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Item Barcode | Collection | Call Number | Status | Item Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33607002414525 | Juvenile Graphic Novels | BENNY | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
How can Benny pretend to be a brave pirate when his pesky little sister, Penny, wants to tag along and is always asking for a hug? He tries to lose her, but when he does, he starts to feel a little lost himself. Penny proves her bravery, saves Benny from a bug, and gets the hug she wants.
Author Notes
Geoffrey Hayes was born in Pasadena, California on December 3, 1947. He studied at Hunter College, the Art Students League, and the School of Visual Arts. Before becoming a children's author and illustrator, he worked in the art department at an advertising firm and in the interior design department at an architectural firm. In 1974, he brought a portfolio of his artwork to Harper and Row. His first picture book, Bear by Himself, was published in 1976. He created more than 50 books for children including the Otto and Uncle Tooth early reader series, Benny and Penny in Just Pretend, and Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!, which won the 2010 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. He also illustrated several works by other authors including When the Wind Blew by Margaret Wise Brown, which was selected as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year. He died on June 2, 2017 at the age of 69.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Hayes successfully combines a comic-book format with effective easy-reader elements to introduce two delightful mouse siblings. Penny, clothed in pale-blue princess regalia, persistently seeks out her older brother's company, though Benny, who is busy playing pirate, brushes her off repeatedly. Finally fed up, Benny calls her "a dumb, bad little sister!" and she dissolves into tears. After an offstage intercession from Mom, Benny suggests a game of hide-and-seek, hurries Penny into an outdoor storage bin, and tells her to stay put. Time passes without Penny making an appearance. Benny begins to miss her and is relieved when she finally turns up, explaining, "I had to go pee-pee!" After Penny proves her courage by shooing away a frightening dragonfly, Benny apologizes for his harsh words; the sibs share a "huggy" and then play pirates together. The simple language, brief sentences, and clean layout-with large text, easy-to-follow sequencing, and an uncluttered design-are appropriate for newly independent readers. The warm-hued panel pictures contain enough detail to provide visual clues and create a sense of place while briskly propelling the action forward. The characters have expressive features that reflect changing emotions, and the sibling relationship is sweetly and realistically portrayed. A fresh and fun choice for beginning readers-especially those discouraged by text-heavy pages-and for sharing aloud.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Hayes, creator of the Otto and Uncle Tooth mysteries, chooses mouse siblings as the subjects for this comic book cum easy reader, first in a planned series (see Silly Lilly, reviewed p. 69). Jazzy, multipanel layouts add a contemporary dimension to simply worded episodes about an eager younger sister and standoffish brother who relish their rivalry more than they admit. Benny fashions himself as a buccaneer with a black tricorn hat and a wooden sword; when he stands in a crate, a thought bubble shows him aboard a galleon that flies the Jolly Roger. Sweet-natured Penny, clad in baby-blue princess gear, wants to play, too, and he automatically rebuffs her: "No! Pirates are brave, and you are a cry-baby." At last Benny initiates a game of hide-and-seek, with no intention of seeking--at least, until Penny disappears. Hayes's colored-pencil pictures set the action near the ground, in cozy panels depicting a secure woodland space. Shallow backgrounds ensure that the outside world never intrudes, except when Benny is startled by bugs that don't faze his sister. A close-range perspective gives readers a good look at Benny and Penny's facial expressions, supplying the context for the dialogue. These skillful drawings do just what they attempt: they lever beginning readers right into the story. Ages 4-up. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved