Big Ben

Who says little brothers can_t do anything?

Poor Ben. He's the little one - the youngest and smallest. His sister Robin is a big kid in grade five; his brother Joe is a big kid in grade two. Ben's just a little kid in preschool. He can_t swim, he can_t use chopsticks, he can_t even see out the car window. And worst of all, today is report card day. More than anything, Ben wants to bring home a report like Robin's and Joe's. But there are no report cards in preschool.

Guess what? Ben is about to discover that sometimes there are report cards - at home, written by older siblings! He's about to get his very own report, grading him on all the activities that little brothers do best.

Beloved children's author Sarah Ellis has followed up her acclaimed picture book debut, Next Stop! (2000) with this irresistible tale of siblings who, every once in a while, remember what it was like to be the little one. Kim La Fave's always-empathetic characters inhabit a child's world with just the right touch of humor and joy. A perfect book for preschoolers, younger siblings and beginner readers.

Publishers Weekly

The youngest of three, Ben longs to make the grade in Ellis's (Pick Up Sticks) affectionate tale of sibling solidarity. When report card time rolls around for sister Robin and brother Joe, Ben feels left out. "There are no subjects in preschool," Ben laments. "There are no report cards in preschool." Soon, Ben begins to notice lots of things he's too little to do, including swimming, eating with chopsticks and seeing out the backseat of the car. But before long, Robin and Joe come to the rescue, surprising Ben with a homemade report card that includes subjects like "feeding the cat," "shoe tying" and "tooth brushing." Outlined in strong black strokes, LaFave's (Catalogue) misty, mottled colors stand out against the bright white background as the artwork chronicles Ben's thwarted efforts, leading up to his brother's and sister's boost. Ages 3-6. (Dec.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Award-winning author Sarah Ellis grew up in a family that loved to share stories and read books. Passions that lead her to become a children's librarian and eventually to start writing books herself. Ellis's awards include the Governor General's Award, the Mr. Christie's Book Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award. She lives in Vancouver, B.C.

Award-winning illustrator Kim LaFave has illustrated many books for children including Big Ben, We'll All Go Sailing, We'll All Go Flying and the early readers Emma's Emu, Andrew's Magnificent Mountain of Mittens and Andrew - Catch That Cat!. Kim lives with his family in Roberts Creek, British Columbia.