ALA Booklist (Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2008)

"Neither Bobbi the dog nor Bob Cat has a tail, and some say that's what brought them together." Abandoned during the Katrina evacuations, pets Bobbi and Bob Cat wander dangerous, debris-strewn streets seeking food and water. Eventually taken to a rescue shelter, the Bobbies show distress when separated but remain calm when together. Workers then discover that Bob Cat is blind and that Bobbi seems to serve as his seeing-eye dog. A national news appearance ultimately results in the animals' shared adoption in a happy new home. The descriptive, sometimes folksy prose and realistically rendered gouache illustrations accessibly convey the Bobbies' experiences and mutual devotion. An afterword, with a photo of the real-life furry friends, notes the parts of the narrative that are speculative, such as the animals' pre-shelter experiences.This moving story about the importance of friendship and home highlights the plight of the hurricane's lost and left-behind animals, as well as the value of animal shelters.

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Abandoned during Hurricane Katrina, a dog (Bobbi) and a blind cat (Bob Cat) survive together for months before receiving care and ultimately a new owner through various animal protection groups. Although some illustrations look stiff, the heartwarming story deserves a place in collections. An afterword includes a photograph of the two devoted animal companions.

Kirkus Reviews

Larson and Nethery relate the true story of a dog and a cat, both tailless, that come to be called Bobbi and Bob Cat, respectively. Abandoned in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, the inseparable duo wander the devastated city for months before being taken into an animal shelter and then finally to a new home on a ranch in Oregon. The improbability of the pair's survival is heightened by the astounding discovery that Bob Cat is blind and surely would not have persevered without Bobbi's protection. While the sometimes gritty realism of Cassels's illustrations successfully captures the essence of the storm-ravaged yet resilient city, the authors, presumably in an attempt to avoid sensationalism, unfortunately rob this story of much of its inspirational quality through the flat, journalistic language they employ. As it presents a story that deals with the tragedy of the storm yet focuses on hope and triumph, this effort will likely hold much appeal for survivors of natural disasters, particularly Katrina. If only the telling itself had a little Crescent City flair. (Picture book. 7-10)

School Library Journal (Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2008)

K-Gr 3 Simple prose introduces two animals, a cat and a dog, that survived Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and, after four months of wandering, were rescued by the Best Friends Animal Society. The narrative is obviously part supposition as the original owners were never found, despite efforts to locate them. Since both pets had bobbed tails, a shelter volunteer named them Bob Cat and Bobbi, hence the book's title. It was soon discovered that Bob Cat was blind, making his survival even more amazing and underscoring the idea that the two critters relied on one another during their ordeal. The terrifying event is told about in a matter-of-fact way, with the text concentrating on the "feel good" aspect of the two Bobbies. The gouache illustrations, done in soft pastel shades, present realistic glimpses of the devastated city that serve as a backdrop for the animals' struggles. An afterword includes a photo and additional information. An excellent introduction to Katrina for young children, this touching animal tale memorializes a modern catastrophe and pays tribute to the many volunteers who traveled to New Orleans to help. Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA