The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Wells, Rosemary , Wells, Rosemary

The Small World of Binky Braverman

40 pp. | Viking | September, 2003 | Trade ISBN 0-670-03636-6 $$15.99

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Richard Egielski & Richard Egielski. When Binky has to spend the summer with his stuffy aunt and uncle, he finds solace and company when characters from household and kitchen products come to life. (The bears on the Yellow Bear Syrup jar, for instance, eat his unwanted breakfast for him.) The story, accompanied by Egielski's trademark art, is quaint and old-fashioned, but the familiar theme--a child gets magical help when he needs it most--may resonate with readers.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth