Benny and Penny in the Toy Breaker: Toon Books Level 2

"Learning to read is fun with TOON Books like Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker. Written and illustrated by Geoffrey Hayes, this book—like all the TOON Books graphic novel readers—allows kids to understand the story just by 'reading' the picture, with the text adding key details...With his newest book, Hayes demonstrates his keen appreciation of the politics of childhood as he shows how Benny and his younger sister Penny deal with a visit from their 'toy breaker' cousin Bo. In humorous contrast to the emotion-packed story, Hayes's watercolor illustrations depict a cozy world reminiscent of…

"Appropriately takes the action away from bedtime and into the high noon of unsupervised backyard play, with mouse-siblings Benny and Penny confronting the trouble-making antics of visiting Cousin Bo. A comic-book format adds to the mischief."

"The popular and Geisel Award-winning mouse sibs meet their greatest challenge yet when hard-playing, toy-breaking cousin Bo saunters over for a visit...A thought-provoking episode just right for the I Can Read set."

"Hayes shows once again his skill at not just showing kids reacting authentically in realistic situations, but doing it in away that kids will enjoy. This is a must for an elementary library collection."

"The story has just the right amount of conflict and tension for young readers, and Hayes' simple panel and page designs and dialogue balloons continue to provide an easy and appealing introdution to reading—and to reading comics."

"A simple, beautifully illustrated tale, ideal for younger readers with its recognisable characters and situations."