Throughout much of the '80s and '90s, Boone devoted herself to her acting career, appearing across the country in productions of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Camelot, The King and I, and The Sound of Music, as well as on television. Beginning in 1988, she began yet another phase of her creative career writing children's books. Inspired by her own four children, Boone wrote Hours for Little Ones and Tomorrow Is a Brand New Day. Her 1997 book, Nightlights, was illustrated by her husband, Gabriel Ferrer. She has also produced two children's videos, Bobby Boone's Hug-A-Long Songs, Vol. 1 and Bobby Boone's Hug-A-Long Songs, Vol. 2.
In 2005, Boone made a return to music, releasing her first album since her 1989 holiday set, Home for Christmas. A tribute to her late mother-in-law, singer and actress Rosemary Clooney, Reflections of Rosemary saw Boone covering classic jazz and pop songs that Clooney had made famous, as well as songs that she felt warmly reflected the singer's personality. Touring heavily over the next several years, Boone continued to move toward a jazz and pop standards repertoire, releasing the big-band album, Swing This! in 2013. In 2017, she celebrated the 40th anniversary of her debut album, You Light Up My Life, with an expanded deluxe reissue. ~ Kim Summers, Rovi