Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Benny and Penny: The toy breaker
Graphic Novel Series
For ages 6 to 8
Toon Books, 2010 ISBN: 978-1935179078
Benny has created a treasure map, and he and sister Penny are just about to go looking for the “loot,” when Cousin Bo turns up. Both Penny and Benny are appalled because Cousin Bo is a chronic toy breaker. Quickly the little mice siblings hide their toys before Cousin Bo can get his paws on them.
Benny and Penny manage to hide most of their more valued toys, but Bo does find Benny’s treasure map. Benny makes it clear that the map belongs to him and Penny, and that they are the ones who are going to look for the loot, but Bo refuses to be left out, and he steals the map.
Penny eventually manages to get the map back, and she and Benny start looking for the treasure. Unfortunately, Bo is not far away, and he is determined to get in on their game.
Learning to get along with people who are toy breakers or game spoilers is not easy. One’s instinct is to run as far away from such people as possible, and yet they are people who have feelings, just like the rest of us.
With a keen appreciation for how children think and feel, Geoffrey Hayes tells a story that is not only entertaining, but that also shows children how important it is to find a way to get along with others. Sometimes some kind of compromise is necessary, and in the end everyone benefits.
This title is one in a series of books about Benny and Penny. Presented in a graphic novel format, the text is specifically written for children who are between the ages of 6 and 8.
