“Look, nobody’s ever accused me of being a good boy.”

From Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Bob.

Bob, the small stray dog that once secretly lived at a circus, has since been adopted by the sweet, art-loving Julia, but that doesn’t mean that Bob has given up on all of his wild ways. After being abandoned with his litter mates and left for dead as a puppy, Bob was able to find some happiness living at the Big Top Mall with Ivan the gorilla and Stella and Ruby the elephants. Bitter and un-trustful of most humans after being abandoned, Bob is concerned that he’s becoming a spoiled pet instead of the strong dog he had to be as a stray. When Julia and her dad take Bob to the park where Ivan and Ruby now live, Bob doesn’t think much about the approaching hurricane or the tornado warnings that the storm has brought with it. However, when his visit with his friends is cut short by a tornado through the park, Bob finds himself in the middle of a destroyed zoo. As Bob makes his way around the park to find his friends, both animal and human, the little dog begins to help as many animals as he can and it leads him to a discovery that he never thought possible in his wildest dreams.

This sequel to Applegate’s One and Only Ivan manages to bring the same heart and attractiveness as the original. The sweet illustrations and simple writing style help the reader to easily connect the characters and settings. The story of The One and Only Bob moves quickly and will be a hit with readers of all ages.