What do you think?
Stay, Benson!
A fun, playful story about a naughty dog who goes on adventures around the neighborhood whenever his owner leaves for school.
Flick’s dog, Benson, is a very good boy. He waits for her at home and he never chases anything . . . or so Flick thinks. One day, when Flick leaves for school, Benson chases a cat into the back garden, over the fence, and into the park, where he pursues a squirrel. A ball catches his eye and he follows it into the pond―and then he runs, dripping wet, through the middle of a picnic lunch, stealing a sausage. As the picnickers shout, “Go home, Benson!,” he races back across town, darting through the back door just as Flick arrives home from school. “Have you been a good boy, Benson? Did you stay?” Flick asks. Only the reader really knows what Benson has been doing all day.
Stay, Benson! is beautifully designed, featuring bold graphic illustrations and die-cut pages that entice readers to chase Benson through the book. Author and illustrator Thereza Rowe’s striking images hark back to a classic style of illustration, but use a bright color palette that keeps them fresh and contemporary. The fun, simple story gives children the thrill of being in on Benson’s secret adventure.
Illustrated in four Pantones
Flick’s dog, Benson, is a very good boy. He waits for her at home and he never chases anything . . . or so Flick thinks. One day, when Flick leaves for school, Benson chases a cat into the back garden, over the fence, and into the park, where he pursues a squirrel. A ball catches his eye and he follows it into the pond―and then he runs, dripping wet, through the middle of a picnic lunch, stealing a sausage. As the picnickers shout, “Go home, Benson!,” he races back across town, darting through the back door just as Flick arrives home from school. “Have you been a good boy, Benson? Did you stay?” Flick asks. Only the reader really knows what Benson has been doing all day.
Stay, Benson! is beautifully designed, featuring bold graphic illustrations and die-cut pages that entice readers to chase Benson through the book. Author and illustrator Thereza Rowe’s striking images hark back to a classic style of illustration, but use a bright color palette that keeps them fresh and contemporary. The fun, simple story gives children the thrill of being in on Benson’s secret adventure.
Illustrated in four Pantones
- GenresPicture BooksDogs
32 pages, Hardcover
Published February 19, 2019
About the author
Thereza Rowe
7 books1 followerThereza Rowe is a Brazilian-British artist living in London. Of Hearts, her first book, she says that inspiration for the story came at a particularly hard time in her life: "Suddenly came a wee voice saying, ‘Whatever happens, never lose your heart. Everything is going to be just fine.’ That’s when I started doodling Penelope. I think of myself as a fox sitting on a cliff, and I wondered what would happen if I really lost my heart."
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 11, 2019
Why we chose this book:
Loved the cover art, and when I saw what a funny story it would be and that it would teach sequencing, I thought, "What an awesome combo!" Thames and Hudson provided a review copy.
Mom's Review (V)
Although the dog Benson is commanded to "Stay!" he escapes and goes on a playing spree.
Stay, Benson! is filled with fun. From the colorful, bold images and die-cut pages, to the silliness in addressing a dog, to the mischief Benson gets into, Stay, Benson! had T giggling and grinning the whole way through.
At the start, Flick tells her dog, "Stay, Benson," as she leaves for school. Benson immediately sneaks out, assuring the questing narrator that Flick said, "Play, Benson." Romping through the neighborhood, the audience can peek through the cutouts to subsequent events. As I mentioned, this is a silly book. But it is also a lesson in sequence of events and cause and effect. And also a bit of a lesson on miscommunication; Benson heard "play," but Flick said "stay." Or maybe intentional mishearing? Lots to talk about with Stay, Benson! And loads of laughs!
This is probably one of the most fun books we've read all month!
Update:
Tonight before bedtime, we were on FaceTime with T's Grammy. Midway through the conversation, he said, "Grammy, I've got to show you something." He got this book, told her the title and proceeded to show each page very carefully, saying (possibly too quietly for her to hear), "And then this happens, and then this..." He took her very deliberately through the entire book. I knew he enjoyed it, but I hadn't realized how important it was to him.
Son's Review (T)
(Age: almost, almost 4)
Son: Did you like the door thingy? It's my favorite page. And I like that [the squirrel].
Mom: Yes, I did like the door thingy. And I liked your big smiles. What did you think was the best part of the book?
Son, opening the door: This part!
Mom: What did you think about Benson? Why?
Son: That he was a good dog. Because he left the house.
Mom: But didn't Flick tell him to stay?
Son: No, Flick told him to play.
Mom: Let's go back...Uh oh. Does that change your opinion of Benson?
Son, giggling: No! [He's] a good dog. He chased!
Mom: But he does everything he's told not to! Do you think Flick knows he does all those things?
Son: No.
Mom: Do you think Benson really thought Flick said, "Play!" or do you think he was really ignoring the direction to "Stay!"
Son: I think he was really ignoring the direction.
Mom: How did this story make you feel as we were reading? I saw a big smile on your face.
Son: I thought that (the smile) about the dog. Happy.
Mom: What part made you happiest?
Son, flipping the dog page back and forth: This part! I like flipping the dog.
Mom: If you could meet Flick, what would you say to her?
Son: I would say, "Hey! Lock the door, Flick!"
Mom: She would probably ask, "Why?"
Son: So the dog doesn't run out!
Mom: Would you want to play with that doggie? What would you play?
Son: Yeah!!! I would play hide-and-seek.
More about Thereza Rowe:
From Thames and Hudson:
"Thereza Rowe is a Brazilian illustrator and designer based in London. She is the author of four books for children: In the Woods, Mister Pip, Hearts, and Sticker, Shape, Create: A Sticker Art Activity Book." https://www.thamesandhudsonusa.com/bo...
Here's a link to the author's website:
http://therezarowe.com/about
Loved the cover art, and when I saw what a funny story it would be and that it would teach sequencing, I thought, "What an awesome combo!" Thames and Hudson provided a review copy.
Mom's Review (V)
Although the dog Benson is commanded to "Stay!" he escapes and goes on a playing spree.
Stay, Benson! is filled with fun. From the colorful, bold images and die-cut pages, to the silliness in addressing a dog, to the mischief Benson gets into, Stay, Benson! had T giggling and grinning the whole way through.
At the start, Flick tells her dog, "Stay, Benson," as she leaves for school. Benson immediately sneaks out, assuring the questing narrator that Flick said, "Play, Benson." Romping through the neighborhood, the audience can peek through the cutouts to subsequent events. As I mentioned, this is a silly book. But it is also a lesson in sequence of events and cause and effect. And also a bit of a lesson on miscommunication; Benson heard "play," but Flick said "stay." Or maybe intentional mishearing? Lots to talk about with Stay, Benson! And loads of laughs!
This is probably one of the most fun books we've read all month!
Update:
Tonight before bedtime, we were on FaceTime with T's Grammy. Midway through the conversation, he said, "Grammy, I've got to show you something." He got this book, told her the title and proceeded to show each page very carefully, saying (possibly too quietly for her to hear), "And then this happens, and then this..." He took her very deliberately through the entire book. I knew he enjoyed it, but I hadn't realized how important it was to him.
Son's Review (T)
(Age: almost, almost 4)
Son: Did you like the door thingy? It's my favorite page. And I like that [the squirrel].
Mom: Yes, I did like the door thingy. And I liked your big smiles. What did you think was the best part of the book?
Son, opening the door: This part!
Mom: What did you think about Benson? Why?
Son: That he was a good dog. Because he left the house.
Mom: But didn't Flick tell him to stay?
Son: No, Flick told him to play.
Mom: Let's go back...Uh oh. Does that change your opinion of Benson?
Son, giggling: No! [He's] a good dog. He chased!
Mom: But he does everything he's told not to! Do you think Flick knows he does all those things?
Son: No.
Mom: Do you think Benson really thought Flick said, "Play!" or do you think he was really ignoring the direction to "Stay!"
Son: I think he was really ignoring the direction.
Mom: How did this story make you feel as we were reading? I saw a big smile on your face.
Son: I thought that (the smile) about the dog. Happy.
Mom: What part made you happiest?
Son, flipping the dog page back and forth: This part! I like flipping the dog.
Mom: If you could meet Flick, what would you say to her?
Son: I would say, "Hey! Lock the door, Flick!"
Mom: She would probably ask, "Why?"
Son: So the dog doesn't run out!
Mom: Would you want to play with that doggie? What would you play?
Son: Yeah!!! I would play hide-and-seek.
More about Thereza Rowe:
From Thames and Hudson:
"Thereza Rowe is a Brazilian illustrator and designer based in London. She is the author of four books for children: In the Woods, Mister Pip, Hearts, and Sticker, Shape, Create: A Sticker Art Activity Book." https://www.thamesandhudsonusa.com/bo...
Here's a link to the author's website:
http://therezarowe.com/about
February 25, 2019
Think DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS meets CARL THE DOG books. Flick tells her dog Benson to stay but he takes off the moment she leaves. Despite the reader reminding him to be good and go home, Benson has a marvelous day playing and still makes it home in time to greet Flick. Brightly colored die cut art makes Benson's adventures pop off the page and the brief text makes this a fun one to read with toddlers and up.
March 9, 2019
STAY, BENSON by Thereza Rowe is a light-hearted romp as readers follow a dog named Benson on a day of adventure.
When Flick leaves for school, she tells Benson to “stay and watch the house. No chasing.” But Benson escapes out the back door and the chase is on. Pursuit of a cat in the garden leads to a squirrel in a tree, a ball on the playground, and ultimately to snatching a snack from a picnic in the park…and all just in time to slip back into the house one step ahead of Flick, who remains unaware of Benson’s behavior.
Young readers will enjoy knowing they are part of the secret trick that Benson plays on Flick. The book further enhances reader fun with bold images, strong primary colors, and cleverly designed cut-outs that pull readers from one page to the next as they follow Benson’s escapade.
When Flick leaves for school, she tells Benson to “stay and watch the house. No chasing.” But Benson escapes out the back door and the chase is on. Pursuit of a cat in the garden leads to a squirrel in a tree, a ball on the playground, and ultimately to snatching a snack from a picnic in the park…and all just in time to slip back into the house one step ahead of Flick, who remains unaware of Benson’s behavior.
Young readers will enjoy knowing they are part of the secret trick that Benson plays on Flick. The book further enhances reader fun with bold images, strong primary colors, and cleverly designed cut-outs that pull readers from one page to the next as they follow Benson’s escapade.
November 14, 2020
Benson is told to stay at home but thinks it is more fun to go out chasing cats and squirrels each day. Benson returns home before his owner so she doesn't know what he gets up to.
A funny story which young children would really enjoy. There is lots of repetition throughout the book which children would be able to join in with. I'd read the book as a read-aloud story to FS and year 1 children. There are lots of flaps and cut out in the story which pages the pages very engaging and interesting to explore. The use of colour is very bold and block like which could inspire art lessons.
A funny story which young children would really enjoy. There is lots of repetition throughout the book which children would be able to join in with. I'd read the book as a read-aloud story to FS and year 1 children. There are lots of flaps and cut out in the story which pages the pages very engaging and interesting to explore. The use of colour is very bold and block like which could inspire art lessons.
June 18, 2019
Fun story with peekaboo cutouts that young dog lovers will enjoy.
June 28, 2019
A cute and simple story with nice cut-out pages throughout. Good for any dog-loving kiddos.
July 5, 2019
Clever design and a cute story of a typical misbehaving dog. May not fare well in the library but we will see.
Read
May 2, 2019very sweet!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews