The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Howe, James

Big Bob, Little Bob

32 pp. | Candlewick | October, 2016 | Trade ISBN 978-0-7636-4436-9 $15.99

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Laura Ellen Anderson. Firefighter-costumed Big Bob challenges quiet, sensitive neighbor Little Bob during one of their attempts to play together ("Hey! Those are girls' clothes!"). But when new girl Blossom mocks Little's Bob's dolls, Big Bob defends his friend. Feel-good illustrations eventually depict the odd trio (including Blossom, who prefers trucks to dolls) happily parallel-playing in this clear-eyed look at the folly of policing gender norms.

Reviewer: Nell Beram