Dewey Bob

PreS-Gr 2—For a young raccoon, Dewey Bob has loads of character. Despite a plethora of hobbies and amusing predilections, from collecting buttons to being "as clean as the beans are green," and a knack for "decoratin'," Dewey Bob finds himself lonely when he strikes out on his own. Fortunately, his inventiveness comes in handy when he meets a kitten who can't walk, scoring him a friend. With fresh colors, handwritten lettering, and lush textures reminiscent of Melissa Sweet's work, the mixed-media illustrations fairly glow with endearing whimsy. Inspirational quotes and lively poems are integrated deftly into the images. However, the charm of the illustrations doesn't fully extend to the text. The story has a few too many ideas in it to fill out a traditional story arc, and the writing is a tad rambly. The down-home country dialect may delight listeners with its playful phrasing but may also pose challenges as a read-aloud.