Following the welcomed re-release of Big-Top Benn comes another
addition to the immensely popular collection of original Mr Benn
adventures by author and illustrator David McKee. First published in
1967, Mr Benn: Red Knight introduces the friendly bowler-hatted
character who delighted children a generation ago, and again today. In
this fun story, Mr Benn finds himself transported to a medieval world,
where he assists an unfortunate dragon whose role as firelighter to the
king is threatened by a greedy matchmaker. McKee's original artwork will
entrance children of all ages in what is sure to become a cult classic
for yet another generation of readers.
Praise for Mr. Benn: Red Knight:
The rerelease of this 1967 series opener introduces an adult
picture-book hero who combines a childlike disposition with a taste for
costumes, a belief in the fantastic, and terrific problem-solving
skills. The Brit in a bowler hat needs something unusual to wear to a
fancy dress party. He finds a promising little shop that delivers in
spades once he dons a red suit of knight's armor. Transported from the
fitting room into a story in which a poor dragon has been ousted from
the village by the appearance of a match salesman, Mr. Benn acts as an
intermediary and gets the dragon a better job-as the king's
fire-lighter. Through another door and back in the dressing room, he
decides he doesn't need to go to the party after all, but promises to
come back to the shop for more adventures. McKee's iconic 1960's artwork
alternates pen-and-ink line drawings with richly colored, multilayered
tone-on-tone illustrations. The conversational narrative serves as a
lovely counterpoint to the fantastical story; it's no surprise that the
tales have been animated for British television. - School Library
Journal
