The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job

by Brooks Olbrys

Join Blue Ocean Bob on his journey to protect all life in the Sea of Kerchoo

Blue Ocean Bob loves the sea and wants to dedicate his life to protecting it. He begins a new job as assistant to Mary Marine, the Island of Roses’s leading marine biologist, and with his hummingbird guardian, Xena, by his side, works hard to carry out his duties to the sea creatures both on and off the shore.

When the challenges mount, Bob seeks advice from Doc the turtle, Earl the clam, and Wallace the walrus, who each help him to develop the positive attitude he needs to succeed.

The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job is the second installment in this colorful and inspiring early chapter book series that provides young readers with an introduction to timeless principles of achievement.

"Brooks Olbrys’ latest book: The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job, teaches important lessons. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. By using words and art, the book will especially entertain children who will one day become our future."
-- Don M. Green, Executive Director, Napoleon Hill Foundation

"Brooks Olbrys weaves together a truly amazing and creative 'hero's journey' for children."
-- Mary Morrissey, best-selling author of No Less Than Greatness and Building Your Field of Dreams

"Blue Ocean Bob provides young minds with positive precepts and powerful lessons that will serve them for the rest of their lives."
-- Bob Proctor, personal development coach and bestselling author of You Were Born Rich

"I love the use of rhyme and rhythm--that not only helps to engage the young reader-listener but also prepares the way for other poetry."
-- Nancy Huddleston Packer, Professor of English Emeritus, Stanford University

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fantasy

54 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 2015

Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Greenleaf Book Group and NetGalley.)


This was a rhyming kids story about a boy who wanted to be some sort of protector of the sea. Unfortunately though, the only word I can think of to describe this book is tedious. My four-year-old didn’t even make it through the first page without finding something more interesting to do, and I struggled to get through the first chapter, and had to take a break before the next! The rhyming wasn’t great, and the whole thing was just dull. Tedious is definitely the right word for this book.
4 out of 10

[Jerry Hillyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job

Author: Brooks Olbrys

Illustrator: Kevin Keele

Publisher: Children's Success Unlimited, LLC

Year: 2015

Pages: 51+

Blue Ocean Bob Website

[Disclaimer: In exchange for my fair and unbiased review, I was provided an ARC by the publisher through NetGalley. The views expressed here are mine alone. I was not required to write a positive review and I was in no way compensated for the review. All images belong to the copyright owner.]

Blue Ocean Bob wants to be a marine scientist who helps all the animals and 'safeguard the sea.' What follows are five short stories told in a series of couplets (AABBCC, etc.). Each chapter is relatively short, but they are fairly well balanced and interesting enough to hold the attention of the reader. It took me about 20 minutes to read the book and I enjoyed it.

In chapter 1, Bob has to help a baby seal learn how to swim, but first he must learn how to dive himself. In chapter 2, he has to help clean up the water, but in the process gets a pelican tangled in a net and has to solve another problem. In chapter 3, he has to warn some sea animals that a storm is coming and they need to find safe place to wait it out. In chapter 4, he has a crisis concerning his choice of a career path and has to wrestle with some tough decisions. And in chapter 5, Bob finds his calling once again by rescuing an animal that needs help.

Bob has to work hard to see his goals through to the end in each chapter. I'm guessing this has something to do with the author's interest in 'achievement philosophy.' The little bird, Xena, his 'guardian, ally, and friend,' is kind of annoying and serves as a sort of Jiminy Cricket type character except that Xena is (seemingly) always negative and warning Bob of the dangers that lie ahead and why he should just abandon all his quests and his ambition to be a marine scientist. Bob has to press on through this constant negativity, through constant challenges, and seek wisdom from others in order to accomplish his goals of rescuing and warning animals in the sea.

