Oh No! Time to Go!: A Book of Goodbyes [Hardcover]

Rebecca Doughty (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A playful, reassuring book that helps make saying goodbye a little easier.

In this deceptively simple picture book by the author of Some Helpful Tips for a Better World and a Happier Life, there’s a new goodbye on every page. Some of them are easy, like when it’s time to go home for supper. Some of them are funny, like when dogs say it with a growl. And some are much harder, like when a very best friend moves away.

With a bouncy rhyming text and vibrant, droll illustrations, this book of goodbyes leaves readers with a heartwarming thought: that for each goodbye, there’s always a new hello.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A young boy finds that there is always something sad about saying good-bye, from Auntie’s “Toodle-oo, ta-ta, kiss-kiss” to Uncle’s southern drawling “G’bye, y’all . . . Take it easy.” Even slapping hands with cool Cousin Jazzy on a city street (“Gotta split, gotta blow, / see ya man, I gotta go”) gives the boy the blues. The ink-and-watercolor pictures show the boy’s warm greetings, as well as his melancholy partings. The most wrenching good-bye comes when a friend next door moves away, and the boy realizes that “Don’t be a stranger!” is not just cliché. Two big double-page spreads depict the boy left behind in empty space that reveals the meaning of “so long.” The simple rhyme and wordplay add dimension to the scenarios, which move in tone from casual to heartfelt, and will encourage kids to think about the feelings behind the familiar things that they hear and say. Preschool-Grade 2. --Hazel Rochman

About the Author

Rebecca Doughty is the author and illustrator of Some Helpful Tips for a Better World and a Happier Life, You Are to Me, and Lost and Found, as well as the illustrator of One of Those Days by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. She lives in Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (May 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375849815
• ISBN-13: 978-0375849817
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 0.4 x 9.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,405,095 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from www.firrkids.com, June 24, 2009

By 

www.firrkids.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oh No! Time to Go!: A Book of Goodbyes (Hardcover)

Ciao. Auf Wiedersehen. Sayonara. Adios. No matter the language, goodbyes can be difficult to say. Everyone loves to voice the hellos, but the words don't roll off the tongue quite as easily when it's time to leave.

There isn't so much of a story line here, but rather an introduction to the friends and family of one unnamed little boy and how those people choose to say hello and goodbye. Auntie Lou says yoo-hoo and toodle-oo, while Granny sticks with Later, gater! Many people have their own unique way of saying they must leave. Some like to use hand signals while others dole out hugs. Even dogs know how to use a wagging tail or growling as greetings. Our kids were cracking up at the dog page in particular. They loved "They lift a leg or sniff a rear." as well as the accompanying illustrations.

There's no sense getting angry or snarly when it's parting time. It's not so bad saying goodbye when there is always the chance to say hello again. And maybe the next meetings will be opportunities to make new friends and you will find all sorts of ways to say nice to meet you! So toss off your Take it easy! knowing there is probably a fresh Howdy waiting around the corner.

This is a terrific book for children who are prone to temper tantrums when leaving an event, which seems to be a fairly common problem. It does a great job playing up fun ways to say goodbye, in addition to focusing on new meetings in the future. This would also be a good choice if you know a child's friend or neighbor will be moving, as he deals with that situation at the end of the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A cute book about "goodbyes", July 24, 2009

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Oh No! Time to Go!: A Book of Goodbyes (Hardcover)

This is a rather whimsical look at saying goodbyes, as observed by a little boy. His laid back Uncle says "G'bye, y'all" in a Southern drawl, grandma amidst tears, bids goodbye by saying "Later, gator!", and some even signal with their hands without any words. Even dogs can say goodbye, as portrayed in the book through cute illustrations and words that elicit chuckles.

The text is written in a rhyming style and makes for an easy and fun read. The illustrations though appropriate weren't very appealing in my opinion, the characters just appeared kind of flat and did not really grab my preschooler's attention or imagination. On the whole, this is a fun look at saying goodbye and is suited for young children, perhaps preschoolers-2nd grade.

5.0 out of 5 stars A whimsical, fun set of insights, July 22, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oh No! Time to Go!: A Book of Goodbyes (Hardcover)

OH NO! TIME TO GO! By Rebeca Doughty discusses all the different ways of saying 'goodbye', from 'gotta split' to 'later, gator!' A whimsical, fun set of insights marks a picturebook recommended for any general collection looking for something different.