This modern classic from Newbery award winning author Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery is a remarkable true story of the devotion, friendship, and survival of two pets left behind in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. A testament to the spirit that defined post-Katrina rescue missions, this beautiful picture book has been a favorite of young readers for fifteen years. During Hurricane Katrina, evacuating New Orleans residents were forced to leave their pets behind. Bobbi the dog was initially chained to keep her safe, but after her owners failed to return, she had to break free. For months, Bobbi wandered the city's ravaged streets--dragging her chain behind her--followed by her feline companion, Bob Cat. After months of hunger and struggle, the Two Bobbies were finally rescued by a construction worker helping to rebuild the city. When he brought them to a shelter, volunteers made an amazing discovery about the devoted friends--Bob Cat was actually blind! He had survived the aftermath of the storm by following the sound Bobbi's chain made as she dragged it along the ground. At the shelter, the two bob-tailed friends refused to be parted, even for a moment. Could rescue workers find the Bobbies' owners? Or could they find a new home that would take them together? Kindergarten-Grade 3—Simple prose introduces two animals, a cat and a dog, that survived Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and, after four months of wandering, were rescued by the Best Friends Animal Society. The narrative is obviously part supposition as the original owners were never found, despite efforts to locate them. Since both pets had bobbed tails, a shelter volunteer named them Bob Cat and Bobbi, hence the book's title. It was soon discovered that Bob Cat was blind, making his survival even more amazing and underscoring the idea that the two critters relied on one another during their ordeal. The terrifying event is told about in a matter-of-fact way, with the text concentrating on the "feel good" aspect of the two Bobbies. The gouache illustrations, done in soft pastel shades, present realistic glimpses of the devastated city that serve as a backdrop for the animals' struggles. An afterword includes a photo and additional information. An excellent introduction to Katrina for young children, this touching animal tale memorializes a modern catastrophe and pays tribute to the many volunteers who traveled to New Orleans to help.— Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. “Neither Bobbi the dog nor Bob Cat has a tail, and some say that’s what brought them together.” Abandoned during the Katrina evacuations, pets Bobbi and Bob Cat wander dangerous, debris-strewn streets seeking food and water. Eventually taken to a rescue shelter, the Bobbies show distress when separated but remain calm when together. Workers then discover that Bob Cat is blind and that Bobbi seems to serve as his seeing-eye dog. A national news appearance ultimately results in the animals' shared adoption in a happy new home. The descriptive, sometimes folksy prose and realistically rendered gouache illustrations accessibly convey the Bobbies’ experiences and mutual devotion. An afterword, with a photo of the real-life furry friends, notes the parts of the narrative that are speculative, such as the animals’ pre-shelter experiences.This moving story about the importance of friendship and home highlights the plight of the hurricane’s lost and left-behind animals, as well as the value of animal shelters. Grades K-3. --Shelle Rosenfeld “Newbery Honor for Hattie Big Sky (Kirby Larson)” ―: “Crisp gouache paintings show the cuddly animals standing upright, and the...colors and textures of the changing seasons are beautifully portrayed.” ― SLJ on Groundhog Stays Up Late, illustrated by Jean Cassels “Larson's droll and buoyant original folktale bristles with lively description.” ― Publisher's Weekly on The Magic Kerchief by Kirby Larson “Nethery's ingenuous tale is winningly told; her dry humor pervades in the snappy repartee between the sisters.” ― Publisher's Weekly on Mary Veronica's Egg by Mary Nethery KIRBY LARSON is the acclaimed author of many books for children, including the 2007 Newbery Honor Book, Hattie Big Sky, The Magic Kerchief and other picture books. She lives in Kenmore, Washington. www.kirbylarson.com MARY NETHERY is the author of many picture books, including Mary Veronica's Egg, and Hannah and Jack. She lives in Eureka, California. www.marynethery.com The authors will be donating a portion of their proceeds to Best Friends Animal Society. JEAN CASSELS has illustrated more than sixty titles, including Two Bobbies, Groundhog Stays Up Late and Br'er Rabbit Captured! She lives with her husband in New Orleans, Louisiana.