Overview
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.
While major retailers like Amazon may carry Philomena and the Big Bad Mimi, we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.
We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.
Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of Philomena and the Big Bad Mimi.