BORED, by Felicita Sala, Neal Porter Books, Jan. 6, 2026, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 4-8)
Utter boredom leads one imaginative girl to inspiration in Bored, a picture book by Felicita Sala.
Rita is bored. So, so, so bored.
She’s tried stretching her body across her bedroom, side-eyeing herself in the mirror, stomping her feet and swinging her arms. Time drags on, and there she remains: catatonic with boredom.
In her tragic and weakened state, her mind drifts to the beginning of a daydream. What if all the bored people in the world gathered together and got onto a bus? What if the boredom filled them up like balloons, with tiny heads and arms sticking out? What if they floated into the sky, bobbing along until they each spied something exciting enough to make them toot the boredom out?
By the time Rita’s mother calls her for dinner, she’s very, very busy. —Synopsis provided by Neal Porter Books
Being bored is one of the most important skills for a child to develop. Boredom sparks imagination and creativity.
Bored celebrates those moments of tedium that lead to excitement and inspiration. Creator Felicita Sala’s text mirrors the emotion while leaving room for whimsy to bloom. Her watercolor, gouache, colored pencil and oil pastel illustrations make excellent use of color and space. This book is one kids will understand and love.
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