About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the feeling of outgrowing their childhood wonder or feels a sense of quiet loneliness during transitions. It is a gentle, dual-perspective story about 10-year-old Livy, who returns to her grandmother's Australian farm and discovers she has forgotten Bob: a small, green, mysterious creature she left in a closet five years ago. As they work together to figure out what Bob is and where he belongs, the story touches on deep themes of loyalty, the reliability of memory, and the importance of keeping promises. It is a perfect choice for middle-grade readers who enjoy a touch of magic grounded in real-world emotions. Parents will appreciate the slow, contemplative pace that celebrates the quiet bonds of friendship and family without relying on high-octane action or snark.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
Bob experiences significant loneliness and a sense of being forgotten after five years in a closet. While the tone is gentle, sensitive children may find his isolation distressing.
Ideal Reader
An 8 to 10 year old who prefers quiet, character driven stories over loud adventures. It is particularly suited for a child who has a strong bond with a grandparent, who enjoys the idea of 'imaginary' friends being real, or who seems unusually sentimental about old toys and "magical" thinking.
Parent Prep
This book is safe to read cold. No specific context is required, though discussing the concept of 'selective memory' or 'childhood amnesia' might be interesting for older kids.
Age Experience
Younger readers (age 8) will focus on the humor of Bob wearing a chicken suit and the 'secret friend' aspect. Older readers (11-12) will better appreciate the themes of time passing and the bittersweet nature of rediscovering something you didn't know you missed.
What Makes It Special
The co-authored dual perspective provides a unique voice for Bob that feels truly non-human yet deeply relatable, avoiding the typical tropes of magical creatures in children's fiction.
Read plot summary
Livy returns to her grandmother’s house in Australia after five years away. She discovers Bob, a small green entity she stashed in a closet during her last visit to keep him safe. Bob has been patiently waiting for her return, though Livy has lost almost all memory of him. The narrative alternates between Livy and Bob as they piece together clues about Bob's origins, eventually discovering he is a creature tied to the local environment and weather.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Why do you think Livy forgot about Bob even though he was so important to her five years ago?
2
Bob spent five years in a closet doing nothing but counting and waiting. What does this tell us about his character and his loyalty to Livy?
3
Gran seems to know more than she lets on. How do the adults in the story treat the 'magic' happening around them?
4
If you had to build a 'clue book' about where you came from, what are the first three things you would include?
5
At the end, Livy makes a choice about her memories. Would you have made the same choice? Why or why not?
