I Must Have Bobo!

PreS-K—"When Willy woke up, there was trouble." His favorite, do-everything-with sock monkey is missing. But Willy isn't the only one who thinks Bobo should always be by his side. Earl, a mischievous gray feline, waits in the background and snatches Bobo away at the most opportune moments. Kids who spend hours hunting for their favorite toy will relate to the boy's endless skirmishes with Earl. Willy's frustration, clearly decipherable from his facial expressions, is juxtaposed with the cat's impassive, innocent face, with the exception of a few over-the-top anthropomorphized expressions. Told in Willy's genuine preschool voice, the story also encompasses a hunt-and-find element, as readers can search for Bobo with Willy in the illustrations. Pencil drawings, digitally colored, are set against cream-colored pages, giving the tale a muted, calm feeling despite the infuriated laments of a foiled little boy. It is clear this battle will continue long after the story ends. An excellent choice for bedtime or storytime.—Richelle Roth, Boone County Public Library, KY