Philomena and the Big Bad Mimi

A little girl’s big ego meets its match in this fun, clever take on learning to share the spotlight.

No one wants to play with Philomena, and she knows why: it’s the big, bad Mimi. Whenever someone starts talking, the Mimi shows up, and it becomes impossible for Philomena to not talk about herself. “ME, too! Watch ME! Listen to ME!” It’s becoming a problem - for everyone. Philomena is desperate to for the big, bad Mimi to go away so the other children will play with her again. So she’s thrilled when her teacher tells her there’s a powerful creature that can chase away the big, bad Mimi for good. When Philomena finally encounters this creature, she discovers why listening to what others have to say is a skill worth practicing.

Author Geneviève Jannelle shows young children how caring conquers ego in this enchanting picture book. By depicting the relatable impulse to be self-centered as a fictional creature, Jannelle helps children see this impulse as something they can manage, encouraging them to build empathy, listening skills and understanding. The story offers a practical suggestion to decenter oneself from a conversation - simply say, “And you?” - that readers will be eager to try themselves! Illustrator Jasmine Mirra Turcotte uses a soft palette to depict the big, bad Mimi as something akin to a butterfly that hovers nearby, growing and shrinking in size, with a tentacle that attaches to Philomena’s belly button. This practical social-emotional learning tool for both the classroom and at home is also a wonderful read-aloud.