A heartwarming early reader about a tailless cat searching for its family is an inspiring story about being different and learning to trust.
Dirty, matted, and smelly, fending for himself for spoiled scraps behind a restaurant was a hard and lonely life for Bob, a sweet cat with no tail. Bullied and beaten by the other alley cats for being different, Bob is rescued by a gentle man who takes him away from the garbaggy place to a warm home with a smiling lady, fresh food, kind pets, fragrant baths, and soft bedding. For a while, life was very good for Bob, and he was happy.
But when his cuddle-giving family leaves home, Bob worries they are lost and need his help. Scared to go back into the unforgiving world, the tailless cat sets out to "find" them, beginning an eye-opening adventure meeting many animals very different from him, some friendly, some not, who make it very clear that a cat with no tail is very peculiar indeed.
His encounters direct him to the Land of the Woody Warbles to find the one who can help Bob, and in this dark and spooky place Bob meets creatures even stranger than a cat with no tail, and yet still he is mistreated. What kind of cat has no tail? Lost, tired, forlorn, and feeling hopeless, just when he thinks he should give up he finds encouragement and hope from the unlikeliest of places. New friendships, self-confidence, and trust help bring this perfect tailless cat to a place where he is unconditionally loved and belongs just as he is-with his family.
Must Read 5 STARS
"The thirteen chapters are full of action, adventure, love, and gorgeous illustrations of animals and insects.
In every chapter, Bob meets new faces. He met some friendly animals and some rude animals. Art imitates life in this instance. No matter the reader's age, you will encounter people who will lift you up and those who enjoy tearing you down. It's important to remember the wise words of Oakley, the owl: "What others think doesn't matter half as much as what you think." what a story (Bob) had to share with his furry brothers and sisters. He swam. He flew. He had an adventure that would widen any furry friend's eyes with shock and disbelief."
-Kameron Brook, Reviewer, Reedsy Discovery
"Susan Sullivan's evocative adventure is punctuated by the gorgeous drawings Lauren Reeves liberally provides of wildlife and nature as Bob perseveres against all odds, sparked by a message of hope. As he faces drowning, drama from the bees, and admonitions to never give up on his goals and dreams, adults will find that Bob's adventures hold notes of inspiration that will enhance discussions about courage, problem-solving, and life. Libraries and read-aloud parents seeking a feisty feline-based story of a cat who receives key lessons on how to believe in himself will find Bob Tales: Land of the Woody Warbles both psychologically revealing and filled with lovely nature observations and illustrations that celebrate different creatures in the wild."
-D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review and Editor, Donovan's Literary Services