Aggie and Ben: Three Stories

by Lori Ries, Frank W. Dormer (Illustrator)

Overview

A funny and sweet early reader about a new friendship between a boy and his dog. 

In this first book of the series, Dad surprises Ben with a trip to the pet store. Ben isn’t sure what kind of pet he wants. He knows he doesn’t want a mouse, a snake, or even a cat. But when a certain puppy makes Ben laugh, a lasting friendship is formed. Three short chapters trace a day in the life of Ben and his new puppy, Aggie, as they settle into their new friendship. 

Dormer's understated illustrations mixed with Ries' easy-to-follow text tells the story of the special bond between a boy and his loyal, loveable dog. Young readers will delight in the continuing adventures of Aggie and Ben.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781570916496
Publisher:	Charlesbridge
Publication date:	07/01/2007
Series:	Aggie and Ben
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	6.56(w) x 8.75(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	280L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lori Ries was born in Syracuse, New York, the eldest of four children. She discovered a love for storytelling as a young child and wrote her first story when she was just ten years old. It was a short story called "Jo-Jo the Raccoon" based on a true story about a baby raccoon that Lori's grandfather found on the side of the road and brought home for his children to raise. Lori lives in Tigard, Oregon, with her husband and three children.

Editorial Reviews

This volume of three linked tales marks Dormer's children's book debut; an editorial illustrator, he adds a patina of hipness to Ries's (Super Sam!) sweet-natured, understated storytelling. The book opens as narrator Ben and his father head to the pet shop. The boy weighs the pros and cons of several candidates, as the pet store owner asks if each is the pet for him ("I think. A mouse would run through a tube. A mouse would sit on my hand. A mouse would hide in my pocket. But a mouse might get lost. `I do not think I want a mouse,' I say"). The charm comes through in the space between what the boy thinks and what he actually says, the silence filled with Dormer's panel illustrations. Ben picks a cute puppy he names Aggie. In the next tale, Ben tries to bond with Aggie by mimicking her behavior; this experiment comes to an abrupt close when Ben spots Aggie drinking from the toilet ("I am done being a dog"). The final story finds Ben and Aggie working out their mutual bedtime fears. "There is nothing scary," Ben coos on the final page as he snuggles his dog. "Just me and Aggie." Dormer's watercolor-and-ink drawings possess a schematic edginess and a sophisticated sense of framing. He pitches his pictures at just the right level for his audience, and skillfully keeps the visual pace percolating by interweaving broad humor (e.g., the toilet scene) with vivid action (in one frame, Aggie seems ready to leap off the page in pursuit of a ball) and moments of authentic tenderness. It's an impressive and original effort, and bodes well for a sequel. Ages 4-7. (July) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 2-Ben lives every child's dream when Dad takes him on a surprise trip to the pet shop to select the animal of his choice. After contemplating his options and considering the sometimes-humorous consequences of each one ("-a snake might make Mommy scream"), he decides on a dog. Readers will chuckle through the chapter "Just Like Aggie" as Ben mimics the pup's routine of panting, sniffing, and playing chase but draws the line at drinking out of the toilet. Funky but tender, Dormer's pen-and-ink cartoons with watercolor washes add depth to the simple story and provide that perfect illustration-to-text match that one seeks in successful easy readers. If at a loss when seeking another recommendation for graduates of Cari Meister's "Tiny" books (Viking) and lovers of Cynthia Rylant's "Henry and Mudge" books (S & S), try Aggie and Ben. This unassuming tale will prove a welcome addition to any collection for emerging readers.-Jill Heritage Maza, Conn Elementary, Raleigh, NC Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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