Bob Tales: Land of the Woody Warbles
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! Five 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
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Children’s author Susan E. Sullivan worked in Nuclear Medicine before teaching high school biology and anatomy for ten years. Her dream of writing became a reality when her husband brought a cat home from a “garbaggy” place and he became part of their family. Bob, a tailless cat, had wanderlust and his true adventures became the source of great stories, ones that Susan crafted into a heartwarming picture book, Bob Tales: Land of the Woody Warbles.
A rescue cat with a rough beginning, Bob loved his new family and any time they went away, the cat would set out on a journey to “find” them, sometimes for weeks, until he would finally be located and reunited with Susan and her husband. She would imagine what exploits would befall her sweet tailless cat on his travels and it inspired her to write about them.
Susan believes a great book is one that evokes emotion and is full of adventure. She hopes her young readers come away from her story learning to always be kind, and to love all creatures, including humans, just the way they are, and that this stays with them long after the book is closed.
When she isn’t writing uplifting stories for kids, Susan enjoys being in nature and among animals, particularly when she is beekeeping. She also enjoys golf, paddle boarding, fishing and snow skiing. She lives with her husband in Beaufort, South Carolina with several rescue pets. Bob, who sadly passed away last year, continues to inspire Susan’s writing, with a second picture book in the works following her debut, Bob Tales: Land of the Woody Warbles.
Must read Five 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
"A unique and fantastic children's picture book full of adventure, friendship, peril, and courage. This story demonstrates the importance of teamwork, not giving up, overcoming your fears, not believing what others think about you, and trusting yourself. The adorable watercolor illustrations beautifully capture the essence of this inspiring story. Each chapter invites you to experience the world as a cat might. It also invites you to discover other animals like a snake, a frog, a fish, a lemur, a mantis, a turtle, a bee, a worm, and an owl. This is a delightful choice for any young mind interested in a tale about a cool, brave, and intelligent kitty. The beautiful ending will melt your heart and bring a smile to your face."
- Emma Megan for Readers' Favorite Five Stars!
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/or D. Donovan, Editor, Donovan's Literary Services
In Susan Sullivan's uplifting chapter book, Bob Tales, a stray feline is rescued, seeks adventures, and learns that he's capable and loved.
The book veers into fantasy territory when Bob encounters a walking stick that dons a top hat, sings, and dances. And the illustrations depict the woodland setting, bathed in golden light, with whimsy. In Bob Tales, a cat in search of its owners makes woodland friends and is reassured of his own worth.
-KAREN RIGBY, Foreword Magazine (November / December 2023)
