Common Sense Media Review
Delightful tale about a beloved family car.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Beginning with "Dear Bob," A Letter for Bob tells an intimate story of a First Nations family through the lens of Katie, a child writing a letter to a beloved family car. In gratitude for all the places it has taken them, she recalls memories one by one – parents purchasing the car from a dealership, attending tribal dances and a state fair, traveling across the country to the land where her grandparents first met, and much more – and finally expresses a tender goodbye when her parents purchase a new car to accommodate their growing family.
Is It Any Good?
Inspired by her own childhood memories and Wichita heritage, Kim Rogers has tapped into a universal endearment that recalls stories – like The Velveteen Rabbit and Herbie, the Love Bug –where children discover beloved friends in things. Jonathan Nelson's illustrations are stories in and of themselves, with fun details that draw a reader intimately into the characters' expressions, feelings, traditions, and surroundings with great warmth and fun. This is a delightful book for children, who may especially feel inspired or comforted by remembering a favorite object with gratitude.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
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Families can talk about a beloved object and the memories it recalls. In the back of A Letter for Bob, author-curator of Heartdrum, Cynthia Leitich Smith poses the question, "Do you and your family own something that has become a friend?"
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Write a letter to a family car or favored transportation. What would you express gratitude for?
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Look up the locations mentioned in the book and learn about its Indigenous names and tribes.
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Jonathan Nelson
- Genre : Picture Book
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Heartdrum
- Publication date : September 19, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Hardback
- Last updated : April 19, 2026
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