BOB by Wendy Mass & Rebecca Stead.  Illus. by Nicholas Gannon.  New York:  Feiwel and Friends Books, 2018.  ISBN 978-125016662-3 hb. $16.99   Gr. 4-5   JUV

It's been five years - half of her life - since Livy visited Gran in Australia.  She doesn't remember much about the things she enjoyed last time she was here, but when she opens her closet, someone remembers her.  There's a short green creature, dressed in burlap, talking to her about a promise she made to help him find his way home.  As Livy re-learns about her friend, Bob, she also learns about friendship and keeping promises.  Bob is very literal, which leads to some humorous situations, but he is also connected to nature and the five-year drought in the area.  Everything comes around in the end, and it's a pleasure reading the well-constructed story to get there.  The quiet sepia-colored illustrations are few in number, but check out the book cover which reveals a small triangle of color.  Beautiful.
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI