Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead illustrated by Nicholas Gannon

When she was just five years old, Livy visited and stayed with her Grandmother in a small town in Victoria, Australia about two hours drive from Melbourne. Livy's mum is from Australia but the family now live in Massachusetts. Livy is now ten and she and her mum have come back to show off the newest member of the family - baby Beth Ann. Strangely Livy has no memories from their previous visit but something niggles at the back of her mind. Then she discovers a surprise in her wardrobe - it is Bob!

But who is Bob? Where did he come from? Why has he been in this wardrobe for five years? How come he can talk? Why is he dressed up like a chicken? How does he know so much about Livvy? Why can't Livy remember her promise to Bob? And why does he love licorice so much?

All of these questions and deeper ones about the devasting drought that is causing great hardship in this country town form the basis of this totally engrossing story which is told by the two alternating voices of Livy and Bob. (Try to find Runt if you want to read another book about this impact of droughts here in Australia). 

Inside the wardrobe Bob has some Lego to play with, comics to read, and a huge dictionary. Some of his favourite words are listed at the back of the book - brunch, eternity, library, solo and serendipity. His definitions are sure to make you smile.

I have resisted reading Bob for nearly six years! I read that it was set in Australia but knowing Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead live in America I feared it would be filled with Aussie cliches - think of Crocodile Dundee which is a movie that makes me cringe. This is absolutely not the case. Rebecca wrote her first part of the story on the plane home from Australia then she and Wendy Mass spent the next seven years creating their story.

The book is imaginative, intriguing and endearing. It is charming and funny in equal measure. It is sweet, in a myriad delightful ways. It truly touches at the same time as it entertains and surprises. It is a story that so beautifully captures aspects of both five and ten-year-old childhood that it chimes with much that is universal too. Magicfictionsincepotter

Mass and Stead’s brilliant collaboration has produced a beautiful tale of friendship, love, and the magic of childhood. Livy and Bob’s points of view alternate chapters, and each character’s personality is wonderfully realized with subtle nuances of emotion and humor. School Library Journal

Watch this video with Colby Sharp (6 minutes) where he shares his delight over reading this terrific book. Here are some teachers notes from the US Publisher Macmillan.

Anyway, I was TOTALLY TOTALLY wrong! Bob is a fabulous book with terrific illustrations and an imaginary friend who you definitely need to meet. Nicholas Gannon also illustrated The Doldrums.

Author blurb: It’s been five years since Livy and her family have visited Livy’s grandmother in Australia. Now that she’s back, Livy has the feeling she’s forgotten something really, really important about Gran’s house. It turns out she’s right. Bob, a short, greenish creature dressed in a chicken suit, didn’t forget Livy, or her promise. He’s been waiting five years for her to come back, hiding in a closet like she told him to. He can’t remember who—or what—he is, where he came from, or if he even has a family. But five years ago Livy promised she would help him find his way back home. Now it’s time to keep that promise. Clue by clue, Livy and Bob will unravel the mystery of where Bob comes from, and discover the kind of magic that lasts forever.

Awards:

• Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Award
• Mythopoeic Society Book Award
• Golden Cowbell Book Award, Switzerland
• The Cartwheel Book Award for Best Non-human Character
• The Nerdy Bookclub award

If you have read any of my past posts you might know I am a little bit crazy about imaginary friends.  Here are some of my favourite books:

O'Diddy

Tish

Crenshaw

Kaline Klattermaster's Tree House

Leo and Ralph

You also need to hunt out a copy of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble - I won't say why just believe me it is important.

I gave five stars to a previous collaborate between Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead:

The Lost Library

The Midnight Guardians by Ross Montgomery

This book is set during the early years of World War II. Col's father has been killed in the city and so it is decided that Col will leave his sister to continue her work as a messenger and Col himself will move to Buxton to stay with his aunt. None of this is what Col wants. He has lost his dad and now it feels as though he has lost his sister. He clings to the promise that she will visit for Christmas but when she fails to arrive Col knows he has to get back to London. 

As a very young child, Col had three special imaginary friends. A huge tiger who can grow and shrink; a badger who wears a waistcoat; and a small but very opinionated knight. When Col sets off from Buxton he finds himself drawn to a house where he used to stay with his father and sister. In the attic he encounters his old friends. They share some devastating news. London will be bombed heavily in just a few nights. His sister Rose will be in great danger. This bombing is by Hitler but it also coincides with the rise of Midwinter King. This evil character is set to destroy his own enemy - the Green Man. S, this story becomes a race to London, a race to save Rose and even more importantly a race to stop the Midwinter King and his evil army.

One review comments: Confused? It does seem like a bit of a mixture of genres - an evacuee story a la 'Goodnight Mr Tom', and more recently 'The Skylark's War' and 'Letters from the Lighthouse'; a giant big-cat guardian, fighting knights and other-worldly battles with creatures a la 'Narnia' and the 'Lord of the Rings' adventures, and a Midwinter King reminiscent of Game of Thrones 'Night King', complete with his own skeleton horse, army of giants, dark-metal sword, and the threat of bringing winter, death and destruction to the human realm...

There are several things that help to make this book a gripping read - the action moves along quickly because there is a six- or seven-day deadline. The three friends are, at times, very funny but they also make a terrific team. Pendlebury (the tiger) is the voice calm reason; Mr Noakes (the badger) tries so hard to help Col and he makes the little Knight so angry every time he forgets to use his full title - King of Rogues. Between chapters there are fact pages based on real World War II newspapers and leaflets. This reminded me of Vinnie's war. Col is joined by another young refugee (you can see her on the book cover) - a young Jewish girl named Ruth. She gently shares some of her traditions with Col such as lighting the Chanukah candles. Some of the mythical creatures such as the giants are also very funny. 

Thanks to the Three Sparrows bookshop for this book recommendation. This book would be enjoyed by readers aged 11+ who have strong reading stamina, a curiosity about World War II and who enjoy stories of the triumph of good over evil. 

The prose includes plenty of dialogue, is stylish and contemporary – accessible, carrying the reader through the adventures and bringing them to life. This is an author whose skills have been steadily developing and here we see him at his best. Love Reading4Kids

A magical mix of action, magic and adventure, and a moral tale about love, courage and memories conquering darkness and evil, I cannot wait to use this in my classroom - it will have the children hanging on every word - I was! What I read

Listen to an audio sample here. 

Leo and Ralph by Peter Carnavas

 

Image source: Peter Carnavas

"Just because you couldn't see something, didn't mean it wasn't there."

Video from UQP

Leo's head is full of wonder. 

"His head was filled with questions. Were his footsteps like earthquakes for tiny bugs in the grass. Why was an apple called an apple and cake called cake? What if everyone slept during the day and stayed awake at night?"

One day he sees a white balloon floating in the sky. How long will it float? Will it float forever? Where will it come down? What if the wind blows it higher? Where does the sky end? His mother uses the word forever and so Leo's fascination with space, the universe, aliens, and other worlds begins.

"The whole sky - all that endless space - was suddenly inside him, filling his chest until he thought he might burst. It was the most exciting thing he had ever heard."

Other kids don't exactly reject Leo, but he just doesn't fit in at school. Games are confusing, he takes a long while to answer questions, and all that noise from crowds of kids are just too much for young Leo. Then one day Ralph arrives. Actually, he turns up when Leo sees another white balloon in the tree outside his room. Ralph has come from another planet. Ralph is the perfect friend. Now Leo can cope with life, and he no longer needs to worry that he is disappointing his mum and dad. But Ralph does tell Leo he will stay for "as long as you need me." Does this mean one day Ralph will need to leave?

Allison Tait was also deeply affected by this book - she says it contains a stunning "depiction of loneliness and not fitting in and trying to follow the instructions of well-meaning parents and the sheer overwhelm of trying to make a friend when you're not sure how."  "It's a wonderful ode to the power of the imagination."  Your Kids Next Read podcast from [10.36- 14.49].

I went to the post office on Friday and there were three parcels waiting for collection. One was this book sent by the publisher University of Queensland Press. I can hardly describe the wonderful experience of reading this book this morning. Peter Carnavas has done it again! There is just the right amount of tension in this story to keep you turning the page and just the right depth of emotion. I cared so much about young Leo - I almost held my breath through the first fifty pages. Things are so hard for young Leo. I also needed those hugs that Peter Carnavas includes in the story from mum, dad, his little sister Peg and especially from Ralph.

I know it is very early in the year, but I am certain this book will be a CBCA (Children's Book of Australia) Younger Readers notable title and surely it will also make the short list. Leo and Ralph will be published on 1st March, 2024.

There are so many FABULOUS things about this book - the writing, the character of Leo, his journey through this early part of his life and the beautifully expressive writing of Peter Carnavas. Here are a few phrases which I loved reading:

"Leo stood in the playground in the shade of his big bucket hat. He looked like a tiny beach umbrella."

"Inside his belly, a thick lump of worry washed away like a fistful of sand in the ocean."

'Dundle was orange-brown. And oven-hot. As Leo stood with his family on the footpath of the main street, he felt like a blob of dough crisping into a biscuit."

I also love the wonderful teachers in this story. Every teacher is kind to Leo and accepting of Ralph culminating with Ms Pengari his Grade Four teacher who wears crazy costumes every day (rather like Ms Frizzle from The Magic School bus series). Her clothes match the class topic. Below are a few descriptions. I know Peter Carnavas is a teacher - I wonder if he might be just like Ms Pengari or perhaps he worked with a colleague like her. I do hope she is a real person. So often I read books about 'out of step kids' like Leo and their teachers are totally demonized. I just wanted to meet and hug every one of Leo's teachers and thank them for their kindness. 

Here are some descriptions of Ms Pengari:

"A woman stepped out, wearing a flowery Hawaiian shirt, fluoro yellow boardshorts and a pair of slippers. She had rainbow zinc stiped across her face and she wore a big floppy hat and sunglasses."

"She wore a back witch's hat and carried a plastic wand, ready for the next lesson about the magic of measurement."

"She wore and eyepatch and a pirate hat and waved a plastic sword. 'Yarrrr! What's taking ye so long? we're about to set sail to the land of fractions."    

"She wore a pair of pilot's goggles strapped to her head - they were supposed to be flying to the twin islands of Area and Perimeter ..."

I am sure you know the expression show don't tell - there are two utterly wonderful examples of this in Leo and Ralph - one has to do with Leo's friend Gus and the other is something his mother says close to the end of the book - a precious moment of connection that is sure to make you smile.

Leo and Ralph will arrive in schools over the coming weeks. It is a title that has been included in several standing order selections.

If you read this book with an older reader (say 10+) try to find The Watertower by Gary Crew - I had the illustrations in this book in my mind when Leo saw the strange water tower in his new town of Dundle. 

I do really enjoy books about imaginary friends. My all-time favourite is O'Diddy but it is a very old book and long long out of print sadly.

I would also pair this book with The Year of Billy Miller and A boy called Bat. For older readers I also suggest Things seen from Above and Sunshine by Marion Dane Bauer. Also look for Crenshaw.

Here are the two other junior novels by Peter Carnavas - every Primary school library in Australia (and beyond) should also add these to their library collection.

My Brother Ben

The Elephant

Sunshine by Marion Dane Bauer

When Ben was just three years old his mother left. One day she was there the next she was gone. Ben has spent his life wondering. Why did she leave? Did he do something wrong? Is there something he could do to persuade her to come back? Is any of this connected with his own anxiety? Ben is afraid of heights and the dark.

One of the ways Ben has been able to cope with his life circumstances is through the deep friendship of his beloved dog named Sunshine. 

