Are You Bored, Minimoni?

PreS-Gr 1–Monica, or Minimoni, as she is more affectionately called, has an active weekly schedule full of painting classes, hockey practice, library visits, and time with friends and family. However, when ­Sundays come, there is nothing planned on ­Minimoni’s schedule, and she grows bored with the free time. Left to her own imagination and a room full of books, toys, and craft supplies, how will Minimoni ­occupy herself? She begins with consulting a small mouse, who isn’t sure how to cure ­Minimoni’s boredom and sends her on a far-flung adventure to ask a series of animals, and even an alien, for their boredom-­busters. At first, the book’s use of a string of unhelpful creatures may feel random and disjointed, until a ­final spread reveals ­familiar miniature scenes constructed during ­Minimoni’s adventure, visually demonstrating to readers that the heroine intuitively tapped into her creativity to independently cure her boredom. ­Bonilla’s illustrations rendered in pencil and watercolor contribute a quality of fluidity, supporting the flowing nature of imagination. While the text and illustrations are equal partners in storytelling, each contributing unique details, the overarching story concept comes through most strongly in the recurrent depictions of imaginative playtime adventures. Minimoni and her mom have tan skin.