Benny and Penny in How to Say Goodbye
(Toon Books Level 2)

Hayes thoughtfully portrays an array of emotions surrounding death in this sixth book starring mouse siblings Benny and Penny. Penny is distraught after she discovers a dead salamander, but Benny is grossed out: "Eeew! Put that thing down," he shouts, flinging the dead amphibian into a bush with a "whack!" Helped by Melina the mole, Penny sets out to give Little Red a proper burial (it involves a shoebox, fond memories, and a rousing chorus of "the monkey ate the cheese"), and eventually Benny is struck by feelings of loss and regret. With humor, directness, and unfailing honesty, Hayes's sensitive cartooning and sharp dialogue play up the big emotions of these little mice. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

K-Gr 2--In this addition to the celebrated series, Benny and Penny, the mouse siblings who are prone to squabbling but quick to hug and make up, learn about death. Penny notices that Little Red, a salamander, has died, but when she tells big brother Benny, he brushes her off. With soft lines and a muted palette, Hayes's colored pencil illustrations have a gentle quality, and though the story is more somber than previous outings, the homey setting and familiar characters, as well as the decision to make this a relatively low-stakes death (an animal rather than a parent or relative), temper what could have been a more melancholy tone. Hayes is forthright, showing the mice interacting with the salamander's body. He acknowledges that children often have mixed reactions to death: Penny is upset about her friend's demise, and she and her pal Melina, a mole, decide to hold a burial; Benny is initially brusque but later confides tearfully that he regrets his uncharitable behavior toward Little Red. Concise text, conveyed entirely through speech bubbles, and a simple narrative make this ideal for budding young readers. VERDICT A wonderful and sensitively handled offering; purchase where the series is popular or where titles on death are needed.--Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal