Ben is afraid of dogs, even his new neighbor's old scaredy-dog, Max.
Can big, brave Ben overcome his fear and make a new kind of friend?
Ben was upset when his friend Peter moved away, but now the new
neighbors are moving in across the street and Ben can't wait to go say
hello and make friends. That is, until he notices that this family has a
pet dog; and unlike his sister and brother, Ben isn't so sure around
dogs. The big jaws and big teeth make him nervous. But what Ben doesn't
realize is that Max is an "old scaredy-dog" who feels nervous too. Can
Ben overcome his fear and come to see eye-to-eye with a new kind of
friend?
The award-winning team that produced A+ for Big Ben and Ben Says
Goodbye have come together once again in Ben and the Scaredy-Dog, a
heart-warming story about a thoughtful yet anxious boy who overcomes his
fear of dogs. Sarah Ellis highlights the all-too-common childhood dread
of canines as she once again explores the world through the eyes of Ben,
a boy who wants to be brave but just can't help anticipating the worst
when it comes to a new experience. Kim La Fave perfectly captures his
characters' thoughts and intentions through spot-on expressions and body
language, as he contrasts Ben's drawings of the creature he sees in his
mind's eye with the reality of the big and cuddly dog next door, who
just happens to have his own fear issues.
The result is a gently funny book that explores the courageous heart
that can be found within an anxious child.
