Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking
(Benjamin Bear)

Anthropomorphized animals are nothing new in children's literature--least of all anthropomorphized bears--but the antics of Benjamin Bear feel unique. This French comic book, now translated into English, follows Benjamin Bear through a series of eccentric short stories that each fit one page. Benjamin goes through his life doing things one oughtn't to do but having no understanding of why. For instance, he sees his friend the fox chopping bricks in half, karate style. Benjamin Bear says he can do that, too, but makes the fox chop some more bricks unable to understand that he, Benjamin, ought to be the one chopping the bricks himself. This leads to some silly, lighthearted humor. At other times the comics turn to rumination, as when the bear and the rabbit watch the sun go down together. They light a candle, and it, too, goes out on them, leaving them in darkness. The words are mostly fairly simple, and it's aimed for preschool and above. All of the pictures are in color, and while they're not overly detailed, Coudray is meticulous with background landscape. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)

K-Gr 3--Benjamin always seems to be in the right place to assist a friend, as when he and Rabbit are stuck in a snowstorm and Rabbit is happy to take shelter underneath his sizable belly, making the bear a living snowdrift. The overlying theme through all of the single-page vignettes is Benjamin's willingness to help his pals. His laugh-out-loud antics are brilliantly displayed in easy-to-follow, colorful panels. Able to leap great ravines, find his way out of a maze, and walk on the ocean floor, he is a character that kids will enjoy spending time with. Each spread in Nina shows a scenario in which the child is angry. She is frustrated "when you don't let me help..." and proves to her mother that she really can change the baby's diaper. She is annoyed when "You don't know what I like." ("I hate fish!") Of course, it's not her fault she can't get her clothes on fast and correctly. It's not her fault that mom forgets her promises. It's not her fault that her parents make her go to bed so early she can't see the show she wants to. If only parents realized how hard it is to be a kid. Knight's charming illustrations evoke the plethora of emotions Nina endures as she tries to get her parents' attention. In the end, though, her mother comes through. Nina's strong and lovable personality is reminiscent of Eloise (also illustrated by Knight), Ramona, and Judy Moody.--Carol Hirsche, Provo City Library, UT