue, and Ohi's spare visual aesthetic matches the writing's restraint. The stolid potato's lines provide ample comic relief, while the human child exudes empathy. No reason is ever given for the flamingo's sadness, and neither the child's many ideas for cheering it up, nor the potato's one idea ("Dirt!" and "Soil!") help. The child assures the flamingo that it's OK to be sad, but finally, a just-this-side-of-mean wisecrack from the potato gets everyone, including the flamingo, laughing. "I still feel a little bit sad, but I also feel a little bit better," the flamingo says on the penultimate page, and here Ohi depicts the friends in silhouette, which provides a gently melancholy tone for the sweet conclusion.Happy to see such a well-done feelings book. (Picture book. 3-7)

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July 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 1-In this follow-up to Black and Ohi's I'm Bored, a sad flamingo joins a young girl and talking potato in a search for answers. When Flamingo asks, "Will I always feel like this?" the young girl reasons, "I don't think so," while the potato reassures readers in stating that, "[e]verybody feels sad sometimes"-even potatoes. In this fresh, unconventional story, the text emphasizes that there are ways to feel better, that it's okay to let yourself be sad, and that the burden of sadness eventually lightens. The lively, digital cartoon artwork pairs seamlessly alongside the story line, offering uncluttered white space that appropriately highlights the three characters, their body language, and facial expressions. The dialogue playfully changes color to reflect each character's voice. By the end of the story-after talking, cheering up, and having some laughs-Flamingo reasons, "I still feel a little bit sad, but I also feel a little bit better." VERDICT This is an accessible picture book that delicately handles the subject of sadness in children. Pair with Mo Willems's My Friend is Sad for a lighthearted approach to a common tough topic.-Brianne Colombo, Fairfield Free Public Library, NJ

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July 1, 2018
"Will I always feel like this?" a melancholy flamingo asks a girl on a swing, after which she and a potato (who costarred in this author-illustrator duo's I'm Bored) discuss sadness. Black goes uncharacteristically deep at times but always resurfaces; his signature silliness is reinforced in Ohi's unfussy digital art in which the potato gets around on the unblinking flamingo's back.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)