Don't Forget to Come Back!

by Robie H. Harris, Harry Bliss (Illustrator)

With warmth, empathy, and a healthy dose of hilarity, Robie H. Harris and Harry Bliss capture the many emotions children feel when parents go out — and a babysitter comes in!

Guess what? The babysitter is coming!

That

1. Mommy and Daddy are going out
2. the feisty heroine of this book is not going out . . .
3. and she doesn’t like that one bit!

Parents, kids, and babysitters alike will relate to—and laugh at—this all-too-familiar tale, wisely and wittily penned by an expert in child development and brought wickedly to life with detailed illustrations by a noted New Yorker cartoonist.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Humor, Family, Animals

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Robie H. Harris has written many award-winning books for children of all ages, including the definitive Family Library about sexuality: IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL, IT'S SO AMAZING!, and IT'S NOT THE STORK! She lives in Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

An adorable little girl rebels against the thought of having a babysitter the night her parents are going out. Cute and funny.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl's parents leave her with a babysitter for one evening, and she is NOT eaten by a moose.

Very cute story, and I always love Harry Bliss's illustrations.

[Anna-Claire Pilkington · Rating 5 out of 5]

1) This book is about a little girl who does not want her parents to leave her with a babysitter. She lists off multiple reasons why they shouldn't go. After employing fear tactics and threatening to run away, she realizes that her parents are still going to leave. When the babysitter arrives, the little girl actually has a lot of fun with her and does not even have time to miss her parents. She is thankful in the morning when she tiptoes into her parents room and sees that they did not forget to come home!

2) The major theme of this story is fear of a child's parents leaving.

3) I personally babysit often and always hate when a child is sad to see their parents go and don't want to be left with me. This book offers insight into the thought process of the child and their fear that the parents won't return. It was also fun to read because it showed how being a fun babysitter takes away the child's anxiety and allows them to relax.

4) I would recommend this book to children because a majority of children have separation anxiety and do not want their parents to leave them. This book reassures the child that their parents still love them and will come back at the end of the night. It can also get children more excited for a babysitter after seeing some fun things they can do.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

The young narrator is growing up, whether she likes it or not.

* How do her parents prepare to go out? The picture book's words flow naturally, but their way of preparing-and-ignoring, as appropriate, strikes me as model parenting.

* Babysitter Sarah? She does everything right as well, an exemplary babysitter.

ONCE AGAIN ROBIE H. HARRIS HAS WRITTEN A BOOK ON TWO LEVELS

Seems to me, kids will identify with the young narrator. (And also learn that they're not unique in resisting when their caregivers go out.)

Adults can learn a LOT about parenting skills. I mean, a LOT.

ROBIE H. HARRIS... I'M ON TO YOU

Despite the age-appropriate vocab, you've delivered a superb book on parenting for caregivers; as well as an honest and perceptive fictional romp for picture book readers.

All the while making everything seem so easy and natural. By the end you had tied up every single loose end. Masterful!

ARTIST HARRY BLISS

I'm now your big fan too. You've brought this book superb illustrations, full of spunk and vinegar; yet also kind of cuddly-like.

Also, reading your bio on the back cover flap, I learn that you're a frequent cartoonist and cover artist for the only magazine I subscribe to, The New Yorker. Figures.

[Kaylin Matejek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't Forget to Come Back is told from a young girl's perspective as her parents are getting ready to leave her with a babysitter for the night. Immediately, the young girl begins informing her parents that she is not a baby and she does not need a babysitter. She does everything in her power to persuade her dad and mom not to leave her. Unfortunately for her, her parents continue on with their plans for the night and leave her with Sarah, the babysitter.

Robie H. Harris created a fun book that has doses of warmth and empathy throughout its pages. I believe this will be an entertaining read in a kindergarten or first grade class room because, chances are, many students can relate to the main character. If used in a classroom I think this would work best when talking about families, but no matter how it is used I think children will enjoy it.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how this got on my list but perhaps because the cover art reminds of Jon Agee, who is clever, and maybe because I know the author from her birds & bees books.
---
Guess what? It will appeal, I think, to readers of both. It's not the most amazing or original book, but it's funny, and there are cute details, and I do recommend it if you're interested in the topic.

I just wonder. Was this child never left before? She does know that what's coming up is good, so, yes? But she kicks up such a fuss, so no? I guess she's just a little drama queen... the parents' deadpan reactions are the best clue, I think.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable kid who has a flair for dramatic hyperbole stays home with the babysitter when mom and dad go out. In the end, she discovers that her babysitter isn't so stupid, and she enjoys a silly night with a good babysitter.

[Mason King · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had its fair share of ups and downs. Silly at times which would not be appropriate for younger elementary students. However, the theme is clear in this one. I do not believe I would put this on my shelf for the students to read.

[Tania Henriques · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was super entertaining and kept me laughing, it also reminded me of my childhood when I didn't want my parents to leave me with a sitter. I definitely recommend all parents to read this silly book to their children!

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kid in this book is soooo bossy I wouldn’t want my kiddo getting any ideas 😉

[Timothy Farring · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe a lesson in social learning?
That just because someone is leaving for the night they still love you and they will be back
I liked the art in this book

[Mandy Scheuren]

Robie B. Harris depicts a young girl who is very furious after her daddy tells her him and her mommy are going out after supper. She was going to have a babysitter come to watch over her. She tells her daddy three important things; she is not a baby, she is a big kid and so she does not need a stupid babysitter! Her daddy still tells her they were going to go out. She then tries to tell him three scary things; if they go out their house will be blown down by a huge thunderstorm, she will get a tummy ache and throw up and the biggest baddest moose will eat her all up! Her parents still go out and the babysitter, Sarah, comes over. She tells her parents “Don’t forget to come back!” She and Sarah end up having a spectacular time! She told her parents no scary things happened and Sarah is so silly!

[Jenna Scurto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t Forget to Come Back by Robbie Harris is told from a young girl’s point of view, as her parents are getting ready to have a night out on the town. Their daughter is scared for them to leave so she starts off explaining why she doesn’t need a babysitter and then why they should not go out. Each time she explains in three’s, when this does not work she pretends to run away. The little girl tries everything she can think off to persuade her parents to stay, but eventually she realizes her babysitter Sarah is not so bad and they end up having a fun evening. This book would be best for pre-K to kindergarten aged kids and it is best read with the help of an adult. Though, this book could be used in school when discussing family, it would most likely be best used in a home setting. The TumbleBook version added a little extra excitement, by adding in movement and different sound effects.

[Hannah Grosse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't exactly the greatest, but it wasn't too bad. The persistence of the kid was kind of cute, and she does have an imaginaltion. She is kind of stubborn, and wants her own way. I am glad the parents did not give in. Sarah, the babysitter, was fun, true. Peanut butter on her pizza, and getting to go to bed with clown make-up on. I wonder what her parents thought when they got home. Another minor detail that I think actually could have been a huge part of the mediocrity of the book was that of the expressions on the faces of the parents. Sure, the little girl is expressive, but the parents' faces are kind of "eh," the whole time. Lastly, though, I never really had a babysitter, so I never had this experience. Maybe had I experienced something like this, I would have more to relate to.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Level: Primary

This book is a Tumblebooks and can be found at the following url: http://www.tumblebooks.com.proxy.nl.e...

This digital book is one that all primary students can relate to. After reading this book, a discussion can be started on how students try to convince their parents to stay home because they do not want to stay with a babysitter. The students can also share their stories about all the fun they have with the babysitter.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows a young girl who's parents are going out for the evening and so she has to be left with a babysitter. This does not sit well with the little girl and she does not want her parents to go. Eventually, the babysitter arrives and her parents leave. The babysitter keeps her so occupied that her anxiety over her parents going out is forgotten and when she wakes up in the morning and sneaks into her parents room, she sees that they came back after all. This is a great book for students who have anxiety when being dropped off at school and their parents leaving.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

With warmth, empathy, and a healthy dose of hilarity, Robie H. Harris and Harry Bliss capture the many emotions children feel when parents go out and a babysitter comes in!

Guess what? The babysitter is coming! That means:
1. Mommy and Daddy are going out
2. the feisty heroine of this book is not going out . . .
3. and she doesn't like that one bit!

Parents, kids, and babysitters alike will relate to and laugh at this all-too-familiar tale, wisely and wittily penned by an expert in child development and brought wickedly to life with detailed illustrations by a noted New Yorker cartoonist.

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little girl is unhappy about being left with a baby sitter while her parents go out for an evening. She makes all kinds of threats from she'll be eaten by a moose to she won't be good anymore if they go out. The parents just ignore her dramatics and go out anyway, leaving her with Sarah, the babysitter. The little girl ends up having a great time with the baby sitter, and of course, he parents remember to come back.

Nice illustrations.

[Ajit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book about a kid who doesn't want her parents to go out. One thing, there is a picture of the kid pouring milk and on the carton it says 150% half milk. Which I think was meant to say 150% 2/3rds milk which would be whole milk. 150% half milk is a carton that contains only 75% milk. But the book is very good and the illustrator is wonderful.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good story to read to children, especially in preparation of having a babysitter come over so Mom and Dad can go out for the evening. It's a fun story, but it also validates children's feelings of anxiety over parents going out and leaving them. Our girls enjoyed watching the story on the Tumblebooks website. (tumblebooks.com)

[Tanika · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a funny story about a little girl who doesn’t want her parents to go out. She doesn’t want to be stuck in the house with a baby sitter because she says she is a big girl. When the parents left the little girl enjoyed herself with the baby sitter. This story shows different ways to use punctuation and play with words.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

With warmth, empathy, and a healthy dose of hilarity, Robie H. Harris and Harry Bliss capture the many emotions children feel when parents go out--and a babysitter comes in!
Guess what? The babysitter is coming!
That means:
1. Mommy and Daddy are going out
2. the feisty heroine of this book is not going out . . .
3. and she doesn't like that one bit!
Parents, kids, and babys...more

[Alyssa Casto]

This book is about a little girl and her parents are going out to dinner for the night. The little girl doesn't want them to leave or have the babysitter come, a child's worst fear. She presents to runaway as most children have done but her parents still go out. She realizes that her babysitter is not that bad and she actually likes having a babysitter

[Melanie Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, important book for any parent of a 3-5 year old who gets anxious about people leaving for dinner or a weekend getaway. It puts the kid's emotion in script which is often easy for the child than them being able to say they're scared, lonely themselves!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent for getting toddlers prepared for babysitters or nights out. My daughter loved the realism of the mom getting dressed up in high heels, etc., and all the child's attempts to get the parents to stay.

[Sarah Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute book for younger students that they could relate to. I thought the pictures helped imagine what was going on and really added to the humor. Another great story for a read aloud, but also for first and second graders.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl struggles with emotions as her parents get ready to go out for the night. Her babysitter, Sarah is silly and helps to keep her busy with fun activities instead of worrying about her parents. This book is a great example of empathy on many levels.

[Amber]

1 Copy

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about a child nervous her parents are going out... without her!

[Jeremy Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminded me of Froggy's Babysitter (I think that's the name). Regardless, it was okay, my kids thought it was cute, but not stellar.