Benjy's Dog House

Benjy

by Margaret Bloy Graham

Cover marked and worn. Shipped from the U.K. All orders received before 3pm sent that weekday.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Family, Dogs, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1973

About the author

Children's book illustrator.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful picture book about a family who gets a puppy called Benjy. When Benjy has grown up, Dad decides it's time Benjy slept outside. After being used to curling up at the bottom of someone's bed, Benjy isn't so keen on sleeping outside so looks for somewhere cosy to spend the night.

My children would have loved this book when they were small, there are so many cute pictures and so many scenes to say 'oh poor Benjy' at and there is a lovely happy ending.

Highly recommended to those who love vintage children's books and dog stories.

Read on open library.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a happy puppyhood of sleeping with his boy and girl, Benjy is told that he is a Big Dog no and can sleep outside! in a repurposed barrel! alone! It is super scary and lonely and dark so he goes off to find a cozier place.

This was cute, although not as funny as the other small dog picture book series by the same author, about Harry.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adding this Benjy tale to my library as well!

You really should keep your eye out for this series. Super cute and fun for all ages, even the reader. Wink.

Ages: 3+

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book when I was a very little girl. It might have been a first edition, but I can't remember. I had it for many years. I think I kept it next to Be Nice to Spiders, since they were written by the same author. Even when I was six, I'd group books by the same author together. I guess that's why everyone thought I'd be a librarian when I grew up. Idiot me gave all of my non-horse books away a few years later, including this book.

I'd forgotten that there is a Black policeman in this, so it wasn't just a town full of white people. I'd also forgotten that the fireman has a tattoo of an anchor on his arm.

But I did remember how much I loved the story, and that it was told from Benjy's point of view. Everyone seems to know better than the pet. Keeping your dog inside with the family was a radical concept for 1973, but it's best for the dog. Dogs just can't handle extremes in weather, are more prone to theft if kept outdoors, and go frantic if they are separated from their people.

The author-illustrator really loved animals, whether they were little brown dogs, or spiders.

[Lu · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was kind of cute about the dog who couldn’t sleep in the house anymore and had to sleep outside and then he went to Baker. It’s quite adorable. This is like a very old style of drawing for illustration. This book is copyright 1973 and I feel like this was a very popular drawing style around that time.

I like the drawings and that they’re done with like charcoal or crayon, and they use very simple, simple colors and shading techniques .

[Linda Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good text for grades K-2 to teach empathy. The illustrations could also be used as a bookwalk to tell a story themselves. Even though it is almost 50 years old, the story has stood the test of time, and will make a good addition to the dog story bookshelf. It has a Guided reading level I.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice book about a dog named Benny who just wants to stay with his family. When forced to sleep outside, he travels from place to place to find a nice sleeping home and eventually finds one. Later the family lets him sleep inside again and it’s a good story about a frequently dog.

[Hannah Klumb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any dog lover would enjoy this!

[Katherine C. Hirstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it as a kid and still fun to read to 2nd graders now!

[Jessica Plowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book. Nice and simple. My son and I loved reading it

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the least compelling of the series IMO but still very dear!

[Megan Cureton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was a really good story about a dog that had to start sleeping outside and didn't like it. The dog decided to go and look for somewhere else to stay and came across a bakery. The baker was very sweet to Benjy and gave him treats and goodies and even a warm place to stay. One day, some kittens came along and took over and forced Benjy out. When he returned home, the family decided to keep him inside from now on so it all worked out. I think I would only read this book aloud to my classroom if it was just for a fun read, nothing educational or for no meaning. Mainly because there isn't really a moral to the story, except for the fact that Benjy came back and got to stay inside again. After reading this story, I would ask the students if any of them could relate to the story. But then again I would be scared this could open up some bad wounds and manybe their animals ran away, and never came back. I don't know if I would have this story in my library classroom. Even though this story had a happy ending, it might remind them of a pet that they loved so dearly that ran away and never came back. So I'm not sure how I feel about having this in the classroom. I enjoyed the illustrations however. I feel like the students would enjoy looking at them and all the details. I also like that they portrayed the story so well for those readers that are still having some trouble.

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

100000/5 stars. This is the best book I have ever read and it has been my favorite since my grandma read it to me in her rickety attic bedroom every night before I went to sleep (when I was little)—she did the same (same exact book) for my dad when he was a toddler. She was going to throw it out this year when she was cleaning out the attic but I found it, saved it, and claimed it for myself. The old, worn cover and pages are a testament to the love it has been shown throughout the years. Every time I read this book I cry. It just hits different. No book will ever compare and I cannot expect anyone to ever understand. This is the most criminally underrated children’s book of all time as I can literally smell the meat pies the baker gives the dog and feel the cold air from the doghouse it is forced to live in. I have nothing else to say.

[Shayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a dog, who when he gets old enough has to sleep outside, and he is sad about that, so he runs away at night to a bakers house. At the very end the parents realize that the dog can sleep in the house.
I like this book because it is a cute story. The pictures are magnificent. The text is cute. The story is great all around!
I would use this with my children. It would be a great bedtime story. They would learn that we should be nice to everything. And we should never run away from home.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a short, cute little story about a dog who gets lonely when he's made to sleep outside. He visits different places at night to find a place to sleep, but the only person who would have hims is the baker. When the baker's cat returns with kittens, Benjy can't stay there either. Eventually the family discovers what he's been doing at night and they let him back in the house and everyone's happy again.

[Nashiea Edmiston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't judge a book by it's cover on this one! The book was just a delight to read, very comical at times and engaging all the way through. I could see children laughing and talking about the expressions on the faces of not just Benjy but also the cats! If you animate your voice just right, you will have and keep the attention of children till the end!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this book time and time again. The first time it was read to me by my great grandma, and now I read it to kids I babysit. the artwork is detailed but there is only shades of black, brown, and red used so it could use some more colors.

[Jordan Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Benny's Dog House is great for children who are just beginning their life of reading. The pictures are beautiful and really give the reader an image of what is happening if they are struggling to read the book. I would recommend this book for students in 1st through 3rd grade.

[Katie Nanney · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Benjy's Dog House" was an interesting story. I found the illustrations beautiful and the story was good. I am not sure what the point was behind the story, except that it was a fun read. I think it would make a good book for beginning readers, especially those who love dogs.

[Mary Dye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book for my read aloud in class because the in depth illustrations caught my attention. I had never read this book before, but I thought that it was absolutely wonderful. The illustrations were gorgeous and the storyline was appropriate for anyone with a pet.

[Kaitlyn Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be very engaging for students. The in depth illustrations and the humor of the story would keep children's attention all the way throughout the book. Your voice as the reader is very important in this book to make those illustrations come to life for your students.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a favorite of mine growing up; really enjoyed reading it to my young nieces.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benjy learns to get by with what is given to him, with some extra bit of good luck. Might be a little long for guided reading, but would suit well for reading/writing workshop.