Now that he is older Ben asks his father if he can spend a week staying with his mother. She lives on a very remote, off grid island in the middle of north Minnesota. His father takes him to meet his mother and she arrives in a small canoe. The journey to her home will take several hours and about half way the canoe will need to be portaged (or carried across some land) before the journey can continue.

Very early in the book though, readers are given a hint or two about Sunshine. Ben reaches out to pat her and his father says "you're doing it again, aren't you?". Doing what? Later in the cafe Ben drops a few cold chips for Sunshine:

"Ben drops another French Fry on the floor. It lands next to the first, pale and limp, but Sunshine, lying with her chin on her paws, doesn't even glance at it. He likes to feed her leftovers, but she not much for eating them."

Wait a minute - do you know any dog who would leave a chip, even a cold chip, lying on the floor? Then Ben steps into the canoe and realises his dog is missing. 

"Why did he think he needed to go looking for Sunshine anyway? She's there. Just the way she always is. Right in front of him ... "

Perhaps you have worked out something about Sunshine (read the Kirkus review for plot details). Over the course of a few days with his mother Ben will learn things about himself and more importantly things about his mother and the events from her past that lead her to leave her precious young son. This is a very moving, deeply engrossing and emotional story. It is a short book with 193 pages so I read it all in one session. Readers who love dogs will recognise the relationship between Ben and Sunshine. I really enjoyed the vivid outdoor scenes on the island and the mention of Loons - birds I found fascinating when I lived in Canada.

The Kirkus Star review says: Richly character driven, immersive, evocative, and painfully sad, this effort can’t fail to move young readers. Ben and his family seem to be White.  An outstanding exploration of childhood trauma from a masterful author.

This book is for every child who has been abandoned and for every child who has been hit.  This book is for every child who believed they were the reason the bad things happened to them. An adventure in the wilderness and an adventure in the pain of children whose parents have let them down, this is the story of any child who cries on the inside and aches to be loved and wanted. A Book and a Hug

Readers who enjoy the outdoors, will find Ben and his mother’s exploration of this pristine an remote island appealing — like Ben’s first encounter with the lake’s loons and a mother bear and her baby. The week is one big adventure for Ben and he discovers he can be resourceful and brave. Children's Books Heal

Companion reads:

October, October

Small as an Elephant

The Secrets we Keep

Years ago I read these two books - terrific junior verse novels - so I have had the name Marion Dane Bauer in my mind and that is what led me to firstly add Sunshine to my very long "to read" list and then later, just this week, to buy it because the $28 hardcover was reduced to less than $10!

Little Dog Lost

Little Cat's Luck

Tulip and Doug by Emma Wood illustrated by Carla Martell

"Sometimes other kids laughed at them, but Tulip didn't mind. She and Doug were too busy organising special operations at their headquarters, boldly exploring the depths of the jungle and conquering the giddy heights of Tunnel Mountain."

 

Here is the sub title of Tulip and Doug:

a spud-tacular friendship story

My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything talked about Potato Day today. It's on August 19th and one book she highlighted was Tulip and Doug from New Zealand. I was quite excited to read that NZ Primer Minister Jacinda Ardern gave Prince William a copy of Tulip and Doug because this is one of her favourite children's books.

Here are a set of teaching notes for Tulip and Doug but please make sure you just enjoy the story before asking lots of questions or completing crafts.  

Blurb (Spoiler alert): Tulip was famous in her neighbourhood for two reasons: 1. She was a fearless adventurer. 2. She went everywhere with a seriously strange sidekick-a potato, called Doug!  Tulip and Doug are inseparable, until catastrophe strikes and Tulip loses her best spuddy buddy. She is inconsolable, until she makes a new friend. A boy. With a pet rock ... called Susan.

Here is an interview with Emma Wood. 

Companion books:

Sophie's Squash

And just for fun try to find Potato Pants (I love this book):

When I was a very young child I really loved the story of the enormous turnip. Did you know there is a potato version?

