Joe Camp's Benji, Fastest Dog in the West Little Golden Books 111-36

by INGOGLIA GINA

Joe Camp's Benji, Fastest Dog in the West Little Golden Books 111

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Dogs

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't seen the movie (either one), so I can only check reviews to tell that this is an extremely stripped-down scene from that, MAYBE. It uses the same characters, based on the cast listing, at least.

I mostly read this because I *felt* like I used to have this book, out of all the Little Golden Books at the used bookstore, but I couldn't remember a thing about it. Still don't! Seems completely new to me, though the cover is curiously familiar.

The story is mostly unchallenging other than the dogs chasing a cat (but otherwise not hurting it) and a bull chasing a toddler who wanders into the rodeo (though Benji distracts the bull while the rodeo clown saves the toddler), and about what I expect from a Little Golden Book (unlike The Mighty Avengers, which is barely a roll call). The art is very good, other than a printing error on one page where the register seems to have slipped, making the page look blurry. Recommended for young dog lovers!

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

The good: I get to do goofy cowboy voices.

The bad: vaguely creepy art; too much irrelevant story.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great golden book story.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a book about rodeo than about a dog named Benji. Still a good book, but not what I thought it would be.

[Little Seesaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tke little Darrington kids that I read this book to loved it. I have decided that kids really love any story book about a dog. For me it was a one time read.

[Christie-anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the 70s aesthetic.

[Gingaeru · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. The book opens with a little girl and boy excitedly unleashing their hounds on the neighbor's poor cat (with the horrible name, "Sweetie-Peetie"). The children grin as they watch the "morning chase" (implying this is how these psychotic brats start their daily routine). Then the children drive to the rodeo, where they proceed to terrorize more animals, namely a calf and a steer. When a bull gets fed up with the abuse, a vigilante clown armed with a broom enters the chat. Then: "'Oooh, look, a clown!' squealed a tiny girl. She squeezed past a space in the stands and toddled into the arena. The bull watched her with angry eyes." It's somewhat eerie to see a small child walking up behind a clown with outspread arms. The following page features the clown embracing the girl with a sad, backwards glance. I feel like a nuclear explosion would be a more appropriate background than the bull for how sad the clown looks. Anyway, the stupid dog steps in to "save the day," and he gets a ribbon for his trouble.
...

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fond memories of this book!