Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Benny and Penny in Lights Out
Graphic Novel Series
For ages 5 to 7
Toon Books, 2012 ISBN: 978-1935179207
One night Benny is looking out of the window and he cannot see the moon. Benny tells Penny, his little sister, that he thinks pirates must have taken it. Penny thinks this idea is silly and she goes off to get ready for bed.
Penny brushes her teeth, and Benny scares her half to death by making a scary face using his flash light. She tries to read her book, but Benny keeps burping, even though this is supposed to be “quiet time.” When she tells him that she is trying to read, he responds by telling her that she can’t read, and when she describes the story in her book, he keeps adding dinosaurs to the narrative. Benny is being a real pest.
Benny then realizes that he has left his pirate hat outside in the playhouse and he cannot go to sleep without it. There is nothing for it; he is going to have to retrieve his hat. Benny climbs out of the bedroom window and heads out into the night. Penny soon follows, even though she is worried about what might be out there in the dark. What if the Boogey Mouse is real after all?
This delightful Benny and Penny story will charm children who are starting to learn how to read on their own. Children will immediately connect with Benny and Penny, who behave the way siblings do and who drive each other crazy at least some of the time. There are times though when they stick together, especially when the Bogey Mouse might be hiding under the bed or behind a nearby tree.
With amusing characters and a wonderful graphic novel style format, this is one the book in the Benny and Penny series.
