Oma and Bobo [Hardcover]

Schwartz (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Alice gets a dog for her birthday, her grandmother Oma is chagrined. What to call him? "Trouble, Bother, and Nuisance," suggests Oma. Alice calls him Bobo. He's a lovable mutt, but he may flunk "fetch" at Mr. Benjamin's School for Puppies. Oma wants a blue ribbon of achievement for Alice, so she takes Bobo in hand, seeing that he gets good food, proper exercise and extra coaching. Oma's change of heart is the center of this wry and loving family story. Schwartz's humorously detailed, evocative, pen-and-ink drawings, with full color wash, contain plenty of zest; fans of her Bea and Mr. Jones and Her Majesty, Aunt Essie won't be disappointed. This is a fine book, just right for grandparents and grandchildren to share. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2 While Schwartz' backdrop has changedSpanish-style houses and wide open spaces have replaced her typical New York City brownstones and sidewalksher elongated yet lumpy figures are as vital as ever. Here they come to full life in a story about a grandmother, her granddaughter, and a dog. When Alice's mother gives Alice a dog for her birthday, Oma's reaction is `` Mein Gott ,'' her words accompanied by a wicked scowl. Gradually, though, Oma warms up to Bobo, growing from hostility to peaceful coexistence and finally to friendship. It's hard to tell who the star of this book isOma or Bobo, for each is funnier than the other in expression and action. Alice is pretty charming herself, but she has strong competition for the limelight, including the characters at dog obedience school , who look very much like rejects from a Fellini movie. Oma and Bobo has all of the elements that a picture book should have: a strong story, memorable characters, and pictures that are self-explanatory. Like Bobo, it deserves a blue ribbon. Trev Jones, ``School Library Journal''
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books; First Edition edition (April 30, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027815005
• ISBN-13: 978-0027815009
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #450,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My kids & I loved it and the book has special meaning to us!, November 5, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Oma and Bobo (Hardcover)

My mom is German and my children call her "Oma." On 11/3/97, our beloved dog, Bo,
died. My children called him BoBo. The three
of us went to the library on 11/4 and there it
was, a wonderful book.....I knew this book would be special just from the title. And it was
truely a lovely book. We enjoyed the German
words in the text and some of the things that
happeded to Alice, BoBo and Oma was like
reliving it with my daughter, Bo and my mom.
I have my local bookstore checking if they can
order me a couple copies. This will be a special
book to give my mom. We all love and miss Bo,
he was "family." My mom and I have always
been close and even more so since her breast
cancer in 9/96. So, this book will be a treasure
to me too!
Anita Dugger ([e-mail])
Chatsworth, GA

5.0 out of 5 stars hilarious and charming, November 22, 2011

By 

Melissa (Northern California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oma and Bobo (Hardcover)

This is an all time favorite of mine and my three kids. (2 boys and a girl) It is one of those perfect books full of humor, genuine charm and a positive message that doesn't hit you over the head. A mother and daughter adopt a older dog, Bobo, from a shelter; the live-in grandmother, Oma, objects, thinking dogs are a bother and a nuisance. The girl labors diligently to teach Bobo new tricks, so that he can pass the obedience school test. The illustrations are perfect, full of interesting detail and enough nuance we can see the child's happy awareness of her grandmother's growing affection for Bobo. The last page literally makes you cheer, even if you have read the book aloud more than twenty times. Oma and Bobo is an undiscovered classic and one of the top ten modern picture books. (and I don't have a German grandma or a dog named Bobo, or any connection to the author.)