Aggie and Ben: Three Stories

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2–Ben lives every child's dream when Dad takes him on a surprise trip to the pet shop to select the animal of his choice. After contemplating his options and considering the sometimes-humorous consequences of each one (…a snake might make Mommy scream), he decides on a dog. Readers will chuckle through the chapter Just Like Aggie as Ben mimics the pup's routine of panting, sniffing, and playing chase but draws the line at drinking out of the toilet. Funky but tender, Dormer's pen-and-ink cartoons with watercolor washes add depth to the simple story and provide that perfect illustration-to-text match that one seeks in successful easy readers. If at a loss when seeking another recommendation for graduates of Cari Meister's Tiny books (Viking) and lovers of Cynthia Rylant's Henry and Mudge books (S & S), try Aggie and Ben. This unassuming tale will prove a welcome addition to any collection for emerging readers.–Jill Heritage Maza, Conn Elementary, Raleigh, NC
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About the Author

Author Lori Ries was born in Syracuse, New York, the eldest of four children. She discovered a love for storytelling as a young child and wrote her first story when she was just ten-years-old. It was a short story called "Jo-Jo the Raccoon" based on a true story about a baby raccoon that Lori's grandfather found on the side of the road and brought home for his children to raise.Lori remained interested in writing and storytelling since those early days when she wrote about Jo-Jo the raccoon. In high school, her English teacher Joe Anderson, encouraged her gift and told her if she worked at it she could become a great writer. The seed was planted and Lori eventually enrolled in the Institute of Children's Literature to pursue her love of writing. She began to bloom when she received a scholarship to the Highlights Foundation's Annual Writer's Workshop in Chautauqua, New York. It was at Chautauqua, where Lori received encouragement and inspiration, that she met an exuberant little boy named Sam. It was there that Super Sam! was born. Lori lives in Tigard, Oregon, with her husband and three children. Illustrator Frank W. Dormer makes his children's book debut with Aggie and Ben. He lives in Branford, Connecticut.