How Benji Got His Name

If you'd like to read about a happy, problem-solving little boy, then this is the story collection you don't want to miss.

At the age of three, Benji began to ask me, his grandfather, for stories. "Tell me a story," he would ask, and I would happily comply. The five Benji stories collected in this book are the written records of some of those stories.

Children of three to six years old will quickly identify with Benji and enjoy his adventures, including how Benji got his name, how he tells his hungry friend Mr. Giraffe to go to his grandmother's house for snacks, how he rescues two piglets from a magic shark, how he finds a solution for two elephants in the zoo to stay warm in winter, and how he manages to find a school that will teach his friend Mr. Monkey numbers and letters. The stories allow for some input from parents or grandparents. For instance, the questions from Mr. Rabbit in story one, the snacks for Mr. Giraffe in story two and the destination of the elephants in story four can be adapted to the knowledge of the children or be used to teach them something new.

Children will ask to read these stories repeatedly, and maybe get inspired to create some stories themselves. Two examples of Benji's creative efforts are included in this book.

The stories can be read anytime, but are perfect at bedtime.