BOB THE BOO-BOO

“An adorable little boo-boo” seeks the right spot of skin for a temporary home in this tale originally published in Quebec and translated from French.

Yes, Bob is cute; he’s a wide-eyed, smiling red dot with skinny arms and legs. And on this windy, chilly day, he sets off, bindle over his shoulder, in search of a “warm and cozy place to settle down.” The tongue-in-cheek text will evoke readers’ empathy as Bob gets excited about a brown-skinned young skateboarder’s “accident waiting to happen!” Giggles will ensue as two bigger, tough-looking boo-boos sneer at Bob, dissuading him from landing on the girl’s knee when she crashes. After facing more rejections, Bob has the good fortune to meet a boy who’s just fallen from his bike. The light-skinned, brown-haired boy welcomes Bob onto his knee, and the new friends head for the boy’s home. After proper introductions, the boy’s brown-skinned mother gently cleanses Bob and lets the boy choose a bandage. With each passing day, boy and boo-boo bond, even as new bandages reveal that Bob is shrinking. Minimalist, digitally rendered art that makes effective use of white space perfectly complements the quirky text, which will entertain older readers while helping little ones conquer fears of cuts and scratches—and even offers first-aid advice.

Weirdly wonderful wound lore.