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Mr. Biddles
A funny picture book about friendship, in the tradition of Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad.
Mr. Biddles is a cat inventor, and Hobson is a lobster that is left on his front porch. An odd pair indeed, but when Hobson joins Biddles in the lab (where he invented not only his catnip diffuser but also his automatic mail retriever!), they discover that Hobson has a gift: two super-useful claws.
Mr. Biddles always needed help in the lab, but he hadn’t known how much until Hobson came along. The two enjoy one another’s company and work well side by side, but one day, Hobson begins to miss home. Biddles badly wants to invent a way to get his friend home safely. But how? Hobson is from the faraway coast, and can travel only in five gallons of water!
Kristine A. Lombardi meticulously created convincing worlds for both Mr. Biddles and Hobson using collaged ephemera from years of collecting old receipts, postcards, photos, diner bills, business cards, blueprints, and everything else you can think of!
Mr. Biddles is a cat inventor, and Hobson is a lobster that is left on his front porch. An odd pair indeed, but when Hobson joins Biddles in the lab (where he invented not only his catnip diffuser but also his automatic mail retriever!), they discover that Hobson has a gift: two super-useful claws.
Mr. Biddles always needed help in the lab, but he hadn’t known how much until Hobson came along. The two enjoy one another’s company and work well side by side, but one day, Hobson begins to miss home. Biddles badly wants to invent a way to get his friend home safely. But how? Hobson is from the faraway coast, and can travel only in five gallons of water!
Kristine A. Lombardi meticulously created convincing worlds for both Mr. Biddles and Hobson using collaged ephemera from years of collecting old receipts, postcards, photos, diner bills, business cards, blueprints, and everything else you can think of!
- GenresPicture Books
34 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2017
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 8, 2019
A solitary feline inventor named Mr. Biddles finds that everything is more enjoyable, from his work in his lab to his evening movie-watching, when Hobson the lobster shows up on his doorstep one day and moves in. But when Hobson becomes homesick, and Mr. Biddles invents a conveyance to get him home, it looks like the end of their friendship...
A sweet but fairly unremarkable tale of friendship is paired with intensely inventive mixed media illustrations in Mr. Biddles, author/artist Kristine A. Lombardi's third picture-book. Although the story was engaging enough, it was the artwork that was the real standout here for me. The visuals are really interesting, with the use of pencil, gouache, various found objects, and different papers. Recommended to young would-be inventors, and to anyone looking for children's stories about unlikely friendships.
A sweet but fairly unremarkable tale of friendship is paired with intensely inventive mixed media illustrations in Mr. Biddles, author/artist Kristine A. Lombardi's third picture-book. Although the story was engaging enough, it was the artwork that was the real standout here for me. The visuals are really interesting, with the use of pencil, gouache, various found objects, and different papers. Recommended to young would-be inventors, and to anyone looking for children's stories about unlikely friendships.
August 15, 2017
MR. BIDDLES stars a cat named Mr. Biddles who is an inventor. He creates all types of new gadgets and is working on a catnip diffuser. Even though he stays very busy, he feels lonely. Then, Hobson appears on his door from Maine. He's a lobster and was taken from his home, so Mr. Biddles lets him stay.
However, Mr. Biddles doesn't anticipate how much help Hobson will be with his large claws. Soon, Mr. Biddles is having fun and finally has a friend, but Hobson becomes homesick. It's up to Mr. Biddles and his inventions to get Hobson back home.
MR. BIDDLES is a story about an unlikely, but perfect friendship between a lobster and a cat. I loved the pictures and how a lot of them were real, not just illustrated. I loved the inventions and how they fit both animals.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this book to children who love inventions, stories about friendship, and animals.
However, Mr. Biddles doesn't anticipate how much help Hobson will be with his large claws. Soon, Mr. Biddles is having fun and finally has a friend, but Hobson becomes homesick. It's up to Mr. Biddles and his inventions to get Hobson back home.
MR. BIDDLES is a story about an unlikely, but perfect friendship between a lobster and a cat. I loved the pictures and how a lot of them were real, not just illustrated. I loved the inventions and how they fit both animals.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this book to children who love inventions, stories about friendship, and animals.
August 12, 2017
Lovely evening llustrastions and a sweet story of an unlikely friendship. An inventor cat and a helpful lobster, there was no way to resist that.
August 12, 2017
A most unlikely friendship story with charmingly quirky illustrations.
September 21, 2017
The most unique thing about this book is the art. That and the lobster character. The story is nice enough, but not especially clever or memorable.
October 7, 2017
Mr. Biddles has the most unique children's book illustrations to showcase a unique friendship! This book is a must have for any child that loves adventures, inventing and creating new friendships. My favorite part about the story is how both characters make sacrifices for each other out of love and it's important for children (and adults!) to understand that concept! The book has a wonderful ending and I just love the colorful illustrations that tell the tale! Highly recommend!
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July 3, 2017Quirky illustrations give this unlikely friendship story depth.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews