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.)

Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

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

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"With humor, directness, and unfailing honesty, Hayes's sensitive cartooning and sharp dialogue play up the big emotions of these little mice." - Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW

"Hayes' grasp of children's inner lives is deep and lovely, granting them not only the complexity to experience resounding sorrow and guilt, but also the tools—with a little help and understanding—to overcome these difficult feelings...An exemplary installment in an already successful series." - Booklist STARRED REVIEW

"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." - School Library Journal STARRED REVIEW

"Death is an odd subject for a comic for young children, but Hayes handles it well. For newly independent readers, this is an alternative to—not a replacement for—Brown's classic. Another sweet, empathetic day with Benny and Penny." - Kirkus Reviews

"In only 20-some pages, Hayes manages to move his characters realistically through denial, disgust, resistance, friendship, problem-solving, and navigating the ceremonies of mourning." - Comics Worth Reading

"It's never easy to deal with loss and saying goodbye to a loved one. In gentle, honest, and slightly humorous fashion, this graphic novel filled with softly colored pencil illustrations tackles those tough topics." - Literacy Daily

"A sensitive look at dealing with strong feelings in the wake of loss. An important addition to graphic novel collections and readers advisory lists." - Mom Read It

"Following in the tradition of Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers, Hayes does not shy away from dealing with direct facts or feelings, things that often become overlooked when talking with children about death." - Musing Librarian Reviews