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Summer Reading of the Under Ten Crowd
July/August 2008
Geoffrey Hayes has another fun offering from Toon Books with his story about mouse siblings, Benny and Penny in Just Pretend. The mice are very cute- stress that, especially cute- but more importantly Hayes has nailed them as a very typical big brother who want to do his own thing and a very typical little sister who wants to be part of whatever he's doing. (I'm writing from direct little-sister experience here.) In Benny's case it is all about pretending to be a pirate and Penny is, well, Penny is not hat he considers pirate material. "Pirates are brave and you are a cry-baby!" This sort of thing does not dissuade her, however, and Penny keep plugging away, trying to insert herself in Benny's game. Finally he snaps and gets a little mean: "You are a dumb little sister!" which does cause a few tears. Teh kids eventually make up, with Penny showing she has the pirate stuff (big time) and Benny apologizing.
It's a message book (as is Otto) but it's such a fun lesson with amusing little characters that young readers (or listeners) are going to fall of it big time. Hayes is both writer and artist here and he draws Benny particularly well; his anger and frustration leap off the page and appear in sharp contrast to Penny's patient assault on her brother's fortress of solitude. (Actually, it's a box that he pretends is a ship, but the message is the same.) I found Benny and Penny to be quite engaging and like Ottoy, head and shoulders above the standard "early reader" fare. These books are 100% the way to go for action orientated little ones, especially of the kindergarten age. Toon Books is onto something really smart with these titles and is certainly a publisher to watch.
—Colleen Mondor, Eclectica Magazine
School Library Journal
May 2008
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
Sequart.com: The Ideal First Comics: The TOON Book Line
April 7, 2008
Geoffrey Hayes's Benny and Penny in Just Pretend is the most impressive of the three initial books in the line. Hayes, the older brother of highly innovative (but sadly deceased) underground artist Rory Hayes, is another children's book author. In his case, he carried a lifelong love of comics into his chosen career, so his understanding of the nuances of how to compose a page is quite remarkable. Moreover, his skill in depicting gesture and expression in his characters really brings them to life. The story is about an older brother and younger sister (Benny and Penny) and his reluctance to let her play with him.
The characters are anthropomorphic mice, yet their expressiveness is so very lively. The way Hayes composes his page is playful and engaging, but it also perfectly introduces children to the formal elements of comics. Panels tilt to indicate motion, particularly exciting scenes spill out of panels, certain scenes without panels carry their own emotional resonance, and the use of circular panels instead of squares draws the eye in differently as well. The warmth of his line and the gentleness of his pastel palette makes this book another perfect transition point for young readers, especially for the recommended 4-5 year olds who are ready for a more complex narrative. There's a sweetness to this story that is still true to the conflicts that siblings can have. Still, it's Hayes' gorgeous, lively line that makes this my favorite of the three books, especially with regard to eyes and facial expressions.
—Rob Clough, Sequart.com
Parenting Magazine
April 2008
Here's a comic with a twist: Instead of superheroes and villains, the main characters are a pair of squabbling (but lovable) sibling mice. Great practice for beginning readers.
—Parenting Magazine
*
Comic Book Resources (starred review)
March 30, 2008
Children's books and comics share a greater bond than I think most readers realize. I'm not talking about subject material here, but rather the actual form of storytelling. Children's picture books are more often than not a series of images matched with words, the two working in unison to tell a story. Sound familiar? When Françoise Mouly and Art Spiegelman launched the Little Lit anthologies, in which comic artists and children's book authors alike told stories for kids in comic book format, it was a perfect bridge between the two mediums. Now, Mouly's new TOON Books line takes that a step further, with individual books meant for younger readers that are told in a comic book format.
Geoffrey Hayes's "Benny and Penny: In Just Pretend" is aimed for readers four years and up, so if you're expecting a deeply complex, intricate story with huge twists and turns you'll be a bit disappointed. That doesn't mean that Hayes dumbs down his story, though, just that he's recognizing what his target age group will easily follow and enjoy. Benny and Penny are both young mice who are playing outside. Benny wants to play pirates, while Penny just wants to do whatever Benny does. Of course, Benny doesn't want to do anything with his little sister. But no matter what Benny does, he just can't shake Penny's attention or affection.
It's a fun little story, and Hayes does a great job of making his characters feel like children; while Benny is the supposedly tough older brother, he's still scared of bugs and lizards, and at times his logic is so childlike it's hard not to laugh at the situations. Anyone who's had an adoring admirer like Penny will certainly see just how accurate a depiction Hayes did of her, and Hayes is able to make the reader both understand why Benny is so frustrated with her tagging along as well as sympathize and really love Penny's devotion. Best of all, though, is how well Benny and Penny feel like siblings; Benny knows just what will push Penny's buttons and does so masterfully, and the love/hate cycle that moves through Benny's emotions is just about perfect.
I have to admit, though, that it was Hayes's beautiful art that really made Benny and Penny stand out for me. His colored pencils are just gorgeous to look at, rich in detail and shading, and his mice are nothing short of adorable. Going back through the book, I see new details every time; the purple hints inside their house through the windows, the many different colors in the dirt and grass (rather than a single shade of brown or green), or the dejected expression on Benny's face when he can't figure out what happened to Penny. It's a real joy to look at.
