The One and Only Bob
(One and Only #2)

With this stellar sequel to her Newbery Award-winning The One and Only Ivan, Applegate sounds precisely balanced notes of genuine humor and heart-tugging tenderness through the voice of Ivan's best friend, Chihuahua mutt Bob. Rescued by a loving family, former stray Bob regularly visits Ivan, who now lives in a wildlife sanctuary along with elephant Ruby. Tough-talking Bob, who was thrown out of a car with his siblings as a pup, acknowledges, albeit a bit defensively, that pampered domesticated life suits him: "So what if I've gotten a little spoiled? A tad soft around the edges?" Ricocheting between entertainment and poignancy, the dog's musings on his past and present give way to an urgent chronicle of survival after a hurricane ravages Ivan and Ruby's sanctuary while Bob is visiting. Applegate deepens the suspense (while, ingeniously, amplifying the humor) with the appearance of Bob's long-lost sister. The novel's fluid meshing of loyalty, forgiveness, and trust will leave readers hoping that the author has more one-and-only stories to tell. Final illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. (May)

Gr 3-6--Lovers of The One and Only Ivan will rejoice over this new tale about Ivan's best friend, Bob. Bob is a street dog who survives on his own until he stumbles upon a roadside attraction featuring a gorilla named Ivan. Through his new friendships with Ivan and an elephant named Ruby, he meets Julia--a human he might just trust. After Ivan and Ruby are moved to a zoo, Bob moves into Julia's house. Bob isn't exactly content living as a house pet, but his favorite thing to do is visiting his friends at the zoo with Julia. During one of their zoo visits, a tornado hits and Bob is spiraled into the air and away from his three friends. In this story of true friendship, hope, and courage, Bob learns to appreciate and cherish those he loves. Driven by favorite characters from The One and Only Ivan, Bob's story is delightfully heartfelt and adventurous. Castelao's illustrations add additional beauty to the story. VERDICT With a motion picture coming out of best-selling The One and Only Ivan, readers will be lining up to read this sequel. Recommended as a first choice.--Julie Jesernik, Warrenville Public Library, IL