The One and Only Bob explained

Author:Katherine Applegate
Isbn:9780063041196
Pub Date:May 5, 2020
Language:English
Genre:Children's literature
Preceded By:The One and Only Ivan
Followed By:The One and Only Ruby
Illustrator:Patricia Castelao
Publisher:HarperCollins

The One and Only Bob is a 2020 children's book by Katherine Applegate and illustrated by Patricia Castelao. It is a sequel to the 2013 book The One and Only Ivan.[1]

Synopsis

The book follows Bob, an abused stray dog who befriends a gorilla named Ivan and an elephant named Ruby. After being adopted by kind girl named Julia, Bob attempts to re-learn how to trust humans. After a hurricane wrecks his town, Bob runs away from home to find his long-lost sister, who was once presumed dead.

Reception

Julie Jesernik, writing for School Library Journal, gave the book a starred review and wrote that "Bob’s story is delightfully heartfelt and adventurous. Castelao’s illustrations add additional beauty to the story."[2] Mary Eisenhart of Common Sense Media gave the book 5 out of 5 stars, calling it a "compelling, ultimately uplifting tale, told by a snarky, formerly abused dog who's still confused about it all".[3] Kirkus Reviews gave the book a starred review, praising the "wry doggy observations and attitude" of the main character.[4]

Leonard S. Marcus of The New York Times wrote that "Applegate’s sure grasp of the essence of dog nimbly guides the early chapters even as the balance of Bob’s inner concerns shifts decisively from canine to human with talk of guilt, cowardice, forgiveness." However, Marcus criticized the hurricane sequence as being bland and unnecessarily long.[5]

Sequel

The book was followed by The One and Only Ruby in 2023.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Katherine Applegate to publish sequel The One and Only Bob next spring . 2024-01-23 . Entertainment Weekly . David . Canfield . October 22, 2019 . en.
  2. Web site: Jesernik . Julie . The One and Only Bob . May 1, 2020 . 2024-01-23 . School Library Journal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240123163216/https://www.slj.com/review/the-one-and-only-bob . 2024-01-23 .
  3. Web site: The One and Only Bob: The One and Only, Book 2 Book Review . 2024-01-23 . Common Sense Media . en . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240123163216/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-one-and-only-bob-the-one-and-only-book-2 . 2024-01-23 .
  4. Web site: The One and Only Bob . Kirkus Reviews . en . March 24, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240123163216/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/katherine-applegate/the-one-and-only-bob/ . Jan 23, 2024 .
  5. News: Marcus . Leonard S. . 2020-05-30 . For Fans of Ivan, the Answer to 'What About Bob?' . subscription . 2024-01-23 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240123161519/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/books/review/katherine-applegate-the-one-and-only-bob.html . 2024-01-23 .
  6. Web site: The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate . 2024-01-23 . Publishers Weekly .