BENJY'S BLANKET

A popular infantile fetish is sensitively enacted by an author who is adept at interpreting children's problems to children. The perennial blanket attachment is the problem with Benjy clinging tenaciously when he bids mother farewell at nursery school, pays a visit to the barber and later to the dentist. Before long strange things begin to happen. Benjy reaches the top of the jungle gym in school. He needs a larger size shoe on a shopping expedition and he helps load mother's marketing cart. On each of these occasions, Benjy forgets his blanket. The final parting with the ragged object takes on symbolic significance as the little boy bequeaths it to the mewing kitten next door.