The One and Only Bob

 Shirley J                Juvenile Fiction                            Life in a menagerie from a dog's perspective           

The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate   340 pages

This book is told from the perspective of Bob, the dog, who comes to live in the menagerie that Ivan, the Gorilla and Ruby the elephant live in.    He wondered in to Ivan''s cage one night during the time Bob was living on the streets.   He admits in this book that he doesn't know what he was thinking but Ivan just looked so comfy laying there snoring that Bob climbed up on his stomach and went to sleep, too.   Ivan, a gentle natured gorilla did not hurt Bob when he woke up and found him on his stomach, but, instead, let Bob sleep.  They became fast buddies and best friends for life.  This book is autobiographical of Bob telling many stories from his life, how men came in the dark and took him from his mother, how he helped to save some of the other animals when a hurricane came and destroyed the menagerie,and how  he meets up with his sister who's son is trapped in a car in the horrific flood occuring from the hurricane.   So many stories starring Bob that like Ivan says in the book, the one and only Bob, he is a treasure and while he doesn't necessarily like being thought of as man's best friend, he truly is the best friend of all who are lucky enough to know him,   He is so endearing the sweet way he talks to his "niece", Ruby.   I recommend this book to all ages from pre-school on up to senior citizens a sweet story of a sweet dog.