Benjamin the worm loves his job at the Library of Congress—reading, organizing, and receiving letters from kids who share their favorite books. But everything changes when a strange illness sweeps across the world. Schools close. Libraries shut their doors. And suddenly… no more letters. No more books.
Kids everywhere are cut off from their favorite stories—and Benjamin knows he has to do something.
With the help of his clever and determined friends, Benjamin sets out on a mission to bring books back into children’s hands. Whether it’s finding new ways to distribute stories or helping build on each other’s strengths, this little team proves that determination—and a love of reading—can go a long way.
Because stories matter. And heroes come in all shapes… even squiggly ones.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Benjamin, the adorable purple worm, lives and loves working in the Library of Congress. Each day welcomes him with a batch of new books; a dream come true for any bookworm. He shares this treasure trove of literary delights with kids all around the world and is excited to hear their reading recommendations, too; however, all that changed with the arrival of Purple Dots. Due to this Purple Dots crisis, all libraries are closed. No books are coming in or going out—a truly sad time for fellow bibliophiles. Benjamin, the bookworm, would not allow these pesky dots to stop the distribution of reading material and sought guidance from Ms. Nicholas, the librarian.
Health officials consistently encourage children and adults to practice good hygiene, wash their hands, cover their mouths and noses, refrain from sharing food or drinks, and maintain social distancing. When COVID-19 spread rapidly, many buildings were closed to the public, and people were asked to self-isolate to prevent the spread of the disease. It was a hard time for all of us. No Books for Benjamin? never mentioned COVID-19, but it does draw parallels to the pandemic. It’s a story about “purple dots” that have a similar effect on society: the library is closed to prevent the contamination and transfer of germs from one person to another. Benjamin, his three buggy friends, and the librarian work together to put print books back in the hands of readers, and the illustrations of how they did it were amusing. From the ladybug’s overzealous use of the sanitizing spray to the dragonflies’ unconventional book delivery system, there’s never a dull moment. Readers will also witness a tense moment when a misunderstanding arises over the color of the worm. Much like people assumed any cough or sneeze was COVID-19, not seasonal allergies or just a cold, Benjamin was feared infectious because he was purple, and that color is associated with the Purple Dots disease. The tense exchange might prompt a more in-depth discussion about what we saw or experienced first-hand as the world was on lockdown.
We all must do our part to stop the spread of germs. Masks, hand washing, sanitizing surfaces and items, and even social distancing were used in the past, and they will likely become a norm in the future as well. During the pandemic, we saw people and businesses adapt to the changing world. Benjamin and his library helpers displayed comical ways they tried to adjust to the purple pandemic before finding a solution that worked. They proved where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Books play a vital role in education and leisure time. No Books for Benjamin? inspires readers to work together when times get tough and think outside the box. It gives fun facts about bugs and insects to share with friends and family members. It could prompt those who lived through a pandemic to share their feelings regarding that time. While No Books for Benjamin? gives the impression that the Library of Congress loans out its books to customers like a regular library; unfortunately, it does not. Great thought, though! It is home to millions of books and reading materials, so I recommend taking a tour. I also recommend reading No Books for Benjamin? It’s a quick and enjoyable read with humorous illustrations that’ll bring smiles rather than frowns to a sensitive subject or difficult time in our lives.
My recommended reading age is 3-8 years.
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score:❤️❤️❤️❤️
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Meet the Author
R.G. de Rouen is from Carmel, California and has been working the past 30 plus years as an elementary school teacher throughout the world. He is a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature and enjoys teaching creative writing skills to his students.
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