Leon & Bob

by Simon James

Harcourt School Publishers Lvl Leon & Bob Gr1

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Emotion, Fiction, British Literature

Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Simon James is the award-winning author-illustrator of many children’s books, including such favorites as DEAR GREENPEACE, LEON AND BOB, and the Baby Brains series. His stories often concern a child’s relationship with the natural world. Simon James lives in England.

Reviews

[Linda Lipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over the years, I've collected quite a few children's illustrated books. I love both the stories and the illustrations. Quite a lot can be learned from these publications, both adults and children! It is time to get back to reading from my collection and then giving the books away to children who might benefit from them.

Leon is lonely. He is a single children living with his mother while his father is away in the service. He has a pretend friend named Bob who keeps him company and walks to school with him periodically. When new neighbors move in next door, Leon gathers the courage to knock on the door bell.
As he does this, he notices that pretend friend Bob is fading away and not with him.

Continuing to climb up the steps, he is surprised that the new boy in the neighborhood is named Bob!

[Asif · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. It a story about a boy called Leon who moves to a new place. It is just him and his mother as his father is in the army. Leon has an invisible friend called Bob. Bob is always with him at breakfast, on the way to school, when he reads a letter from dad etc, etc.

Soon a new boy moves next door. Leon decides to go and visit him the following day. As he is about to approach the door, however, he finds that his invisible friend Bob has left him. Leon is unsure whether to continue, but decides to go ahead. The new boy answers the door and they decide to go the park.

Leon asks the new boy what his name is and the boy replies 'Bob'.

I thought this was a really nice story with a good ending. I think many younger pupils will relate to this story as they may have an invisible friend of their own. There is also a nice lesson for children here on not being afraid when it comes to trying to make new friends, especially if you move to a new place and a new school.

I think this is a great story to read to the class and should be enjoyed by reception to year 2. It is also a good book for children to read individually with pictures on every page, nice large writing and simple easy to read sentences.

[Ashley Eckard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text-to-text connection:

I read this book last week to me class and it reminded me of another book I have read to my class called Jessica by Kevin Henkes. Both books have characters that develop an imaginary friend and how making a new friend has so much power behind it.

[myka · Rating 4 out of 5]

got this at booksale for my niece... but i guess for me too

[Alana Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a lonely boy named Leon who needs a friend to play with. This is a great story about making friends.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leon and Bob is a wholesome book about Leon who just moved and his imaginary friend Bob no one could see Bob but Leon, and Leon would always make space for Bob, but then one day another boy Leon age moved in next door and the next day Leon got the courage to go over there but he told bob he had to go too. When Leon got to the boy's house he realized Bob was there and he was feeling sad but still knocked on the door and asked the boy if he wanted to go to the park. This is a sweet book that portrays the feeling Leon was having because he moved. This book can be a mirror for some kids as they might have just moved to the city and don't know any one yet, and reading this book to the children is a way for them to be seen. This is a book I would 120% have in my classroom and the message that comes from this book is bravery but also being nice to other people, which is a lesson a lot of kids can learn :)

[Karina Alvarado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book because it helped me remember when I was younger and had many invisible friends I would talk to and play with. I feel like a lot of students would be able to relate to this. Growing up, I also moved a lot, so it was hard for me to try and make friends because I was scared that I would move again or that they wouldn't like me. I think this book can teach students to not be afraid of trying to make new friends and how important it is to take initiative. This book can also teach students to be nice and friendly to new students in the class.

[Holly Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob is Leon’s best friend. He shares Leon’s room. Everywhere that Leon goes, Bob goes too. Then one day, a boy moves in next door…

This was one of my favourite books as a child and, as an adult, I think I might love it even more! The story is simple but so poignant, and gives a powerful message about the importance of company and friendship. As well as being a lovely story, the book is great to use in conjunction with PSHE and has the potential to spark lots of discussions. Leon’s dad being away in the army in the story is another element which might be of relevance to children. I would argue it is most suitable for KS1.

[Wolfie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leon and Bob was an unexpectedly sweet story.

The text and illustrations work beautifully together, each carrying the story forward without one overpowering the other. The pacing is gentle, and the emotions are easy for readers to follow.

