Kindergarten-Grade 2. Leon"s father is away in the army, but the boy seems to be doing just fine with his new invisible friend, Bob. Just as he did in Dear Mr. Blueberry (S & S, 1991), James captures the wonderful qualities and imagination of a child. The simple text and comic illustrations reveal a sweet boy who misses his father but compensates for his loss by sharing his days with Bob. Especially delightful are the watercolor-and-ink illustrations, with their understated touches: clothing hanging out of a drawer, a soccer ball that appears in many of the pictures, and his father"s letter tucked into bed beside Leon. The elongated doors, windows, steps, and a huge bed are funny but evoke a feeling of loneliness. However, the ending is upbeat as a new family moves in and Leon meets a \"real\" boy named Bob. All in all, a good choice for any picture-book collection.?Mary M. Hopf, Los Angeles Public Library