GOODBYE HOBBS

BY EMMA BETTRIDGE AND JOSEPHINE BIRCH GRAFFEG, £8.99 (PB)

Beautifully illustrated by Josephine Birch, Goodbye Hobbs gently evokes loss as shaggy lurcher Merlin seeks out his departed friend Hobbs, a shiny black Labrador. Author Emma Bettridge captures Merlin’s childlike spirit, curiosity and longing, as he gambols through woodland, sniffing and scenting Hobbs on the breeze, in the leaves, under the weeping willow tree. The lyrical text and lively images convey a blustering walk, wind whistling, and Merlin’s splashing, bounding excursion. This lovely tale, simply told, will help children who have also lost a friend to say goodbye and find comfort in their outdoor adventures.