I do like this book. There are times, yes, when the rhythm of the rhyme gets a bit difficult and that may prove challenging for students at times. With that said, I have no real problems with the story as such. I would use this book in my special education classroom because I find that many of my students often default to 'I can't' or 'it's too hard.' Sometimes those negative nancies abound and it would be helpful for them to have another voice showing that they can, in fact, accomplish things they put their minds too; that they can achieve when they try. Bob is a great character study in perseverance.

One final note, the artwork is spectacular. I would like to have provided a link to the illustrators website, but I'm not sure I found the right one so I didn't include it. I love the pictures and the color and the overall wonderfulness of the art. It is appropriate to the story and enhances it on every page. Children seem to like stories involving interaction between humans and animals. I think this accomplishes that in a nice way, even if there are moments when the grammar could be a little clearer.

I recommend this book and will adopt this as part of our social skills curriculum in my classroom.

4.5/5 stars

[Penny Minding Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the first day of school I asked my children what they wanted to be when they grew up. My daughter wants to be a hockey player and my son wants to be a monster. They know what they want to be, but when I ask them how they plan on making it happen neither one knows. I know their ideas of what they want to be will change but the habits and principles that will take them to their own personal successes will remain the same.

“The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob – A Challenging Job” is the story of Bob, a boy determined to defend and protect all of his sea creature friends. With the help of his caring but cautious guardian, Xena the Hummingbird and guidance from his mentor, Miss Mary Marine, Bob embarks on his journey to help his ocean friends.

With each obstacle Bob over comes as he preforms his duty as a protector of the ocean, he gains more confidence and learn many life lessons that will guide him through life.

In “The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob – A Challenging Job”, the author, Brooks Olbrys takes your child on an exciting rhyming adventure. The book is broken down into five chapters, each one focusing on an important life principle. Your child will learn about confidence, responsibility, communication, gratitude and success. All very important lessons for our little ones to learn from an early age.

The lessons in each chapter are quite clear, but presented in a creative and fun way. One of our favourite lessons was the one on responsibility.

“But what I remember when caught in the kelp,
is to solve any problem, don’t look to the past.
You have to stop blaming and take action fast.
Be willing to own any part you have played,
and see if apologies need to be made.”

This is a lesson for everyone, not just our little ones. All to often we are too ready to blame others for any negative situation we find ourselves in. When we take a few minutes to evaluate things, more often that not we will discover that our own actions have played a roll.

I love it when a book offers me the opportunity to have discussions with my children at times when everyone is calm and happy. The time for a discussion on taking responsibility may not be in the middle of an argument, a time when no one is willing to be receptive, but at story time when you are just sharing some precious time with your little one.

The illustrations in the book are wonderful. Full of colour and fun characters your child will want to jump into the pages and play at the seaside with Bob. The story is told in rhyme. The kids often try to guess the last word of the sentence, it adds a whole new element of listening and engagement!

The fun and learning doesn’t stop with the book. There is a website dedicated to Blue Ocean Bob. There you’ll find links to book previews, an ipod/ipad App to play and even some games to play online and activities to download and print. There is also a Parent and Teacher Guide available that contains a glossary of terms, discussion questions and activities!

*Disclosure: I received a free digital copy of “The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job” in exchange for my review. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

We received this book to give an honest review.
So when I saw this book I was like I know K will like this. It deals with the ocean and animals two of his favorite things. It also rhymes from the get go so that is something I know he enjoyed.
Then I saw it was a chapter book and I was thinking okay I am not sure he is going to enjoy this as much as I thought. I was wrong. I was only going to read one chapter a night so we could stretch the book out. Nope he insisted I read two chapters one night and then three the next night. So that is what we did.
Bob is a young boy whose job is to safeguard the ocean. And he has different jobs within each chapter. In Chapter one he is to help Kodi a baby seal learn to eat and swim, he questions if he can even do anything as he doesn't scuba dive. With the help from Doc the turtle he gets an idea and it works.
In chapter two he is off to clean up some garbage and when he does his net goes awry and lands on a pelican! How scary right the reason it landed on the pelican was because of Xena and Bob not just once person. Bob and Xena go to see Earl the old clam who gives them a lesson on what happened.
Chapter three there is a storm brewing and it is up to Bob to pass the message long to dolphins, whales and porpoises. Of course Bob doesn't know how to pass the message along until Doc the turtle gives him advice on what to do. We learn that dolphins use echo location to communicate. How cool right? In the end everyone works together to pass the message along.
Chapter four after the storm the weather was still a bit cloudy but Bob's day didn't seem to start off in better. You know how you have those days. He sees his friend Wallace the walrus who ask him why he has a sad face, which Bob explains how his day has gone. With the really good advice from Wallace we learn that you should count your blessings big or small and never give up, and think about things that make you feel grateful.
The last chapter in this book there is a stingray that is stuck and it is up to Bob to help free him. Bob is scared to go diving in the deep as he has never been before. But he doesn't give up and ends up turning to Earl who gives him advice on what to do. He ends up in the end deciding to help out the stingray which proved that Bob was the right person for the job.

I loved how this book was full of positivity and Bob was encouraged to do things even if he felt he couldn't, and he never gave up. I liked how the animals had advice and wisdom to give. The only character I didn't like is Xena it is like she didn't want Bob to do things which I didn't think was nice.
The illustrations are very well done and bright. They go wonderful with the story being told.
K really enjoyed the book and learning lessons about things even if he didn't think he was.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job by Brooks Olbrys from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this early chapter book we meet a boy who lives on an island and has dreams of protecting the sea. Blue Ocean Bob decides he's set his heart on this job, and starts by finding a mentor, Miss Mary Marine, the best sea expert. Bob learns that this goal is a big one, and he must do a series of things to help the sea he loves.

Each chapter is a short story told in rhythmic rhyming that teaches a new lesson to Bob. The stories are enjoyable and simple. First he must teach a seal to swim in the deep to feed, but he has to learn to swim that deep himself first. Next he is supposed to help clean up the beach but a mishap with the net creates a new problem. Then he is to warn all the ocean animals that a storm is coming so he must learn how to speak to dolphins. Toward the end Bob gets discouraged when he has a bad day. In the last chapter, Bob is challenged with scuba diving in the deep, which he doesn't feel like he can do.

I enjoyed the rhyming, it's definitely a book to read aloud chapter by chapter to younger children. For short attention spans, they probably won't sit for the entire book at once. For readers beginning chapter books, this is a good one for them to begin on their own. The rhyming and pictures help the reader figure out some of the more difficult words. There were a few words my daughter needed help on. My older kids read the whole thing in one sitting.

The first thing that caught my eye with this one is the pictures. They are bright and colorful and very catching to a child's eye. I liked the rhyming and the stories that teach useful lessons for kids during problem solving. I liked how Bob picked a big goal and had to work at it step by step.

The biggest downside for me was mostly one character. Bob has a hummingbird "guardian" Xena. Xena is so incredibly negative and pessimistic about everything. I get that there are grumpy defeatists in the world, but perhaps her character would have been better played as a younger annoying brother or jealous neighbor or something. When I think of a guardian I think of someone who doesn't just protect you but also wants what's best for you. Xena acted like she wanted Bob to hide himself under a rock for his life so nothing bad happens, but then he wouldn't grow or do all the good he's capable of. She repeatedly tells him to quit and when he's struggling she doesn't even encourage him. I'm not saying he shouldn't have had some opposition, it's good to teach kids that, I just didn't like that it came from someone who was supposed to be his best friend.

Overall it was a good book, my kids loved all the sea characters. We will take a look at the next one.

Thank you Greenleaf Book Group for this opportunity.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Challenging Job
Brooks Olbrys
Blue Ocean Bob Series

Review: Bob is a young boy who decides he wants to help the animals of the ocean. He nicknames himself Blue Ocean Bob and with the help of Xena a hummingbird and some other friends he works hard to fulfill his dreams.
I have to say that there are parts of this book that I really liked and other parts I did not like as much. Even so this book was cute and enjoyable. Also, it is an easy read which is great for someone just starting to read on their own. Plus, it is written in verse which may appeal so some kids more than other, but I found it to be entertaining. I liked how determined Blue Ocean Bob was to help the animals. The best part is that there are life lessons hidden in the stories. My favorite part of this book is the illustrations. They are so bright and colorful. It just made the story more interesting and for younger kids who still enjoy picture books it helps them transition.
There were a few things though that I did not care for in this book. The biggest problem I had with this book was unfortunately Xena. I have to admit I chose to read this book because of her. I am in love with hummingbirds and I thought it would be amazing to have one as a guardian. Unfortunately, Xena is a bit of a pessimist and is always trying to tell Bob he isn’t capable of doing something. As a guardian I understand she wants to protect him, but shouldn’t she be encouraging him to do better? I also thought that the stories were very short. Now this is just my personal opinion. I do understand that I am much older than the intended age group and that this is perfect for many children. I just personally like a story to have more depth and I felt this one didn’t give us much insight to Bob beyond his love for the ocean. Where are his parents and why do they not seem to care that their child is sometimes put into dangerous situations by the only adult in the book?
I do think that this story will appeal to many emerging readers and as such it is worth reading for them. For readers who are looking for something with more substance this is not a book for you.
I received a free ecopy of this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion.

[Ellen Klock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job by Brooks Olbrys is a part of a chapter book series featuring Bob, a character who loves the sea and all the life found within its depths. In this particular book, there are five short adventures (51 pages) containing lush illustrations (by Kevin Keele) and various moral lessons. Instead of the author preaching, Bob learns through the advice of various marine life (Doc the sea turtle, Wallace the walrus, Kodi the seal, and Earl the clam) and his own experiences. Although enthusiastic, Bob discovers it takes a lot of practice to master a skill – a good lesson to reinforce with children who get easily frustrated. His friend, a hummingbird named Xena, reflects the negativity some kids hear, but Bob perseveres despite the obstacles he must overcome. Although many of the animals speak and have human characteristics, this is still a good introduction to the some of the creatures found in the ocean with many of the problems they face, such as surviving storms or being caught in the nets of fishermen. The entire story is written in rhyme which adds to the fun. Unfortunately, the meter was sometimes a bit off which could be distracting to the reader. The text was also a little too advanced for beginners to use independently, even though it is packaged as a reader. Instead I would recommend it as a read-aloud for adults to share with children. However, Keele’s illustrations are colorful, detailed, and attractive, making the various sea life memorably lovable. This book does fit a niche in the Character Development genre, so it would be perfect for elementary grades discussing topics such as responsibility, fairness, forgiveness, communication, cooperation, perseverance, and gratitude. Three and a half stars and a Thank You to Netgalley and Children’s Success Unlimited for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob by Brooks Olbrys is a series of books which educates children about the ocean, its creatures, its problems and how people can help. It also introduces children to problem solving and encouragement when in doubt. The lessons of the series is to “Think it, See it, Believe it, and Achieve it.”
A Journey Begins is book 1 of the series as Bob is introduced. He lives on an island and dreams of something more. Xena, a hummingbird, is his guardian. Bob goes on a quest where he meets Al, a dolphin. Doc, a sea turtle. Earl, a clam and he realizes that he wants to study marine biology. He meets with Mary Marine who works as the pier. There she gives him jobs to do as he begins his studies.
A Challenging Job is book 2 as Bob is given the task to clean up the garbage in the ocean. He meets Beck, a pelican, and Cathy, a crab, who help him with his tasks. As a storm is approaching, Bob must help the island prepare. The main theme is to look for a solution despite the odds and one’s doubts.
Into the Lead is book 3 as Bob is put in charge as Mary must leave the island. There’s been a earthquake and an oil spill has occurred. Andy, the Great White, is stuck on the beach. Bob must find a solution to help Andy back into the ocean. With the help of all the sea creatures he’s met, Bob is able to get Andy back where he belongs.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series as I loved the lessons of hard work, finding solutions against the odds, and asking for help when it is needed. The author created the series when he was inspired by his young son. He founded Children’s Success Unlimited. The series is beautifully illustrated by Kevin Keele and has won numerous book awards. I highly recommend The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob for any school and family libraries with its lessons of courage, creativity, decision, action and leadership.

[Lindsey Lawntea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blue Ocean Bob wants to become a marine scientist, as the ocean and its creatures are his passion. He acts as an assistant Mary Marine. Bob faces many challenges and obstacles to his dream, from having a bad day to being nervous about his first rescue mission.

The story is told in a series of short, rhyming chapters that follow Bob's missions. A rotating cast of characters, including a wise old turtle, a helpful dolphin, and other marine animals, help Bob face his fears and learn how to accomplish tasks and make progress on his dream.

One of the characters is Bob's "guardian," a hummingbird named Xena, who argues that becoming a marine scientist is a waste of Bob's time. Xena is symbolic of the social and personal obstacles of meeting a goal - whether the doubt is in yourself or in others telling you to give up, you must keep working hard and prove them (or yourself) wrong.

Each of the chapters contains lessons about confidence, making allies, learning from your experiences and others, and never giving up on your dreams in spite of whatever adversity you may face. Many coping mechanisms are discussed, as well as encouragement to keep learning and improving.

The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob is a wonderful tale about following your dreams. It is the second in a series, and while you don't have to read the first book to dive right into this one, I'm sure you'll soon find that you'll WANT to stick with Blue Ocean Bob on his adventures.

I received a free digital ARC via NetGalley.

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob- A Challenging Job, by Brooks Olbry- illustrated by Kevin Keele, by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The books is made up of five chapters. Each chapter is a lesson hidden in a creative, lyrical short story. The boy, on the Island of Roses adopted the nickname Blue Ocean Bob, his guardian is a hummingbird named Xena. He also has a mentor named Miss Mary Marine. Bob is friends with Kodi- the baby seal, Doc- the wise old turtle, Beck- the pelican, Earl- the clam, Cathy- the crab, Al- the dolphin, Tom- the blue whale, Bob- the walrus, and Ray- the stingray. Xena may be Bob's guardian, but she does not believe he is making a wise choice following his passion safeguarding the sea. His friends, on the other hand, are working with him and helping him learn. Bob does begin to doubt himself and his friends help him realize his dreams are attainable, if he takes them one step at a time.
The story is well written poetry, and very encouraging for children to read. The illustrations are beautiful. Although several of the characters wear glasses, and Doc is the only animal wearing clothes- the characters are all beautifully and realistically drawn.
I highly recommend this book to be in any library for character traits. Bob is a wonderful example of determination resourcefulness. This book is easily five stars.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bob is a boy in his early teens that lives on a tropical island and his goal is to safeguard the sea. He has a hummingbird guardian named Xena that gives him advice that he really could do without. Xena is one of the most negative characters I have ever encountered in a children’s book and is a major detriment to the story. Xena is constantly telling Bob that he can’t do something.
Despite the negativity from his supposed guardian, Bo is able to accomplish a great deal, he snorkels to teach a young seal how to eat in deep water, he frees a pelican from a net, warns the large marine mammals about an impending storm and frees a stingray from abandoned fishing equipment.
This should be an uplifting book, but the nagging of Xena telling him that he can’t do something damages the story. For example, the passage when Bob was snorkeling is

“Bob snorkeled for hours along the seawall, and Xena’s loud chatter was no help at all.”

The other animals such as old Doc the turtle are very supportive of Bob, telling and showing him what he must do. This book had a lot of potential that was diminished by a character that should have been left out. Kind of like Jar-Jar Binks in Star Wars, annoys without advancing the plot.

This book was made available for free for review purposes and this review also appears on Amazon.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would be a good book to give a young reader who is fascinated with the ocean. Bob is determined to help ocean animals and preserve their habitat. He has ocean friends like Doc (a sea turtle), Kodi (a seal), and Earl (a clam). His constant companion is a hummingbird named Xena. With some supervision by his mentor, Miss Mary Marine, Bob helps with several problems around the island - getting a sea gull out of a fishing net, showing a young seal how to hunt for fish in deep water, and warning everyone of a coming storm are some of his assignments.

I didn't rate it more highly for several reasons. This is not a story I would have chosen to read as a child. I preferred fantasy and science fiction, but I know that many children do enjoy stories with talking animals. It's a story told in rhyme, and I think I might have liked it better as prose. And that fact that his "guardian" is so negative and keeps telling him that he is going to fail is not a likable feature.

Those interested in oceanography, ocean animals, or conservation may find they like it quite well. They may enjoy the rhyming text.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author/publisher for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are my own.

Blue Ocean Bob; A Challenging Job is a beautiful book that I loved reading! The illustrations are alluring and the characters are well made, but the writing is what sold this book for me! It is so perfect and inviting! The writing makes this book one of those that is fun to read aloud where you (the parent or older sibling) doesn't feel stupid reading to the youngster! The story rhymes all of the way through and you will love the story just as much as the child will.

A Challenging Job is filled with great moral truths where we learn to forgive our friends when mishaps happen; never give up on our dreams when the going gets tough; and to count out blessings when all we can see are the troublesome blocks in the road. Beginning readers will love this stepping stone chapter book and they will also learn some vocabulary words.

So overall I rate Blue Ocean Bob; A Challenging Job 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to parents of youngsters!

You can read this review,as well as others on my blog at http://acceleratethejesusmovement.wor...

[Patricia Tilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brooks Olbrys has written another dynamic ocean adventure about Bob, a boy on a journey to pursue his dream of becoming a marine biologist and protecting all life in the Sea of Kerchoo. Bob is a great role model for children.
Although Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job is a chapter book for emerging readers, it also can be read as a picture book to younger children. There is a special rhythm to the text and there is breathtaking artwork on every page. Each chapter presents a different challenge or hurdle for Bob: training a young seal to swim, hunt and survive on her own; clearing garbage floating near the pier and accidentally entangling a pelican in his net; warning the whales and dolphins that a storm is brewing; missing his marine science class and almost giving up; and freeing a stingray from a fishing line in deep waters. The characters are realistic, believable and endearing. Bob learns valuable lessons about forgiveness, confidence, communications and gratitude. Kevin Kelle’s vibrant and rich illustrations of the ocean and sea life fill every page. They are engaging and draw the reader into the story.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for adventurous emerging readers. Bob is a boy who has taken it upon himself to protect the ocean and the animals in it, however, he knows there is still a lot to learn and that is what he does throughout the book. You see Bob nervous and unsure about himself and some of the tasks he is ask to do, but he perseveres with the help of his animal friends, and what wonderful advise they give, that can can be awesome for everyone, especially the readers.

Although, Bob's job is a dream for me and every kid out there, the message behind the story is a awesome one and that is what makes this story so appealing to me. But the story is a great one on it's own and will be very appealing to most children, especially those interested in the ocean and ocean animals, there are so wonderful learning facts in the book as well about the animals and the ocean as well as the positive life lessons. I give this book thumbs up all around as I think all emerging readers or parents reading to their children are going to eat this book and series up.

