Title: My Best Friend
Author & Illustrator: Rob Hodgson
The Story:
This is the story of a mouse who thinks a giant owl is their best friend. But Giant Owl might be trying to get close to Mouse for another (yummy) reason. Mouse loves how they play chase for hours and is delighted with Giant Owl buys him a new house (a cage). Oblivious to Giant Owl’s true motives, Mouse continues to try to see the best in Giant Owl but it’s not always easy. Giant Owl can get a little too close sometimes. But then one day, everything goes dark. Mouse really misses Giant Owl – but perhaps Mouse is far, far, FAR too close to Giant Owl (if you know what I mean!). Will Giant Owl come to his rescue? Willingly or not?
Favourite Spread:
This is one of those fabulous picture books where the words and the pictures are telling two very different stories and you can’t help but laugh at Mouse’s complete ignorance of Giant Owl’s true agenda. There is so much expression in both Mouse and Giant Owl that just makes this book so hilarious.
My favourite scene has to be when Giant Owl offers Mouse doughnuts which ultimately results in Mouse getting a very big belly.
The Verdict:
I am a big fan of Rob’s previous books, The Cave and The Woods, but I think My Best Friend is his best book yet! Rob has cleverly created the perfect balance between dark and light-hearted humour with Mouse’s words and the illustrations of Giant Owl telling two completely different sides of the tale. I loved it!
Publisher: Quarto
Publication date: 5 May 2020
ISBN: 978-0711248342
I am very grateful to the publisher for letting me read this book via Net Galley. This voluntary review contains my honest opinion.
Picture Book Perfect 
Such a good book. I wasn’t mad on the cave, liked the woods a bit more but really loved this!
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Yes, this is definitely my favourite of the three – it’s so clever and SO funny.
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Agreed! Have you read Brenda is a Sheep by Morag Hood, or The Terribly Friendly Fox by Susannah Lloyd? Highly recommend both if not and you’ve enjoyed this.
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Just added them both to my wish list – thank you! 😁
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