September 12, 2025
No Boops! This super fun book had me thinking of all the little kids in my life who love their personal space. Looking at you, C.
“I am a sea anemone. A lemony anemone. An anonymous anemone.” And this anemone has one refrain. Please, “DON’T BOOP ME.” A little girl appears on the page, giving sage advice about avoiding boops, and is a mirror for what the anemone is going through. The anemone and the girl love their communities and friends; they just want you to respect their personal space. Everyone is able to share their boundaries and still be friends. The text is rhyming, and I’m gonna say it. It’s perfect. Reading this aloud is a joy, just ask my canine son, Neo and my human nephew, K. The illustrations are so tactile, and I loved chatting with Neo and K about the canvas, paint, and threads.
Bits and Pieces: Watercolor, gouache, and gesso on fabric, with embroidery floss and yarn, were used to create the illustrations. And it was ridiculously cool! The backmatter is also helpful! The author did some research after a family vacation about booping anemones and discovered they don’t like boops, which led her to write this book. It’s also a fun way to teach kids to speak up about what they are comfortable with. It’s been a relief to see the old ways of forcing kids to hug or accept hugs when they did not want them go away. And this book gives kids a clear way to say no, kindly.
Not Sure About: Only a lame grown-up would say this, but I would have liked even more backmatter. I'm turning into a monster of backmatter,
Favorite Part: I loved all the underwater scenes. The brightly colored fish and the flora, mostly.
