BOOKS FOR BENJAMIN

A young worm discovers a love of reading in de Rouen’s debut picture book.

As the story opens, a family of worms has found a cozy home in the back of a grocery store. Benjamin, one of them, enjoys reading old discarded newspapers. Eager to find “real books,” he stows away inside a fresh paper to the home of an elderly woman, who shoos him away. After close calls with a cat and a macaw, Benjamin lands among friends: dragonfly Whizby, ladybug Dotty, and ant Ginger. They help him find loads of books at the local library. When the librarian discovers the worm and his enthusiasm for reading, she takes him on a train to the Library of Congress. There, Benjamin signs every book with his signature—a copyright symbol (although it’s not explained why he signs with a C instead of a B). Barabash’s bold, bright cartoon illustrations bring Benjamin and his friends to life in a story that offers a clever, fun way to introduce kids to the library experience. Helpful supplementary information on libraries in general, the Library of Congress in particular, and the copyright symbol is provided in backmatter. Overall, the book’s charming images and breezy narrative make it a great choice for youngsters just discovering their own love of books.

An imaginative children’s tale with plenty of bold illustrations.