[Reshamad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob through GoodReads First Reads.
I was immediately impressed by the artwork. For a children's chapter /picture book this had some terrific illustrations. I enjoyed the brilliant double spread art of Bob and his marine friends. Overall a job well done on the art.
I am also fond of the marine and geography theme of the book. Its lovely to see a book that encourages and guides you to think about marine life and careers around marine biology.
My gripe is with the actual narrative. I wish the author had chosen to keep this as prose instead of choosing to make this narrative in rhyme. Often I felt the rhyme was very contrived and I struggled to feel connected to the subject matter because of the poetry. It is very difficult to execute long form poetry in story-telling and sadly this book fails at capturing your attention with this form. I would have preferred to read this in the prose form.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Bostick Communications and the author, Brooks Olbrys, for providing me with a copy of this book to review. Blue Ocean Bob is back after discovering, in the first book in the series, his desire to safeguard the ocean and the creatures contained within. Miss Mary Marine is back as Bob's mentor, along with a host of sea animals. The teachable moments continue with this book, as Bob learns the importance of having confidence, working hard, owning up to your mistakes, and problem solving. Kevin Keele is back as illustrator and his colorful, well drawn pages are a perfect backdrop for Brooks Olbrys' sage advice to young readers. A well written book with a great message, A Challenging Job is ideal for educators and parents alike. I highly recommend this book for young readers who like early chapter books, to budding readers who can read with assistance, or to those who just love to listen to a good story.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job is a delightful story that teaches readers about confidence, responsibility, communication, gratitude, and success.

Blue Ocean Bob has a "passion to safeguard the sea" and his mentor Miss Mary Marine is teaching him just what the job entails. Bob must help the baby seal overcome her fear of the deep waters, clean up the garbage in the shallow water, free a trapped stingray and much more. Can Bob master all the tasks in order to acheive his goal to protect the ocean and its inhabitants?

This is such a wonderful book. Through beautiful rhyme, Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job encourages children to learn new things, try their best, and be thankful for the gifts in their lives. The illustrations are simply amazing and aid in drawing readers into Bob's world. I love that the story can be read all at once or as five seperate stories each with their own lesson to share.

I highly recommend picking up a copy.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blue Ocean Bob is a boy who dreams of one day being a marine biologist, but he knows he still has a lot to learn. With his sage guardian, hummingbird Xena, and a host of marine creatures, Bob has many experiences that help him build confidence while also building good character traits. In this brief chapter book for young readers, Bob faces challenges that address such topics as responsibility, fairness, forgiveness, communication, cooperation, perseverance, and gratitude. The rhyming text has wide appeal, making the chapter book suitable for reading aloud and for young children to practice their reading alone. The beautiful pictures compliment the text and all Bob's friends are helpful teachers who demonstrate good manners, helpfulness, and working together. This is the second in a series I think will have wide appeal for student in Kindergarten through third grade.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book and will be looking for others in the future. I think I want the entire collection. I had to read and re-read this book to my 5 year old great grandson who also thinks it is an "awesome" book.

I was very pleased with the rhyming of the stories. There were 5 chapters about Blue Ocean Bob who had some challenging jobs to do protecting sea creatures. Each chapter had a lesson to be learned in regards to confidence, responsibility, communication, gratitude and success. I love stories that are easy to read to children, keeps their attention and teaches them lessons they can put to use in their every day lives.

I received this book as a free copy from good reads first reads. A big thank you to the author Brooks Olbrys for signing the book and for writing such a great book and also to Kevin Keele for doing a great job on the illustrations.

[Charissa Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for a fair review.

Overview: Bob has his dreams all figured out. He will be a marine scientist. So he dons the name Blue Ocean Bob, and seeks out the aid of Dr. Mary Marine and Doc to learn what a marine scientist does.

Likes: Bob was willing to take advice from many sources on his journey to accomplish his dreams. But one of the best parts of this book was that Bob didn’t just dream or talk about his dream. He worked towards it.

Dislikes: Xena did have Bob’s best interests in mind, but she didn’t seem to understand that she was crushing his dreams.

