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! ( )

Leon and Bob is about a little boy named Leon who moves to a new city. He lives there with his mom while his dad is away in the army. Leon has an imaginary friend named Bob. Being a new city, Leon only had Bob because he did not know anyone else. When he sees a little boy move in next door, he sees an opportunity to make a new friend. In a classroom, sometimes students come in late if they move in to town, it is important to make them feel comfortable and to help them make new friends like Leon did. Leon went from feeling alone, to making a new friend. At fist he was nervous, but because he overcame his fear, he was able to make a new friend and make his new city a better place to be. ( )

Summary:
Leon had an imaginary friend, named Bob. Leon did everything with Bob. Then one day Leon was very nervous about knocking on his new neighbors door and Bob wasn't there. When he knocked on the door, a little boy answered the door. They went to the park together to play. When they introduced themselves to each other, Leon's new friend's name was Bob.

Personal Reaction:
I like this book because there is a white child in this book, the main character is not white. My children are not white and they have noticed the characters in most of the picture books that they have read are white and not like them.

Classroom Extensions:
I would read this book in my class when a new student arrives. This could start a discussion on how scary it is to meet new people.
This would also be a good book to allow the students to look at the pictures and make up their own story. The class could then compare their stories.

Leon has just moved and has no friends but his imaginary friend Bob. One day a new family moves in next door and they have a boy about Leon's age. Leon goes with Bob to ask if the boy wants to play. However Bob disappears and Leon has to ask by himself but it turns out that the new boys name is Bob. This is a nice story about the beginnings of friendship. ( )