Preorder Now: Releases March 18, 2025!
Join Bo and Mo on their adventure at sea in this sweet, interactive board book! Written by a pediatric speech-language pathologist and mother, this charming lift-the-flap book supports early speech and language goals, while engaging children with lyrical rhymes, beautiful illustrations, and adorable characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Bo the Boat is not just a sweet, interactive board book, but a powerful tool that supports speech, language, and literacy skills. The lift-the-flap feature, although not examined in the file, offers several opportunities for kids to interact with the characters. The file wasn’t without interactive opportunities. Kids can wave hi to Bo (the boat) and Captain Mo, honk their horns when they spot the ferry, name the colors of the fish and cars, and count them. Adults can extend the learning opportunity by asking children to color-match the car to the fish, fostering their cognitive development.
Bo the Boat also fosters a child’s emotional development. As we view each page, the reader should notice Bo and Mo’s feelings and facial expressions change as the scenes progress. Happy faces fade away when Bo and Mo encounter other ocean dwellers. Ask your child or class if they can name the characters’ emotions and their root causes.
The beautiful illustrations will catch the eye of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Even older children and adults reading this story to young kids will love the nautical theme, colors, and cute characters. The story’s rhyming lines comprised of common words and a limited word count make this book an ideal choice for first-time readers. This versatility makes Bo the Boat a perfect choice for families with children of different ages.
I recommend Bo the Boat for children up to 5 years. Encourage readers to interact with the story by waving hi and bye, saying good morning and good night to the sun and moon, naming objects and colors, counting the fish and stars, seeking out the starfishes on every page, and (when using the hardback) lifting the flap to unlock the hidden picture.
Bo the Boat is the perfect book to engage your child in the story’s happenings. Join Bo and Mo on their water adventure as they catch fish and an unexpected snapping guest, meet sea friends, and have fun from sunrise to sunset.
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: 
Meet the Author
Clare Short, M.Ed., CCC-SLP & Author
Clare Short is a speech-language pathologist living in Atlanta, GA with her husband and three young children. She studied English and Human Development as an undergraduate at Boston College, then completed her Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology at University of Virginia. When not working in pediatric acute care as an SLP or raising her children, she can be found searching for the best cookie in the city, savoring the perfect cup of tea, or traveling to the North Georgia mountains for a hike with her family and friends.
Clare’s debut children’s book is Bo the Boat! The lift-the-flap board book was created after countless hours of reading bedtime stories to her own children and over a decade as a speech-language pathologist. Clare is passionate about communication and empowering families to unlock new skills in their child’s speech toolbox. Her hope is that this book will be fun and engaging for babies, toddlers, and perhaps even older children who would like to cozy up with Bo and Mo. Bo’s world is inspired by several of Clare’s family’s “happy places” including Ocracoke Island, NC and Glen Arbor, MI. We hope that you enjoy going on this heartwarming journey as much as we have!
Interested in learning more about your child’s speech and language milestones?
Click here to visit the American Speech-Language and Hearing developmental milestone list!
