Bob
Written by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead

Publisher’s Summary:
Visiting her grandmother in Australia, Livy, ten, is reminded of the promise she made five years before to Bob, a strange, green creature who cannot recall who or what he is.

Primary Source Pairing:
Through dual narratives, we learn the story of Livy and Bob and the unexpected and unintended consequences of Bob’s living conditions as he wait for Livy to return. This fantastical tale will perk the ears of readers of all types. Written collaboratively by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead, the story brings friendship alive and brings a tear to the eye in even the driest landscape. For this primary source pairing, examine a rainfall decline map from Australia. In the story, Australia is experiencing a severe drought. In real life, Australia is also experiencing a drought that is causing significant problems including extreme temperatures and wildfires. Invite students to make connections to what they see in the map to something they read in the book Bob.

Questions for Discussion:

• Describe what you see.
• What do you notice first?
• What size and shape is the map?
• What graphical elements do you see?
• What on the map looks strange or unfamiliar?
• What questions do you have about this map?
• What do you notice about this map that connects to the problem in the story Bob?

Credits:
Book Cover and Summary: Follett
Australian rainfall deciles, January to November 2019: Wikimedia Commons