TOON Paperbacks: A Look Inside Our Level 2 Readers

We've taken you on a tour of our new Level 1 paperbacks, so today, let's move on to our Level 2 paperbacks (and again, don't forget about our special giveaway celebrating their release!) Like our Level 1 paperbacks, the Level 2 paperbacks feature a redesigned cover, a special back-cover TOON into Reading insert to help get the most out of our books, and are affordably priced at $4.99. Today, we'll be revisiting our Level 2 paperbacks: Benny and Penny in Just Pretend by Geoffrey Hayes, Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker by Geoffrey Hayes and Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking by Philippe Coudray. 

Our Level 2 books also have the same careful attention to reading level and education as our Level 1 books, but at a difficulty appropriate for children in grades 1 to 2.  Each comes complete with an educator vetted vocabulary, but with 300-600 easy sight words, a story arc with a few characters and 1-4 panels per page. And, each is complemented by a free common core guide and lesson plan. Our books are specifically designed to help early readers on their way, with or without the help of an adult. 

"The latest entry in the TOON Books line of emerging-reader comics pushes a whole new sort of envelope: outré humor for the early grade-school set. These single-page strips starring a peculiar bear and his critter pals will feel fresh to young readers not just because the jokes rely on incisive understatement rather than broad-stroke exaggeration but also because the humor requires a bit of work to arrive at the surprising, sometimes sophisticated, and yet rarely out-of-reach punch lines ... it demonstrates exactly what makes comics such a winning bet for kids. They’re just plain fun, see."
-- Booklist

• Eisner Best Publication for Early Readers Nominee 2012
  
• New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2011

Benjamin Bear is not your usual four-legged fuzzy friend. Told in single-page vignettes which also function as sophisticated yet simple jokes, Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking brings together some of acclaimed French artist Philippe Coudray's best Benjamin Bear stories. Kids will love following along as Benjamin finds himself in a series of conundrums -- and as he finds his way out of them in highly unusual, but always amusing, ways. 

Common Core guide and Lesson Plan for Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking

 "The sweet, delicately colored illustrations have an old-fashioned feel that gives the familiar sibling story a timeless quality, while the simple yet varied panel arrangement allows even very young children to understand the difference between a comic and a picture book. The text uses a limited but rich vocabulary with sufficient repetition to help with word recognition, and children will easily grasp the message while appreciating Benny’s change of heart at the story’s close. A charmer that will invite repeated readings."
--Booklist

• Booklist Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth
  
• Maryland Blue Crab Young Readers Honor Book
  
• Bank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of the Year
  
• Kirkus Reviews Best of 2009 Continuing Series
  
• Iowa Goldfinch Award
  
• Starred Review in Booklist
• Starred Review in Publishers Weekly

Benny and Penny are brother and sister. And, like any brother and sister, they fight with each other just as much as they play together. In Geoffrey Hayes's modern classic, friendly colored pencil drawings pull kids in, while his accurate depictions of the trials and pleasures of childhood keep them hooked. In 
Benny and Penny in Just Pretend, Benny wants to be a pirate -- alone! Watch as Penny changes his mind, overcomes some scary insects, and helps him sail his way towards loot. 

Common Core guide and Lesson Plan for Benny and Penny in Just Pretend 

"Learning to read is fun with TOON Books like Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker. Written and illustrated by Geoffrey Hayes, this book--like all the TOON Books graphic novel readers--allows kids to understand the story just by 'reading' the picture, with the text adding key details...With his newest book, Hayes demonstrates his keen appreciation of the politics of childhood as he shows how Benny and his younger sister Penny deal with a visit from their 'toy breaker' cousin Bo. In humorous contrast to the emotion-packed story, Hayes's watercolor illustrations depict a cozy world reminiscent of Beatrix Potter."
-- The Washington Post

• A Junior Library Guild Selection
  
• Bank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of the Year
  
• Kirkus Reviews Best of 2009 Continuing Series

When Benny and Penny's cousin Bo comes to visit, all their toys have to be hidden away. Bo is that most-feared of childhood enemies: The Toy Breaker. This time is no different -- Bo wreaks havoc on Benny's paddle ball, rips Penny's stuffed Monkey, and, worst of all, steals their secret treasure map. Can Benny, Penny and Bo find a game that can't be broken? 

Common Core guide and Lesson Plan for Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker