Ben Draws Trouble

February 15, 2015
Ben Lukin, the bike-loving boy from Ben Rides On (2013), loses something of special significance: his sketchbook.Ben loves drawing: "He loved to draw in writing class / and also in math class." He draws everything, including people-here, his sketchbook opens to two full pages of caricatures of his schoolmates. Davies' cartoon line hums with energy. Ben's eyebrows hover animatedly above his toothy grin; every page seems to tilt with the forward motion of the story. After an exhilarating bike ride home "the long way," flying over hills and dales (his hair flowing free, though a sign for Acme helmets peeks cheekily out from the edge of town), Ben realizes he's lost his sketchbook. That moment of loss is nicely done-Ben reaches into his backpack and comes back empty-handed; fireworks of dismay hit him. Attentive readers may notice its fall; here, an inset box shows a hand reaching to pick it up. The following double-page spread shows Ben's search up and down the hills: Where could he have lost it? Readers may worry about Ben when he walks into his classroom and realizes that everyone is examining his drawings-of them. Yet when Mr. Upright picks up the sketchbook, "thoughtfully placed on his desk," and leads Ben out of the classroom, the outcome turns into a moment of victory for the young artist. Funny and exuberantly sweet. (Picture book. 4-8)

Starred review from January 1, 2015

K-Gr 3-The hero of Ben Rides On (Roaring Brook, 2013) is back, and though he still rides his beloved bicycle, it turns out that his other passion is drawing. Ben constantly doodles in his special sketchbook, even in math class. His interests are typical for most third graders-dinosaurs, monsters, motorcycles, dragons, and spaceships-he especially enjoys sketching his teachers and fellow students. Inevitably, Ben loses the sketchbook, and his classmates get their hands on it. Fortunately for Ben, his teacher recognizes Ben's talent, and in a neat little plot twist, asks for his help making sets for the school play instead of taking him to the principal's office. Davies's signature cartoon style is as hilarious as ever, though it does make figuring out whether Ben's own drawings are realistic or caricature somewhat challenging. This wonderful follow-up will especially appeal to young artists and fans of Ben's previous adventure, but it's a fun choice for everyone.-Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2015
Grades K-3 Ben draws during art class, but also during writing and math. His teachers don't always appreciate his off-topic pictures of sharks, spaceships, and dinosaurs. One afternoon, he loses his sketchbook. Distraught, Ben arrives at school the next morning and finds his classmates looking at his drawings. His teacher leafs through the book, lingering over an exaggerated portrait of himself. Next, he silently leads the boy to the auditorium, where he asks him to design the sets for the school play. The concluding illustration shows Ben smiling as his 20-foot-tall sharks steal the show. Through the succinct text and emotionally charged illustrations, children will feel Ben's panic and anguish over losing his sketchbook, his fear of punishment for the caricatures, and his satisfaction at the happy ending. The ink drawings, washed with gentle colors, are full of energy and expression. Davies, a Pulitzer Prizewinning editorial cartoonist, also wrote and illustrated Ben Rides On (2013), which features the same lovably scruffy character.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)