Ben & Zip: Two Short Friends

PreS-Gr 1—Ben and Zip are heading toward their favorite popcorn cart on the boardwalk when the skies above start to rumble. Lickety-split, Zip bolts through the crowd, and Ben starts searching the seaside high and low for him with his parents racing behind him. When he looks low, the little boy sees only knees. The comical art depicts people of all shapes and sizes, and the accompanying rhyme is just plain fun. Both the art and the rhyme are funny. From a bench, Ben sees nothing but bellies. He looks up high but sees only a sea of hair, and still no Zip. Ah, he remembers where they were headed and, sure enough, his friend is there. Readers are in for a surprise, however, when they discover Zip's identity. This is a fun-filled treat, filled with bright colors, amusing details, and beach scenes bustling with activity.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA