Friday, April 07, 2006

Benny's Had Enough by Bardro Lindgren


So, here's a picture book for the piglet in all of us, Benny's Had Enough by Barbro Lindgren, illustrated by Olof Landstrom (I know, I know, there are two dots over the last o in the illustrator's name, but I'm not sure how to do that). Anyways, this Swedish picture book was first published in 1998, is happily now out in paperback (R&S Books, distrubuted by Farrar, Straus and Giroux). It's a must have for small children and picture book addicts like myslef, if only for the expressions the illustrator paints on little Benny's face when his mama makes him clean up. Of course, like any self-respecting piglet, Benny would rather run away. If you've never seen a pig sprint, this is the picture book for you! But, the world is a frightening place for little piglets. Benny returns home, mends his ways, and indeed "washes" his stuffed pig; albeit in piglet fashion. This is one of those treasures disguised by its simplicity. Read it today.

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