Older readers are understandably not the target audience for "Benny and Penny", but that doesn't mean it should be off their radar. I know quite a few children in the target audience that will be getting a copy of "Benny and Penny" for their birthdays this year, for starters. And let's face it, if I'm going to be reading a book to kids, "Benny and Penny" is definitely a great one to choose. It's easy to see why "Benny and Penny" is one of the three launch titles for the Toon Books line; it's a winner, there's no doubt about that.
—Greg McElhatton, Comic Book Resources.com
*
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
March 17, 2008
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. 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.)
—Publishers Weekly
*
Booklist (starred review)
March 15, 2008
Benny the mouse wants to pretend he’s brave Benny the Pirate, and he has a crate that makes a terrific pirate ship. Then his younger sister, Penny, dressed in a princess outfit, arrives, wanting to be a pirate, too. Benny calls her a crybaby, and their disagreement escalates until Benny loses his patience and makes Penny cry (“Go away! You are a dumb, bad little sister!”). He eventually agrees to play hide-and-seek, but when Penny hides, Benny rushes off to play pirate without her. Penny doesn’t come out, so Benny looks for her. Later when Penny saves Benny from some ugly bugs, he takes back his cruel words. The sweet, delicately colored illustrations have an old-fashioned feel that gives the familiar sibling story a timeless quality, while the simple yet varied panel arrangement allows even very young children to understand the difference between a comic and a picture book. The text uses a limited but rich vocabulary with sufficient repetition to help with word recognition, and children will easily grasp the message while appreciating Benny’s change of heart at the story’s close. A charmer that will invite repeated readings.
— Booklist (starred review) by Kat Kan
Kirkus Reviews
March 15, 2008
In this graphic mini-novel, a mouse in pirate dress fends off the overtures of his persistent little sister (garbed as a princess), then turns out to be more of a wuss than she is when it comes to bugs. Launching an easy-reader series with this tried-and-true narrative arc, this episode features two very young-looking sibs moving through an idyllic outdoorsy setting and, after a series of tiffs and temporary setbacks, sharing a make-up hug before embarking together on an imagined pirate adventure. Framed in well-separated panels of diverse shape, the art incorporates 'plewds,' 'briffits' and other visual conventions from comics, along with a mix of dialogue balloons and boxed narrative snippets. Emergent readers should have no trouble following along - or (except perhaps for only children) identifying with the situation.
—Kirkus Reviews
Shelf Awareness
March 6, 2008
Co-editor of RAW magazine and New Yorker art editor Françoise Mouly launches Toon Books, a line of paper-over-board comic books this spring designed to teach children to read.... Here Hayes (illustrator of When the Wind Blew by Margaret Wise Brown) explores sibling dynamics with insight and humor. From the cover alone, readers glean a great deal of information: A caped mouse, wielding a sword, shouts, "You can't play!" (in a dialogue bubble) as a mouse sporting a princess costume plunges a pirate cap into an inflatable swimming pool. In a sequence of four panels, Penny urges, "Play with me!" as she bumps the crate that Benny has fashioned into a pirate ship (his fantasy vessel appears in a thought balloon). Hayes has the universal sibling rapport down cold: "I can play pirate, too," says the toddler princess; "No! Pirates are brave, and you are a cry-baby." Tilted and broken panel illustrations amplify the escalating tension as the siblings' tussle sends the pirate ship flying. Hayes expertly balances the hurtful jabs with poignant moments--as when Benny tells his sister to hide in an abandoned chest and says, "I'll try to find you," then worries when she doesn't come looking for him ("Maybe she's hurt!"). Ultimately, Penny redeems herself in an act of heroism that gets Benny out of a jam. The brilliance comes in the pacing and the emotional truth of the two characters. Children will hope for more adventures from this furry duo.
—Jennifer M. Brown, Shelf Awareness.com
Comics in the Classroom
February 23, 2008
Benny and Penny, the story of a little boy mouse and his younger sister who likes to ruin his pretending is very cute, and my three year old daughter really liked it. There is action, arguing, sound effects and some repetitive word choices. This is for an older [more] independent reader than Silly Lilly, but perfect for any young child and a parent to curl up with.
—Scott Tingley, Comics in the Classroom.net
Children's and Teen Librarian
February 2008
This launches TOON Books -- graphic novels written especially for beginning readers. As the story begins, readers meet Penny the adorable, little mouse decked out in her princess regalia as she searches for her big brother Benny who is deeply engrossed in a thrilling but solitary game of let's pretend. He's too busy being a brave, swashbuckling pirate to be bothered with Penny. His sister pleads desperately to join in the fun. Havoc ensues as she continues to bug her brother. As a ploy to get rid of her, Benny tells Penny to hide in a big box and he will try to find her. After some time of playing alone Benny begins to wonder why Penny hasn't called out to him wanting to be found. It's then that he discovers Penny is no longer hiding in the box. He becomes fearful that something dreadful has happened to her. He frantically searches everywhere before Penny allows herself to be found. By story's end, big brother realizes three important things: he really loves his sister; she is far braver than he ever imagined because she can shoo away big, scary dragonflies; and little sisters can be a lot of fun! Soft, pastel, full-color illustrated panels of various sizes and shapes fill the pages, while word count contained primarily within dialog bubbles is kept to a minimum, letting facial expressions and action enhance the storyline. These two warm, fuzzy characters will be lovingly embraced by emergent readers, parents, and teachers alike.
—Jeannine Wiese, Children's and Teen Librarian
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