Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Two Delightful Picture Books From Thames & Hudson

Stay Benson

Flick’s dog, Benson, is a very good boy. He waits for her at home and he never chases anything . . . or so Flick thinks. One day, when Flick leaves for school, Benson chases a cat into the back garden, over the fence, and into the park, where he pursues a squirrel. A ball catches his eye and he follows it into the pond―and then he runs, dripping wet, through the middle of a picnic lunch, stealing a sausage. As the picnickers shout, “Go home, Benson!,” he races back across town, darting through the back door just as Flick arrives home from school. “Have you been a good boy, Benson? Did you stay?” Flick asks. Only the reader really knows what Benson has been doing all day.
Stay, Benson! is beautifully designed, featuring bold graphic illustrations and die- cut pages that entice readers to chase Benson through the book. Author and illustrator Thereza Rowe’s striking images hark back to a classic style of illustration, but use a bright color palette that keeps them fresh and contemporary. The fun, simple story gives children the thrill of being in on Benson’s secret adventure. 

Illustrated in four Pantones

Our granddaughters especially enjoyed the addition of cut-outs on several pages including the dog with a hotdog in his mouth. They also liked some of the troubles Benson got into when he didn't stay like he was supposed to.



A Song for Bear


An imaginative story about a bear trying to learn to sing, complete with engaging illustrations and an empowering message.
From the duo behind If I Had a Dinosaur and A House for Mouse, Gabby Dawnay and Alex Barrow’s A Song for Bear is a story about recognizing and celebrating what makes us unique.
Bear wakes every morning to beautiful birdsong and longs to join in. He stretches his legs, puts on his cap and suspenders, and tries to sing with the beautiful birds crooning all around him in the forest. Unfortunately, he discovers his song is more of a holler, a howl, and rumbling growl. His wise friend, Owl, tries to encourage him by pointing out that Bear is not a bird, but Bear learns the wrong lesson and attempts to fly, thinking that being more birdlike might make him a better singer. In the end, Bear concentrates on what he does best, discovering in the process that his unique “bear song” is in fact a rap. All of the forest animals gather to watch him perform his new song, and cheer in amazement at his newfound talent. Satisfied with finding what makes him unique, Bear smiles to himself and promptly falls back to sleep.
With vibrant illustrations and lyrical rhyming, A Song for Bear tells an imaginative and inspirational story in an entertaining way.
Illustrated in color throughout.

At the ages of 3 and 6, our girls enjoyed the rhymes throughout this story. The bright colors and illustrations help to move the story along for young readers.



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