Ben loves jelly beans, and every week he goes to Jo-JoA's Jelly Bean Shop hoping to guess the riddle that will win him a whole jar full of them. He always knows the answer to the riddle, but he has never won the prize. ItA's hard to speak out loud in front of so many people, but with a little help from his sister, Ben finally learns to say what heA's thinking.
K-Gr 2-Ben and Jill love to go to Jo-Jo's Jelly Bean Shop, especially on Saturdays when the proprietor awards a jar of the candy to the child who can answer a riddle. Ben knows the answer every time, but he is too shy to speak up, even with his sibling's encouragement. Aboff skillfully describes the boy's efforts to overcome his timidity. Children will identify with Ben and cheer when he is finally successful. There are contextual clues in Billin-Frye's delightful color cartoons, which feature a multicultural cast of characters. This book holds its own with the best of Cynthia Rylant's "Henry and Mudge" titles (S & S) in terms of writing and illustration. With its drama, alliteration, and wonderful depiction of a shy child breaking through a barrier, this is a winner.-Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Shopping Cart
