Bluey: Bob Bilby by Bluey

Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760896638. 24pp.
(Age: Preschool) Recommended. Bluey is back again for little fans of the very popular TV series. It is Bingo's turn to have the joy of taking Bob Bilby home from her classroom, where it is expected that the family will take photos of the good times that they all have. Bob Bilby wonders what they will get up to and shows the family the photo album with all the fun that he has had - off to Scotland with Mrs Terrier, playing football with Jasper W and karate with another friend Maxie. Then he is shown a tablet that can take photos and can be used to play games and watch cartoons. The family goes shopping but the kids watch more cartoons in the shops and even Bingo's Mum watches hockey on the big screen. When they return home to look at the photos Mum has taken to put in the album they discover that in each of them they are looking at a screen. They will have to remedy that so Bluey puts all their tablets in a basket and off they go on some fun adventures.
Bluey's family is a warm loving one and children will love references to "the big blue guy", Bingo's father. And this time it is Bingo, the brown dog, who stars in the story although Bluey does come up with the solution of getting good photos for Bob Bilby to take back to the classroom.
The book is a sturdy board book that will hold up to much handling and the familiar TV characters are gorgeous.
The simple message of doing fun things without screens is sent in a positive, warm way that young readers will relate to and with the enormous success that Bluey has had on TV, ABC iView and iTunes Kids Chart, this is one that parents will want to have at home to help with getting kids off screens and doing other fun activities.
Pat Pledger