Bobby's Got a Brand-New Car by Zidrou

Abstract

Reviewed by: Bobby's Got a Brand-New Car by Zidrou Elizabeth Bush Zidrou Bobby's Got a Brand-New Car; tr. from the French by Vanessa Miéville; illus. by Sébastien Chebret. Words & Pictures, 2017 32p ISBN 978-1-91027-748-5 $17.95 R 3-6 yrs Today is the day: little Bobby is off to the car dealership to find his dream wheels. Treated with the utmost courtesy by the salesman, Bobby selects a blue convertible. As the salesman notes, it will be excellent for driving on a sunny day. As Bobby notes, it is large and beautiful and goes "'Vroom! for real.'" Completing the transaction with his magic card, "the one that pays for everything," Bobby is now king of the road, capturing the admiration of onlookers, magnanimously picking up his parents from work, and joyriding at high speed until "Dad feels a bit unwell in the back." Bobby secures his car in the garage for the night and falls asleep dreaming of his next big acquisition—quite possibly a jet. The twofold charm of this slender outing lies in the translucent layers of sleek, retro design elements and in the deadpan narration that allows listeners to decide whether Bobby is working through a fantasy or whether he's really living the life deluxe. It's subtly but clearly argued in the details that Bobby desires more than just a shiny car of his own—he also wants the power and respect that come from wielding a credit card (the salesman even looks away discreetly as Bobby keys in his PIN) and demoting his parents to shotgun and back seats. That's enough to make any kid holler "Vroom! for real." [End Page 98] Copyright © 2017 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois