Be Bold, Bob

by Jane Porter, Jenni Desmond (Illustrator)

Overview

Bob the elephant follows his friend’s advice for letting go of stage fright in a sweet, encouraging story that will appeal to any child who experiences anxiety.

In the heart of the forest, everyone is getting ready for the big show. Everyone but Bob the elephant. Bob longs to sing on stage, but it’s impossible—he’s just too nervous. Whenever he tries, his ears get hot, his trunk feels tangled, and nothing but a tiny squeak pops out. When his friend Paloma, the ukulele-playing pangolin, shares her secret, Bob agrees to perform. But at the very last minute a minor disaster strikes and he can’t go on. Until, that is, he remembers Paloma’s secret—and how much he’d like to give her something in return. From the award-winning author of The Boy Who Loved Everyone, a story of overcoming your nerves and finding your voice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536249477
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	06/03/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jane Porter is the author of The Boy Who Loved Everyone, winner of a Christopher Award. A geography editor for a magazine before going to school to study illustration, she now works full-time as an illustrator, writer, and teacher—though she still loves maps! Jane Porter lives in London with her family.

Jenni Desmond is the author-illustrator of Albert’s Tree and the illustrator of On the Night of the Shooting Star by Amy Hest and Joy by Yasmeen Ismail, among many other books for children. Jenni Desmond lives in East London with her husband and daughters.

Editorial Reviews

A tale of stage fright conquered that hits all the right notes.
—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2025-02-15
A shy elephant longs to perform in public.

As the other forest animals rehearse for the Big Show, Bob withdraws. He wishes he could join them, but whenever he tries to sing, his ears become warm, his trunk gets tangled up, and all that comes out is a little squeak. In private, though, he’s an enthusiastic singer, and when a friendly pangolin named Paloma overhears him, she’s impressed and offers some sound advice: “Nobody minds if you get it wrong!” She even grabs her ukelele and rehearses with him. As Bob’s confidence grows, he starts believing in himself and prepares to share his song at the Big Show. He’s still racked by worries, but he’s determined to be brave—after all, Paloma will be by his side. Unfortunately, her ukelele strings snap just before the two are scheduled to go on. Bob flees the stage and hides, but when he hears Paloma crying (“I let Bob down”), he returns, takes a deep breath, and raises his “big, bold, and beautiful” voice in song. Desmond’s mixed-media images feature vividly hued watercolorlike washes of green and blue, and when Bob finally summons his courage, Pollock-esque splatters of color dot the pages. Porter’s warmly soothing text carries Bob along to a triumphant ending sure to embolden other reluctant performers.

A tale of stage fright conquered that hits all the right notes.(Picture book. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews