  | Letter for Bob Author: Rogers, Kim | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
Katie writes a goodbye letter to her family's car that she named Bob, thanking him for the memories--from powwows to vacations to time spent with extended family and more.
| Illustrator: | Nelson, Jonathan |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 3.10 Points: .5 Quiz: 522491 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (07/15/23)
School Library Journal (07/01/23)
Booklist (+) (12/01/23)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/10/23)
The Hornbook (00/11/23)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 08/08/2023 *Starred Review* Katie composes a letter to her family’s car, purchased when she was an infant. As a toddler, she called it Bob, and ever since, the whole family has used the name. Bob took them to the Wichita Annual Dance, where Katie wore traditional regalia and participated in her first “Tiny Tots” event. She recalls getting sick in the back seat after eating “too much fry bread at the Indian Hills Powwow and—uh oh. . . . Sorry about that.” Bob has carried this happy family to the kids’ baseball games, to Grand Teton, and to the Smoky Mountains to visit Aka:h, their grandmother. After a new baby is born, Bob even takes the family to buy a larger car. The letter is Katie’s goodbye to a vehicle that she regards as a supportive, protective family member. Interwoven with her sadness are many happy reminiscences, sometimes tied to her family’s Native heritage. An appended note comments on the Wichita and Cherokee people. The expressive illustrations capture Katie’s memories as well as the happiness of another family that appears to be choosing Bob as its new car. Imaginative children from many backgrounds will empathize with Katie’s feelings and her reluctance to say goodbye. An engaging, emotionally resonant picture book. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 07/01/2023 PreS-Gr 3—This is a letter to Bob, a family car, from a girl who feels that the car is part of her family, tying together events from their family history. She talks about seminal events in her family's time line: trips that they took together, like to the Wichita Annual Dance, where Katie danced in the Tiny Tots division, and an epic trip to Yellowstone. There are also less monumental events, like when things were dropped or spilled, as well as ordinary things like going to the dog park or to friends' houses. Bob the car carried the family safely to all of these things. Eventually, the family has to say goodbye to Bob, but not without some sadness at the parting. The artwork shows all the happy memories, using color to help readers understand the emotions at all the different events that the family has shared. The outings are common enough to help readers make connections to Katie as well as the family trips and gatherings, but specific enough so that modern Indigenous culture is allowed to shine through. VERDICT This would be a good choice for libraries needing mentor texts on family history or books showcasing modern Indigenous culture.—Debbie Tanner - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