Conclusion: This was a fun book. You and your child should enjoy the rhythm and illustrations in it. Maybe it will even encourage your children to work to their dreams like Bob does.

[Lisa Cobb Sabatini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job by Brooks Olbrys, illustrated by Kevin Keele, from Goodreads.
Brooks Olbrys' rhyming tale of a lad who wants to master his job, yet finds many challenges along the way, will inspire young readers to seek help from others, learn new skills, and not give up when tasks seem too difficult. The charming illustrations by Kevin Keele will keep very young children engaged as the illustrations bring to life the characters of the tale.
The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job is perfect for young readers who especially love the ocean and the creatures that live there. Olbrys' book is also a good choice for parents and teachers who wish to encourage young readers to persevere and accept help from others with greater knowledge.

[Annabelle Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sat with my 7 year old son and read THE ADVENTURES OF BLUE OCEAN BOB. I must say, I often look for great educational/fun books for my kids. It isn't easy because they are either all fun or all educational, no happy medium. This was a refreshing change! My son was fully engaged with the book and was pleased with the ending. I was never cringing feeling that this was dumbed down. I loved the rhythm of the book. I think that made it easier to read. This is great to teach that perseverance does indeed pay off. Maybe things don't always go the way we plan but if we don't give up, things will turn out well in the end. I loved the illustrations and colors.

[Duane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win this copy in a Goodreads giveaway. Being a Children's Librarian, I'm always on the lookout for a new book that will capture a young person's attention. This book is spot on. With bold and colorful illustrations, it invites young readers to learn about the different ways we all can help each other. By incorporating sea life into the story, the author has created a world that will keep children interested while they practice their reading skills and learn some interesting facts about the world around them. A great book for children who are just getting ready to enter the world of chapter books.

[Sandy Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A newly revised edition of The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job warrants a revised review. While the book still details the further adventures of young Bob along with the endearing cast of supportive sea creatures we met in B.O.B.: The Journey Begins, this children’s book benefits from a slight tightening of the prose, making it even more readable. In addition, a “softening” of Xena’s comments makes this edition a real stand out in the B.O.B. series. Needless to say, I highly recommend this beautifully written (and beautifully illustrated) chapter book. My thanks to the author for providing a copy in exchange for my opinion.

[Pamela Hubbard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the language element in this story. The rhyming really made the story flow and it had a fun cadence to read out loud. The story itself was cute, but nothing too gripping or unique. It had a good message about not giving up on your dreams despite obstacles, but it also should have had a message about picking friends better and not listening to the Negative Nellie's in your life! Kids who love animals/the ocean would enjoy this.
I received this book for free as a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are beautiful. Blue Ocean Bob is a marine biologist, and his purpose is to clean up the environment, to study the sea life and help the reader learn more of the lives of creatures of the ocean and shores. It is told in a series of short, lyrical chapters. I believe it would enhance any children's library, and give life to curricular studies of oceans and sea life. I would recommend it for younger children's libraries.

[Ally Camble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! The pictures are beautiful and the stories are great. They have strong morals but they're not preachy. The other characters are encouraging to Bob when he feels discouraged and doesn't think he's done anything worthwhile to help them, and help him do his jobs as much as they can. Great for elementary and great as a read-aloud or for kids to practice their reading with. The rhyming scheme will help kids sound out new words.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I was given this book in exchange for an honest review**

The illustrations of this book draw you in so completely you can't help but want to read it and see what's happening. The story is just as good as the pictures and the rhyming makes it so perfect for children. This book has a great message and I just really love it. I would recommend this book (and I'll be using it when I start to home school next year!) 5 out of 5 stars.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Blue Ocean Bob and the artwork was beautiful. The story explains in a rhyming manner of the hurdles you may have to go through to do the things you love the most. I believe all children will be pulled into the story and enjoy the solutions and assistance that Bob finds to make everything okay!