The next Book in the BoBo series:

The Moon and I by Bobolina Delphina (BoBo)

BoBo shares her big worry with anyone who will listen, including Carl the Plant and the moon. In this book, BoBo teaches us about the superpower of sensitivity, emotional resiliency, and what to do when a worry weighs you down. Please see manuscript in process below.

Carl is a character that appears in The Moon and I. I envision Carl as an ancillary product to the book. He would be a soft ‘Mr. Potato Head’ of sorts, focused on emotions and emotional expression. Children will be able to change the facial expressions of Carl to show different emotions in addition to being able to change out his bowtie, shoes, glasses, and other possible accessories.

Manuscript/The Moon and I by Bobolina Delphina

Dear Love Muffins,

It’s me, BoBo! Today I have a lot on my heart to share, and I know you are very good listeners.

My human mom says worries aren’t as heavy when you let someone hold them for you. She says the only way to share the load is to let it out!

Here’s my big worry: Every night when my girl sleeps, I keep watch over her. Sometimes I think about her big feelings and her tender, loving heart.

Sometimes I think it’s too tender for this world that isn’t always so tender. She loves BIG just like me! She loves everything and everyone, and I just want everything and everyone to love her back!

First, I told this to Carlito Beethoven The Third. That’s him! (pointing to Carl the Plant) Don’t ask me who Carlito the First and Second are, because I don’t know! My girl is kind of quirky like that! My humans get a kick out of big names, and I guess that explains the names Carlito Beethoven the Third and Bobolina Delphina!

But back to the point! We just call him Carl for short.

I figured Carl was a good listener because he was staring at me like he was waiting for me to say something, anything! My girl gave him googly eyes because she says he’s very alive.

My girl says every living thing knows when it is loved, even plants, and flowers, and trees! She says they stand taller and look greener when they are loved.

I figured if Carl could feel love, then he could also hear me. So I poured my heart out to Carl about my big worry! I’ll tell you something, dumplings. He sure was a good listener! He didn’t say a peep! He listened with open ears, and I let it out!

After I talked to Carl, my worry got a little lighter, but it was still there, weighing me down.

About then, the moon was starting to rise in the sky as I thought about who else could help me carry my worry. I figured if a plant could listen, then so could the moon.

So I whispered to the moon, “Moon, please watch over my girl with a big heart. Please protect her from hard things.”

My little love muffins, do you know what? Unlike Carl, the moon talked back to me! She said, “BoBo, I will always watch over her, just as I watch over you, but I cannot protect her from hard things.”

This was some hard news. I hung my head, and my eyes filled with tears. But then the moon said, “But, BoBo, there is something we can do. We can help her grow her heart strong.”

This manuscript is still a work in progress. As the story continues, the moon goes on to tell BoBo ways to help her ‘grow her girl’s heart strong’. This includes gratitude practice, embracing our authentic selves, and reframing hard things as ways to learn and grow, etc., all told through BoBo’s voice and point of view in a language children can connect to and understand.

In the end, Bobo’s heart gets stronger, too, because when we listen to and help each other, we all grow.