Mass, Wendy and Rebecca Stead. Bob. Nicholas Gannon, Illus. Fiction. Feiwel, 05/2018. 208pp. $16.99. 978-1-250-16662-3. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 3-6.
Livy doesn’t remember much from the last time she visited her Gran in drought-stricken Australia, five years earlier. She really doesn’t remember Bob, the little green creature dressed in a chicken suit who has been waiting for her in the closet all this time. As her memories gradually come back, she attempts to find out what Bob is and how to get him back to his own family. This charming and inventive story feels like a modern fairy tale. Bob in his ridiculous chicken suit is hilarious, and Livy’s half-remembered friendships feel poignant and ring true. This charming tale, full of mystery and magic, beautifully captures the experience of growing up and not remembering what came before, even if it seemed so important at the time. Illustrations not available for review. Review based on an ARC.
Lauren Snell, Mill Valley Public Library