KIRBY LARSON
Kirby Larson went from history-phobe to history fanatic thanks to a snippet of a story about her great-grandmother homesteading in eastern Montana. That bit of family lore inspired her to write Hattie Big Sky, a young adult historical novel, a 2007 Newbery Honor book and Montana Book Award winner.
Kirby is particularly pleased that Hattie Big Sky has also been nominated for over a dozen Children’s Choice awards -awards kids themselves vote on. She lives in Kenmore, Washington with her husband, where she writes, reads, does yoga and drinks lattes with friends. You can find out more about Kirby at www.kirbylarson.comor read her blog at www.kirbyslane.blogspot.com
Kirby’s latest title, Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival is a nonfiction picture book for all ages. “This book about two friends means even more to me because I was able to write it with my good friend, Mary Nethery,” Kirby explained. Illustrated by New Orleans resident and Hurricane Katrina evacuee, Jean Cassels, this book tells the inspirational and amazing story of Bobbie Dog and Bob Cat, two unlikely friends who survived the hurricane by lending one another a paw.
Two Bobbies is a Junior Library Guild and Indie Next List Top Ten pick and National Council for the Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council: Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2009. Learn more about the book and about the Bobbies at www.twobobbies.com. 10% of the authors’ royalties go to Best Friends Animal Society, the organization that rescued — and found a new home for — the Two Bobbies.
Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Publication date: August 5, 2008
Picture book, 32 pages
Primarily ages 4-8 but delightful for everyone
$16.99
Reviews:
“This moving story about the importance of friendship and home highlights the plight of the hurricane’s lost and left-behind animals, as well as the value of animal shelters.”
—Booklist
“Two Bobbies is one powerful, heartwarming book.”
—Marigny Dupuy, The Times-Picayune
“The authors lend an understated poetry to Bobbie and Bob Cat’s plight… I think it helps that [the] authors are real-life best friends. Their reverence for friendship comes through in the text. . .unless you have a heart of stone, this book will bring tears to your eyes.”
–Jen Robinson’s Book Page
“More than the tale of an unlikely dog and cat friendship, Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival is a children’s book sure to be treasured by grown-up readers too, smitten by the redemptive story of the orphaned creatures and the humans who cared enough to come to their aid.”
–Cheryl McKeon, Third Place Books
“My 4-year-old loved this story because it’s about two pets — who become friends because they’re stranded during Hurricane Katrina– and their quest to find a family that loves them. It’s a true and heartwarming story about sticking together.”
–Kristen Simoes, Morning Show Host, Sacramento and Company, News10, ABC
“An excellent introduction to Katrina for young children, this touching animal tale memorializes a modern catastrophe and pays tribute to the many volunteers who traveled to New Orleans to help.”
–School Library Journal
For more information about Jim, please see www.jimwhiting.com. To inquire about availability of specific titles or to send a comment, write him at jimruns3@gmail.com.
JIM WHITING
