Awards

• Winner of American Indian Youth Literature Award (Picture Book) 2024

Overview

With humor and heart, and brought to life by Jonathan Nelson’s warm, distinctive artwork, Kim Rogers’s A Letter for Bob celebrates the treasured cars that carry us through our most meaningful childhood moments. Ever since the day Mom and Dad brought Bob home from the car dealership, Bob has been a part of Katie’s family. Bob has taken them all over, from powwows to vacations to time spent with faraway family. Bob has been there in sad and scary times and for some of the family’s most treasured memories. But after many miles, it’s time for the family to say goodbye to Bob... This humorous and tender story about a beloved family car—and all the stories and love carried along for the ride—will appeal to every kid whose family has owned a special car! Kim Rogers is the author of Just Like Grandma, illustrated by Julie Flett, which received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, which called it “a joyous, uplifting celebration of culture and family.”

Full Product Details

9780063044555

Table of Contents

Reviews

"""I adore this book with a completeness I didn't anticipate. I'll be sharing it at every workshop I do, with librarians, educators, teacher-educators... everyone."" -- Dr. Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children's Literature ""An engaging, emotionally resonant picture book."" -- Booklist (starred review) ""Rogers deftly conveys the bittersweet but necessary parting with something that has been a staple of a kid's entire life. Vibrant digital art features characters with oversized heads and huge, welcoming smiles that beam with joy, while warms tones and pastoral scenes provide a gentle sense of comfort and safety. Give this to a kid who has a strong attachment to the family car so they can appreciate the many experiences shared with it."" -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"

""I adore this book with a completeness I didn't anticipate. I'll be sharing it at every workshop I do, with librarians, educators, teacher-educators... everyone."" - Dr. Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children's Literature ""What starts as a simple ode to a well-cherished sedan quickly becomes a more nuanced love letter to Native families, accompanied by emotion-driven, comic art from Nelson (Diné). For its tender vignettes of modern Indigenous life, this tale will make a glowing addition to any personal, school, or public library."" - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) ""This is a letter to Bob, a family car, from a girl who feels that the car is part of her family, tying together events from their family history. The artwork shows all the happy memories, using color to help readers understand the emotions at all the different events that the family has shared. This would be a good choice for libraries needing mentor texts on family history or books showcasing modern Indigenous -culture."" - School Library Journal ""The narrative of the many uses of Bob provides a universal story line with which many children can identify while also matter-of-factly incorporating activities specific to Indigenous families. The engaging illustrations show Bob as a standard car without eyes, mouth, or other human features, and yet Katie's heartfelt narrative enables readers to imagine Bob as an actual family member."" - Horn Book Magazine ""Easy prose and crisply drawn digital illustrations give equal weight to each member of family caring for its members through life's seasons."" - Publishers Weekly (starred review) ""An engaging, emotionally resonant picture book."" - Booklist (starred review) ""Rogers deftly conveys the bittersweet but necessary parting with something that has been a staple of a kid's entire life. Vibrant digital art features characters with oversized heads and huge, welcoming smiles that beam with joy, while warms tones and pastoral scenes provide a gentle sense of comfort and safety. Give this to a kid who has a strong attachment to the family car so they can appreciate the many experiences shared with it."" - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"""I adore this book with a completeness I didn't anticipate. I'll be sharing it at every workshop I do, with librarians, educators, teacher-educators... everyone."" -- Dr. Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children's Literature"

Author Information

Kim Rogers writes books, short stories, and poems across all children's age groups. She is an enrolled member of Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and is a member of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. Much of her writing highlights her Wichita heritage. Kim lives with her family on her tribe's ancestral homelands in Oklahoma. Kim has three upcoming picture books signed with Heartdrum.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available