About the Holiday

Picture Book Month is a great time to introduce young readers to new books as well as those adult readers enjoyed as a child. One idea would be to organize a Picture Book Party with family and friends where each person brought the book that was their childhood favorite to share. If you’re starting to think about holiday gifts, there’s no better present than a picture book. It really is a gift you open again and again! Today’s book offers little ones a fun and definitely hands-on way to interact with reading.

Let’s Go, Bobby!

By Ruth Wielockx

Bobby loves to travel! And Bobby is pretty proficient with all kinds of vehicles, so he really gets around. The fantastic part is that little readers can follow along on each of Bobby’s trips! Look! Bobby is going to ride his bike up and down the mountains. He has his shiny red bike, his sturdy helmet, and a route all picked out. Are you ready to ride along? Bobby’s peddling and peddling and just about to climb the first mountain. Get your finger ready, you and Bobby are about to zip zig-zag-zig-zag over the tall peaks.

Next Bobby wants to take his scooter into town—right to the fountain in the central square. But why do they call it a square when it’s so fun to coast wheeee… round and round and round to the fountain? Get your finger out again, set it in the track and….wheeee! Round and round and round we go again!

You’re going to love the next one! Bobby has gotten out his Go-Kart! Okay! It’s time to weave in and out around the colored flags. Don’t let your finger go off-course! Wow! Great job! Bobby had fun too! Leaving land behind, Bobby is ready to set sail “on the waves of the wild sea. Will you sail along?” Oooh! Riding the waves is amazing! They’re so huge!

From the ocean to the train tracks! Bobby is now an engineer of tidy blue engine. All Aboard! Let’s chug down those tracks clickety-clack! Point and lead where you’d like Bobby to go! Enough of being on land! Bobby’s ready to fly! You too? Make puffy, white loop-de-loops in the bright blue sky—one…two…three! Feeling a little woozy? Maybe a helicopter ride is more your thing. Fortunately, “Bobby flies his helicopter over town.” There are “so many bright lights!” Come along!

Take off straight up then make a right over the tall apartment building. Take ‘er down to check out the smaller building next door, and up, up, up to trace the skyscrapers before descending again to land. Now, Bobby knows what you’ve been waiting for! Meet him at the race track and take some laps around the figure-eight track! How fast can your finger go?

Racing is fun, “but what Bobby likes best is to fly in a rocket to the moon. Three, two, one…. Will you travel along?” How many times can you circle the glowing full moon? After all this traveling, it’s time for sleeping. “Bobby dreams about exciting adventures all night. Will you dream along?”

Ruth Wielockx has created a unique hands-on board book for little travel enthusiasts that allows them to follow along an indented track. Every two-page spread introduces Bobby and his vehicle on the left side and his route on the right. The rectangular, oversized format gives plenty of room for the track, inviting kids to zig-zag, circle, weave, and chug along over and over. Wielockx’s bright, bold images, spare of extraneous detail, put the focus on the shapes and intricacies of the tracks, offering plenty to discuss about height, speed, up and down, forward and backward, alternate routes, and even upside down and right-side up. Children will love seeing each vehicle and Bobby dressed appropriately for every job he takes on. The final spread invites kids to wonder if it’s real or all a dream and start the trip again.

With its inviting interactivity, Let’s Go, Bobby! is a wonderful book for kids who love cars, trains, planes, and other modes of transportation. The indented tracks provide the kind of fun that will make the book a favorite. Let’s Go, Bobby! is also an excellent take-along book for outdoor activities and waiting times and would make a welcome gift.

Ages 2 and up

Clavis Publishing, 2017 | ISBN 978-1605373614

Discover more about Ruth Wielockz and her books on her website.