Bubba and Beau, Best Friends. Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2002. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]
First sentence: Meet Bubba. Bubba is the son of Big Bubba and Mama
Pearl. Right after Bubba was born, Mama Pearl wrapped him in his soft
pink blankie and whispered into both of his soft pink ears, "I love you,
Bubba Junior." She sighed. He was the perfect little Bubba.
Premise/plot: Bubba (the baby) and Beau (the puppy) are BEST friends.
This picture book is written in small chapters. Each chapter written to
perfection to highlight the awesomeness of Bubba, Beau, and their
blanket. There are many good and happy days in Bubbaville, but this
picture book chooses to include a very SAD day in Bubbaville as well.
What will happen when Mama Pearl dares to WASH the blanket?!?!
My thoughts: Bubba and Beau, Best Friends has to be one of my absolute
favorite, favorite, favorite picture books. It is perfectly perfect I
tell you. I love the setting. (It is set in Texas.) I love the
characters. I love the illustrations. (Now when I see Arthur Howard I
think Mr. Putter and Tabby.) But most of all I love the words--the
narrative flavor and flow.
One of my favorite quotes:
It didn't take long for Bubba and Beau to become best friends. For one thing, they both went around on all fours. They were both keen on chewing. Neither one was house-trained. And they could howl to beat the band. They also had a mutual affection for MUD. And a mutual disdain for soap. Sister, those two got along.
Honestly, I could quote the whole book. That's how much I love it. The best books become part of the fabric of our lives, become a part of ourselves. Even though I was an adult in 2002--in library school to be exact--this book is part of me.
ETA: There was a short period of time last year when I thought I lost my copy of Bubba and Beau Best Friends. And let me tell you IT WAS A SAD DAY IN BUBBAVILLE. Fortunately, I found it and all was right with the world again.
© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers
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