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Lob by Linda Newbery
Published by David Fickiling Books, 2010

You have to be a special person to see Lob, that’s what Grandpa Will says.

Lob by Linda Newbery is a beautiful book for independent young readers. It has equal appeal for boys and girls. Beginner gardeners and children who love the outdoors will delight in the story of the little green man who helps grandpa around the garden. As part of his “lobwork” duties, the little green man fills the watering can and weeds the vegetable patches but will only ever be visible to special people with magical vision. Known to Grandpa Will’s grandfather and his grandfather before that he is happy to stay in Will’s garder because he’s once again found the “right person.”

Lucy’s parents and granny think Lob is a figment of Grandpa Will’s imagination but in the gooseberry bushes Lucy can see a flicker of movement, a tremor of greeny-brown or the flash of a bright green eye.

But all things change, something terrible happens in little Lucy’s life and as she carries on growing up in London, she wonders if she will ever see Lob again.

The text in the story is complimented with the beautiful line illustrations of Pam Smy. The font and word spacing varies throughout this memorable story which can be read and interepreted on many levels.

Like the best of stories, this latest offering from Newbery evokes the crisp magic of childhood innocence ... A timeless tale of loss, discovery and the abounding wonder of nature. -- The Bookseller, Children's Buyers Guide 2010, Spring Highlights.