Bossy Flossy by Paulette Bogan (Review, Author Interview and Giveaway!)

Book Details:

Book Title: Bossy Flossy by Paulette Bogan
Category: Children's fiction, 32 pages
Genre: children's picture book, social skills, friendship
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Release date: July 2016
Tour dates: Sept 1 to 30, 2016
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

Flossy is the bossiest girl around. She's bossy at home and she's bossy in school. She's bossy to her friends and she's bossy to her cat. Sometimes she's even bossy to her teacher! Flossy doesn't understand why no one will listen to her. One day, Flossy meets Edward, a boy who may be just as bossy as she is. Has Flossy finally met her match?

Buy the Book: Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Book Depository ~ Chapters Indigo

Our Review

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani and her son Alessio

As soon as we received this book in the mail, we liked the look of it. A little redhead is on the front cover with a bossy stance. She's on her bed with her stuffed toys and it looks like she means business. I love it! I've taken that same stance when addressing my teen kids. And I'm a redhead!

But seriously, this is the beauty with kidlit. It can touch both children and adults. So with the catchy title of this book and it's attractive front cover, my son and I dug in. Flossy is a bossy kid. She's also creative and smart but being bossy has consequences. When Flossy meets Edward, another child who is also bossy, she begins to understand what it's like to be bossed around and so does he. They begin to understand that giving consideration to others and their feelings is a good thing.

There were a few reasons why we loved this book. The first is that it had bright illustrations with pages that are filled with bold colors. It's perfect for the subject matter and Flossy's personality. We also liked that the author included inner dialogue in the form of dialogue bubbles. This was brilliant. The sentences are short but to the point making it easy for a young child to quickly pick up on the characters' feelings and to be able to relate.

Even a kid who isn't bossy could relate to Flossy's inner dialogue. What kid hasn't thought, "I'm trying to tell her something. She never listens to me." Just ask your kid. Actually, this book opened up dialogue between my son and I. I love books that do that. A parent can take advantage of Flossy's inner dialogue to ask their child if they've ever felt that way. The answers might be surprising!

Next we noticed that the author includes children of various backgrounds in her school setting. My son picked up on that right away. And having both a boy and a girl who are bossy is good so that any child can relate since being bossy is not a gender-related trait. Finally, we thought it very realistic that during the last scene, sometimes Flossy and Edward revert back to being bossy. No child (or adult) is perfect and even when we learn a good quality we can still struggle throughout our growing years to master it. Parents and educators can help children understand that learning new ways takes time but it's possible and attainable, even if at times we fall back to our old ways.

That last scene was quite funny actually and as a parent I found it touching and adorable. Flossy and Edward are holding hands as they are walking and arguing, and we can see that they've forged a friendship. My son and I recommend this book to parents, grandparents, teachers and educators.

To read more reviews, please visit Paulete Bogan's page on iRead Book Tours.

Disclosure: We received this book in exchange for an honest review. We were not told how to rate or review this book.

Our Interview with Paulette Bogan

Hi Paulette! My 12 year-old son Alessio who still likes to review kidlit, has read Bossy Flossy and we would love to chat with you briefly about your latest book.

Laura & Alessio: We've read tons of children's books and we can see this will be a winner. How did you come up with the story and the title? It's catchy.

I was a bossy child! I have three girls who are all bossy in their own way. I was watching an old home

video of my oldest daughter, Sophia, when she was about six. She was trying to direct a play starring

her two little sisters and the dog. Her sisters were having a great time, but not really listening. Sophia

was very bossy, but also very clear about what she wanted. I could see her innocence and her

directness, and her frustration in making what she wanted happen. I wanted to create a character

that felt the same frustration. A character that had a strong personality and knew what she wanted,
but didn’t always know how to communicate. A character that was bossy! Oh, and my grandfather
used to call cousin Joan, Flossy!

My daughters when they were little!

Me!

Laura: I noticed you use inner dialogue to show young readers how the characters are feeling. Do you think that this is important in children's lit to validate feelings so that children can relate to the characters?

I talk to myself all the time. Always have. I just assume my characters will as well! I believe whether it’s through expressions, or actions, or inner dialogue it’s important to show how the character is feeling. Kids pick up on it right away!

Laura & Alessio: We noticed you make good use of bold colors in your illustrations. We like that. Did you choose to do this because you felt it would suit the storyline or because that is your trademark?

The colors certainly suit Flossy’s personality and Edward’s! The colors actually just seem to happen. I just had a feeling about how I wanted the book to look. Like in Virgil & Owen, I just felt pale blue and white. Snow and sky everywhere! Bossy Flossy needed to be bright and bold.

Laura: I've always liked strong female characters in books, whether children, YA or adult fiction. Flossy is such a character. How important do you think it is, in kidlit, to create believable characters who are strong?

I agree, Laura. I love strong characters. I think it is very important that authors create characters we can relate to as children, whether they are outspoken, or quiet and shy, as long as they grow and learn within the book. I was Harriet the spy! And I solved mysteries just like Nancy Drew (at least in my imagination I did!).

Alessio: What are your hobbies?

I like to jog, not very fast. I love crossword puzzles, but only easy ones, because I get frustrated very easily. I love to read! I don’t go anywhere without a book. I used to surf, but then I broke my leg. Reading is safer.

Alessio: How do you create your illustrations? Any special techniques?

I’m glad you asked, Alessio! Bossy Flossy is done in a new technique for me. I start out by painting the characters with ink and watercolor on watercolor paper.

Next I cut each character and some other elements out leaving a bit of a white border around them.

Then I use colored paper, and glue stick and collage it all together. The hardest part is cutting all the pieces out. It takes forever!

Laura: What were some of your favorite childhood books?

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, Nancy Drew Mysteries by Carolyn Keene, I had the whole set!

Laura & Alessio: Favorite dessert?

Black and white milkshake from Hoffmann’s Ice Cream at the Jersey Shore! So thick you need a spoon.

Laura: If you could travel back in time, where would you go?

I wouldn’t go back. There’s no air conditioning. I’d go forward. I’d love to say, “Beam me up.”

(my wedding invitation)

Laura & Alessio: What would you like readers to take away from your books?

I’d like them to laugh and cuddle, read along, and say, “again!”

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions!

Thank YOU!

About the Author:

Paulette Bogan admits she was bossy as a child. She is the author and illustrator ofVirgil & Owen, which was chosen as one of Bank Street Best Children's books of the Year 2016, Virgil & Owen Stick Together, which won a Mom's Choice Award Gold Medal for Picture Books, and Lulu The Big Little Chick, which won a Children's Choice Book Award. She lives in New York City with her husband, three daughters, and two dogs. They ALL think she is STILL bossy. But they've never told her to go to her room!

To find out more about Paulette Bogan, download cool activities and to check out new books go to www.paulettebogan.com.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

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