At its heart, this is a story about courage. How brave it is to make a new friend—even when it means letting go of what feels familiar.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endearing story of a little boy - his dad is away in the military and he had an imaginary friend... who he bravely accepts losing when he courageously makes a new friend, who happens too to be Bob.
Loved it.
Illustration was simple, no rhyme or rich language. It a good story none the less

[Milton Public Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice pictures, not too sappy of a story. Invisible friends are good, but can you guess what's better, kids? Friends.

[Anna Slabejová · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overcoming anxiety and meeting new friends

[Sophie Snowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story all about friendship. One of my childhood favourites

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lower Key Stage 1
Simple story about the importance of friendship, nice pictures.

[Laura Gilfillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture book, for Spanish practice. It had nice simple language and was clear and entertaining. No English translation.

[Natalie Catherine Davidson]

This is a lovely book about friendship and the people we have in our lives, with great illustration

[Alex Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for getting childrens imaginations working

[Sie Kensou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un dibujo decente que es muy agradable a la vista. Pero la historia es muy simple y predecible, entiendo que es para niños, pero muchas de esas historias tienen un buen contenido.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is basically saying you will never be alone it is a good book to read to your children

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

simple premise, yet so ingenious; will be loved by a thoughtful young reader

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Titolo italiano: "Leo e Bob"

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and sweet picture book about Leon, a small, school-age boy who has just moved to a new place in the city, is often alone, and invents an imaginary friend, Bob, as his companion. One day, he ventures to make a real friend of the boy he notices on his street. He realizes that he is on his own, really - Bob is not there. He gathers the courage to knock on the neighbor's door, and finds a new friend whose name is, coincedentally, Bob!

What makes this book a real standout, however, is the illustration. Watercolor wash with black ink outline - simple, gentle, and compelling. The setting appears to be Normandy, featuring 1920's or 1930's apartments with masonry architecture, Mansard roofs and turrets, and two-story interior ceilings. Tall wooden doors, long drainpipes, and simple interiors seem to dramatize the sense of isolation Leon feels, but it's mitigated by the warm sunlight entering each room and the inimate perspective of each page as a "scene". The art makes you grab the title off the shelf - the sweetness of the story appeals to young children and adults.

[Maria Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interest Level: Ages 5-9
Reading Level: Ages 4 to up
Lexile Reading Level: 400L
Nominated for: Nestlé Children's Book Prize (in 1997)
Awarded: New York Times Notable Books of the Year (in 1997)

The story is easy to identify with. The illustrations show so much emotions that it is easy for the reader to emotionally engage with the characters and the plot.
Great option for kids who are going through a hard family situation or who are from foreign (state/country) origins.
It promotes cultural awareness.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about a little boy (Leon) who has an imaginary friend Bob. Leon and his mother move to a new city while his father is in the army. Leon and Bob do everything together until one day Leon decides to go visit a boy who has just moved in next door. On the way over, Bob disappears. But Leon still goes to visit the boy, who become his friend and is name, of course, Bob.

Nice illustrations.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This simple story is so touching because of how universal its themes are. A boy named Leon misses his father who's away in the army. He would be alone most of the time except for his imaginary friend named Bob. Bob and Leon share breakfast together, read his father's letters together, walk to school together, etc. Bob fills a real hole for Leon until one day when a new kid moves next door. This story is a straightforward illustration of the meaning of friendship.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple story that evokes warm feelings of friendship after an imaginary friend has vanished. Leon does everything with Bob until a little boy moves in the neighborhood. Fears and loneliness melt away as confidence builds.

Simple, sparse text accompany the charming watercolor illustrations. A perfect story for those who have (or once had) imaginary friends.

[Sunday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for reading aloud to a PreK child with lots of opportunities to talk. This book lends itself to conversations that encourage the child to make inferences and think critically with questions like, "What do you notice about Bob in the picture?" and "Why do you think Bob disappeared?" and "Why do you think Leon made up a friend?"

[Morgan]

Children can relate to moving to new areas and having to make friends all over again. Sometimes it is easier to make a friend up than having to find one, but finding a real one is even better than they think. Great book for imagination.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute picture book that tells the story of a little boy and his friend (whom no one else could see) learning to be brave enough to make new friends. Young readers who have ever been shy to reach out and make new friends will recognize themselves in this story, for sure.