Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
A Letter for Bob
By Sun Cooper,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Delightful tale about a beloved family car.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Too much violence
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 ...
-
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?"
-
Write a letter to a family car or favored transportation. What would you express gratitude for?
-
Look up the locations mentioned in the book and learn about its Indigenous names and tribes.
Book Details
- Author: Kim Rogers
- 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: November 11, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate