Bob's Mythological Garden
Author: Faiz Kermani
Pages: 18
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes
Synopsis:
No one believes in unicorns, trolls, elves, pixies, or other imaginary creatures! At least that’s what Bob keeps telling his boss at The International Chronicle. Unfortunately, Bob’s boss remains convinced that Bob’s journalistic talents are best suited to writing about these weird subjects. Why would Bob want to write about politics and economics when readers love his strange articles about dragons and other freaky creatures? One day, Bob finally manages to escape his nightmare of a job—or does he? The charming, relaxing cottage he has found shelter in ends up attracting the oddest visitors. His ridiculous stories might have some truth to them.
Review:
Bob Boogle is ready to quit his job at The International Chronicle - he's fed up of writing about monsters and mythological creatures. Instead, he wants to write about serious news he thinks the public will want to read, but he doesn't know his readership - they love his news items on the Loch Ness Monster or at least that's what his boss tells him.
As Bob is so bored with writing odd news, he decides it's best to quit now, but his boss tells him to think long and hard about it, taking a short holiday for a while so he can come back with a fresh outlook. He sends him to a cottage retreat where he can spend some quality time away from work, though what he doesn't know is that his boss has prepared him for the holiday of a lifetime.
While Bob settles into his cottage, a unicorn makes friends with him and to his surprise, wants to introduce him to some of her friends, Gumbo the Gnome and his brothers, Norbs, Nobol and Nimbit, and to surprise him even more, Bob is the only one who can see them. Add to that the unicorn invites even more friends to see him - until he gets annoyed at not being left alone.
Unicorns, gnomes and fairies are all fun, but when Bob can't take their presence any longer, it takes him thinking for a while about what he does want to write about after his holiday. Illustrated by Korey Scott, it has colourful images of Bob and his new friends in a fetching cartoon style of funny faces and pastel shades - colourful yet understated.
For fans of Faiz's previous works, there is a funny twist to this short novel that will have you giggling about it for days.
Summary: This is Faiz's detour from all things frog to concentrate on other, more ethereal creatures which reads well enough to have a sequel.
