“His Name is BEN,” by Mary Mize and
illustrated by Suzy Keller, is the sweet tale
of a young girl Kelly who names her new
brother Ben. Mize perfectly captures the
joys and frustrations of being an older
sibling, especially when everyone refuses to
call Ben by his name. Throughout the book,
Kelly adamantly corrects everyone who
calls Ben “darling” or “precious” that “His
name is BEN!” It’s a fun, humorous read for
kids of all ages, whether they are an older
sibling, younger sibling, or only child.
In “Letters from Scamper,” Mize writes
letters and poems from the perspective
of her cat Scamper. It’s the perfect book
for young readers who are on their
way to reading more complex texts.
It’s not quite the caliber of a chapter
book, but meatier than a picture book.
The hilarious and poignant letters
are accompanied by Shirley Hoskin’s
illustrations. Scamper’s letters to her
veterinarian tell of the cat’s life on Mize’s
farm. Chasing birds, taunting ducks,
and playing with the menagerie of other
animals are some of the many activities
that fill up Scamper’s days. Readers will
love the letters as they see the life of the
cat through its own eyes.
34
INSITE May/June 2016
The holiday-inspired “Little Christmas
Snake” is best for the youngest readers.
Mize’s book tells the story of Little
Christmas Snake solely through Darcy
Peter’s illustrations. The wordless
story allows the reader to stretch their
imagination and explore the same
curiosities as the snake. A page with
questions at the end prompts parents to
discuss the story with their child after
flipping through the vivid book. i
Mary Mize: His Name is BEN, Illustrated
by Suzy Keller; Little Christmas Snake,
Illustrated by Darcy Peters; Letters from
Scamper, Illustrated by Shirley Hoskins