Ben was upset when his friend Peter moved away, but now the new neighbors are moving in across the street and Ben can't wait to go say hello and make friends. That is, until he notices that this family has a pet dog; and unlike his sister and brother, Ben isn't so sure around dogs. The big jaws and big teeth make him nervous. But what Ben doesn't realize is that Max is an "old scaredy-dog" who feels nervous too. Can Ben overcome his fear and come to see eye-to-eye with a new kind of friend? The award-winning team that produced A+ for Big Ben and Ben Says Goodbye have come together once again in Ben and the Scaredy-Dog, a heart-warming story about a thoughtful yet anxious boy who overcomes his fear of dogs. Sarah Ellis highlights the all-too-common childhood dread of canines as she once again explores the world through the eyes of Ben, a boy who wants to be brave but just can't help anticipating the worst when it comes to a new experience. Kim La Fave perfectly captures his characters' thoughts and intentions through spot-on expressions and body language, as he contrasts Ben's drawings of the creature he sees in his mind's eye with the reality of the big and cuddly dog next door, who just happens to have his own fear issues. The result is a gently funny book that explores the courageous heart that can be found within an anxious child.

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised in the Shining Willow category by the Saskatchewan Young Reader's Choice. It was recognised by the Cooperative Children's Book Centre Choice Award. It also was recognised in the Best Books for Kids & Teens category by the Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards. It was recognised by the Thisisliteracyca "Books to Help Children Cope with Fears and Feelings" Selection. Also it was recognised by the Winnipeg Free Press "Top of the Pile" Selection. It was recognised by the Resource Links the Year's Best. It was recognised by the Daniel Boone Regional Library Staff Picks Top Children's Books.

This book has been graded for interest at 3-6 years.

There are 32 pages in this book. This book was published 2018 by Pajama Press .

Sarah Ellis has written more than twenty novels and picture books for young readers. Her many honors include the Governor General's Award, the Mr. Christie Book Award, the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Book Prize, and the prestigious Vicky Metcalf Award for a body of work. Written from her insightful memories of her own childhood and keen observations of the world around her, Ellis' stories masterfully reflect her readers' own experiences. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. Carmen Mok is an illustrator who received her formal training from the University of Waterloo and Sheridan College. Her previous book publications include Here Babies, There Babies, Look at Me Now, and Ride the Big Machines in Winter. Numerous magazines, including Today's Parent and Owl Kids, have also published her work. Carmen lives in Niagara Region, Ontario. Award-winning illustrator Kim LaFave has illustrated many books for children including Big Ben , We'll All Go series and the early readers Emma's Emu , Andrew's Magnificent Mountain of Mittens and Andrew - Catch That Cat! . Kim lives with his family in Roberts Creek, British Columbia