Leon and Bob

Author: Simon James

Illustrator: Simon James

Publisher: Walker

COLLECTION

Learning to read

THEMES

Feelings Friendship The Urban Environment

YEAR GROUP

Years 3 and 4

BOOK TYPE

Corebooks

This book is currently unavailable.

Leon has an imaginary friend called Bob. A new family moves in next door and Leon makes friends with the child whose name is... you guessed! A sensitive and beautifully placed story which has great emotional depth and in which words and pictures work intimately together. A key moment occurs when Leon mounts the long stairs to the neighbours' house and turns round to find 'Bob' isn't there any more. The pictures show a realistic urban setting incorporating old terraced houses with high-ceilinged rooms in which the sense of space emphasises Leon's loneliness.

On the theme of imaginary friends, see also:

John Burningham: Aldo (9780099185017), Red Fox £7.99

Dan Santat: The Adventures of Beekle (9781783443857), Andersen £7.99