If you need more books about Potatoes check out this Pinterest from Kinderbookswitheverything:

Tish by Edwina Wyatt illustrated by Odette Barberousse

"Look at this way ... there are things that happen. Irreversible processes ... like how you can turn an egg into an omelette ... but you can't turn an omelette back into an egg."

Charles Dimple needs a friend. Annabeth Arch needs a friend. Isabelle (Izzy) Applebee needs a friend. Along comes Tish or Bert as he is later named or Bertie, which is his next new name. For now I will call him Tish. Tish arrives when Charles dreams him up. Yes Tish is an imaginary friend - he is a Perfect.

Tish sees lots of Perfects when he goes to school with Charles.

"Some had ten feet and some had ten eyes. There were frills and gills. Tutus and tiaras. But they all had one thing in common: they had each found their Someone. And in their Someone's eyes, they were perfect."

The Perfect Friend (list by Charles): Tusks; Big; Smoke like steam from a hot apple pie; Loyalty; Honesty; and Politeness. Also feathers and fur; a trunk and an umbrella.  I should also mention he loves pistachios.

What about those three friends: 

Charles who lives at 33 Sprinkle street, loves berry-swirl waffle cones from Mr Confetti's ice-cream truck; making lists; tomato sauce; museums; and swings.

Sadly one day "Tish felt something crack inside, and wondered if his heart was just a mess of shell and egg. He didn't like time now that he knew how it could hurt him. Time wasn't fair. He wished they could go back and do everything all over again. But Charles had said that time only moved in one direction. And Charles had moved on without him."

Annabeth from Black Cherry Lane, is given to expressing unfortunate truths and for this misdemeanour she is often sent to The Kitchen Step which is a place to Think About What She Had Done until she was Ready to Say Sorry. Annabeth likes the alphabet; architecture; purple polka dots; skylights; her once best friend Ruby Jones; and the word dodecahedron.

Sadly one day "he was alone. Not just on the outside, but also on the inside too. Annabeth was only a few walls away, but there was a greater distance between them and in that space lay a truly unfortunate truth. Annabeth would not come looking for him again. Not after a minute. Not after a day. Not after week."

Three-year-old Izzy lives next door to Annabeth. She loves to play pirates; eating snacks; her guinea pig Bob; foam; and tea parties.

Then one day Izzy changes her name to Bella and she leaves Bertie at home when she goes out with her friends. What will happen to Tish now?

You do need to know a little more about Mr Confetti's ice-cream truck. 

"The problem being that Mr Confetti's ice-cream truck only arrived when it felt like it. And always at the oddest times and in the oddest places. ... you didn't choose the flavour you wanted - Mr Confetti chose it for you. He had a knack for knowing just what it was you needed. The perfect flavour for you. And if you guessed right when he flipped your gold coin, you never had to pay."

I love this idea - it reminded me of a short story by Paul Jennings called Smart Ice cream from the book Unreal. 

This is my new favourite book to recommend as a read aloud for your child (age 7+) or class (Grade 2 or 3).  There are three interconnected stories in this book and a total of thirty chapters. Here is a set of teachers notes (Lamont).  I strongly suggest, if you are a teacher looking for a class read aloud check your school library - this new Australian book is wonderful. 

"He has a heart like a feather" "Universal story of finding new friends" "Gentle and heartwarming and highly highly recommended". Megan Daley

You may already know I am "bonkers crazy" about books that feature invisible/imaginary friends.  Here are a few of my favourites. O'Diddy is my top pick! I do wish with all my bookish heart that it was not out of print. 

O'Diddy (sadly out of print)

Leo a ghost story

Confessions of an Imaginary Friend (not this book has a different cover in Australia)

Kaline Klattermaster's Tree House

Ellie's Dragon

Crenshaw

Here are some other books by Edwina Wyatt

The Secrets of Magnolia Moon

The Magic of Magnolia Moon

In the Evening

Sometimes Cake