Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker

Each story I read with these mice siblings is better than the one before. I think it’s because the characters grow on me with exposure — I get more sense of them and their adorable little personalities. In Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker, the third book in the series (after Just Pretend and The Big No-No!), cousin Bo comes to visit. Benny and Penny have to hide all their toys, because Bo always breaks them.

Bo is grabby and selfish and obnoxious, which makes for great comedy and visual action. Youngsters will love seeing a conflict they can identify with — a kid they don’t want to play with, for very good reason — while adults will love the accurate portrayal of the way children think and act. A surprising amount happens in this 32-page color comic under hard covers, with a lovely resolution.

Author Geoffrey Hayes is also very approachable by readers, with a new blog featuring his characters.