Benny's Pennies (Picture Yearling Book) [Paperback]

Pat Brisson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1995 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Picture Yearling Book

Benny McBride starts his day with five new pennies and is determined to spend them all. His mother wants him to buy something beautiful. His brother wants something good to eat. His sister wants something nice to wear. Benny knows his dog and cat would like something too. With the help of generous and thoughtful neighbors, Benny fulfills each request with a penny and arrives home loaded with five but simple gifts.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

PW praised the "sunny and unusually textured torn-and cut-paper collages" in this tale of a boy's shopping expedition, adding, "Well-chosen language, cumulative refrain and judiciously placed rhymes lend the text a pleasing musicality." Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-A rhyming cumulative story about a boy who has five pennies and wants to spend them all. As he walks along, he comes across a woman cutting roses, a girl baking cookies, a boy making paper hats, a fisherman catching fish, and a butcher cutting meat, and does business with each of them. The illustrations are done in textured-paper collages, highlighted with pastels and colored pencils. The paper is layered to give a three-dimensional, sculptured effect. The figures are shown generally in profile and are very stylized: all of them, including an African-American boy, seem to be cut from the same silhouette. This technique gives the art a static, friezelike quality, even though motion is indicated. Also, there are few visual cues to make the transition from one scene to the next. Despite these awkward elements, the variety of textures is appealing and the text will fill the bill for continuing requests for predictable pattern books.
Linda Wicher, Highland Park Public Library, IL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dragonfly Books (July 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440410169
• ISBN-13: 978-0440410164
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 0.1 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent lesson on the pleasure of giving, May 8, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Guantanamo Bay Cuba) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Benny's Pennies (Picture Yearling Book) (Paperback)

I really enjoyed reading this book to my daughter Emily,age 3. It is a wonderful story about a boy who had five new pennies and spent them buying things for others. In such a greedy world we need to instill the power of giving to our children. The story is well written and the illustrations are enticing.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read--and memorize!, November 7, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Benny's Pennies (Picture Yearling Book) (Paperback)

My 2 1/2-year-old loves this book and was soon "reading" it back to me! Its simple rhymes relate a story of generosity and thoughtfulness. We read it every day for weeks, and return to it frequently after 4 months. Paperback version is not sturdy, though--pages fell out after repeated reading.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Benny has 5 pennies; spends his day & his pennies on family, December 8, 1997

By 

Betsy R. Marks (Birmingham, Alabama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Benny's Pennies (Hardcover)

What a wonderful story to read with your child! A great lesson in sharing and basic mathmatics. Plus, the illustrations are wonderful 3-D paper cutouts! This book is a special and rare treat for 3,4 and 5 year olds. I highly recommend it.