Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Two Bobbies: A true story of Hurricane Katrina, friendship, and survival
Illustrator: Jean Cassels
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 7
Walker Books, 2008 ISBN: 978-0802797544
On August 29th, 2005, a powerful hurricane hit the city of New Orleans. Along with millions of humans and animals, New Orleans was home to a two tailless pets. There was Bob Cat the cat and Bobbi the dog. When the levees holding back Lake Pontchartrain broke, the city was flooded and people were evacuated. Often they were not allowed to take their pets, and so Bobbi and Bob Cat were left behind.
Together the animals waited for someone to come for them until Bobbi got so hungry that she broke the chain that was tying her to the front porch of the house. The two animals set off together to find food and, hopefully, to find someone who would help them.
All they found was devastation, and for months the two friends roamed the streets. Both animals got thin because they found in hard to find food. It was only when a kind person took them to an animal shelter that people really came to appreciate how special these two animals were.
This book has to be one of the most heartwarming and charming picture books that has been written about animals. Readers will see that animals, like humans, can form close friendships, and that they can help one another when times are hard. What makes this story particularly powerful is that it is true.
As they read about the two Bobbies, children will come to appreciate that friendship is a powerful force for good. They will also see how important it is to help animals in need. After all, if there hadn't been shelters and animal rescue personnel in New Orleans, the story of the two Bobbies might never have been told.
