Yes [Paperback]

Jez Alborough (Author)

Book Description

"Yes!" Bobo loves bath time. But when Mummy comes to put him to bed, Bobo says "No!" Will the naughty little chimp ever get out of the bath and snuggle down to sleep?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1–The irrepressible chimp is back, and this time he doesn't want to go to bed. When Mama tells Bobo that it is bathtime, he enthusiastically responds yes, yes, yes, but when she announces bedtime, he throws a tantrum, utilizing every toddler's favorite word: no! Mama walks away, leaving her son pouting until two friends come along and play with him until he falls asleep. The elephant takes the sleeping chimp to Mama's waiting arms and all is well. While some people may find the result of Bobo's tantrum–that he gets to play until he falls asleep–somewhat troubling, the large, colorful pictures are so delightful that children's enjoyment will outweigh most concerns. Preschoolers and beginning readers alike will be drawn to the cartoonlike, multimedia illustrations, which are broken up nicely into panels to lend motion and flow to the story. The generous size of the appealing illustrations and simplicity of the text will lend themselves well to group and one-on-one reading. While not an essential purchase, many libraries will want to say YES to this pleasant addition.–Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Using only a few words and cartoonlike art, Alborough brings back Bobo the chimp (Hug, 2004) in a not-quite-ready-for-bedtime scenario that will strike a chord with children and grown-ups everywhere. "Bath time, Bobo!" elicits an enthusiastic "Yes!" But bedtime brings a resounding "No!" as well as a case of the sulks and escape to the pond. But some enthusiastic splashing with friends is just the thing to perk Bobo up--and wear him out. Soon it's bedtime for Bobo at last. The text, consisting predominantly of yes and no, appears in word bubbles, and bright gouache pictures, full-page and vertical panels, present lively depictions of expressions and verbal and nonverbal interactions--from Bobo happily playing with friends to being curled up asleep, cozy in his leafy bed. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Walker Childrens Paperbacks (August 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1406304565
• ISBN-13: 978-1406304565
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #388,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jez was born in Kingston upon Thames in 1959. He went to art school in Norwich and then set about entering the competitve world of children's books. Jez has now written and illustrated over thirty picture books for children, he was runner up of the 1985 Mother Goose Award with his first book Bare Bear. Jez lives in London with his Danish wife.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Story, April 10, 2007

By 

Cheryll L. Nelson "Speech and Language Pathol... (Union Grove, WI) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Yes (Hardcover)

I purchased this book back in January and it quickly became the favorite of one of my students. It is a good one for demonstrating the daily tussles between parent and child, esp. when the child is tired and doesn't want to do what the parent knows the child needs to do (go to sleep).

Books with no or little text are excellent avenues for exploring whatever is pertinent to the caregiver-child relationship. You can use whatever words the child needs to hear/learn. The use of simple words with reduplicated syllables (Bobo, the little chimp's name and Mama) allows even children with limited verbal abilities to participate orally.

Jez Alborough's illustrations are vibrant, full of energy and humor.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First book on negotiation for your child, February 19, 2008

By 

P. Veerakamolmal "Joe Lin" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Yes (Hardcover)

This is the second book by Jez Alborough that I bought in a near by bookstore in Brookline MA. The first time I read this book to my 1.8 years old, I thought "oh oh" because, like an earlier reviewer mentioned, Bobo monkey obviously said 'no' several times. Fast forward several weeks after having read this book to my child almost every night, it offers my child an option to say 'no' at times and allow us to enter into a productive (allow you to detect an objection before the child starts crying or being passive aggressive) negotiation. Being a toddler with limited means of communication is not easy. Knowing how to use 'no' as this book demonstrates will give a child a way to express objection. This book teaches a child to express and detect emotions (when friends are being playful or Bobo's mom is angry) that is important in a relationship.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for toddlers, October 24, 2008

By 

M. McAulay (Portland OR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Yes (Hardcover)

Yikes! I don't want to make too big a deal out of it but some of the negative reviews on this title really have me shaking my head.

First of all: Bobo's mommy does not leave him alone! She very clearly goes and hides behind a bush and watches him to be sure he's safe.

Second: the notion that this book will teach a toddler to be negative is preposterous. Toddlers are going to experiment with boundaries as a natural part of their development and that includes negativity. It's comical (but also sad) to imagine parents who probably say "no" to their toddlers a dozen times a day worrying that this book will somehow exacerbate the situation.

Our daughter loved this book from around 14 months through 20 months or so. The art is beautiful (as always with Jez Alborough) and the characters' faces are very expressive which afforded us plenty of opportunities to talk about what they were feeling. In our household we don't try to suppress negative emotions, rather we work on understanding them, communicating them respectfully, and channeling them into positive outlets. There is nothing whatsoever in Yes that's incompatible with these goals.

All of the Bobo books are worth having. The art is beautiful and the stories are stripped down to their fundamental emotional elements which makes them ideal for toddlers. Hug and Tall are arguably better but Yes is still great. Highly recommended.