BENJI AND THE GIANT KITE is a colorful read-aloud picture book for young readers, 4 and up, who’d love to fly. A sweet story about Benji’s love for a costly orange kite and how hard he’s willing to work to get it. From bestselling author Alan C. Fox, with gorgeous illustrations by Eefje Kuijl.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

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Read this book for my son as a bedtime story. I love the illustrations! The colors are pretty. The story is okay. Readers will follow a boy and his love for kites. He flies them at the beach. His kites either lost or fall apart. One day he wants to buy a big kite but his mom says he has to do chores to earn money for the kite. I'm not sure why he works so hard to buy the kite to only let it go after one fly. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the read in exchange for an honest review.

I appreciate the way Benji works hard for something he really wants. The message that hard work pays off is presented in a fun, relatable way for kids. This book would be fun to pair with a kite making activity.

A sweet read aloud about determination and perseverance. Benji loves kites, but keeps crashing them instead of being able to watch them soar. When he finds a new kite, but lacks the funds to purchase it, he promises his mother that he will work for it. It is great to watch him say he wants the kite and put the necessary work in. Somehow not surprisingly, this is the kite that finally flies for him.

The only problem that I had with the book is the fact that he let the kite go at the end. Why? He says that it belongs in the sky, but it belongs in the sky being made to dance with him. A kite and a child go hand and hand. Other than that, a nice story.

In Benji and the Giant Kite, we meet a boy who is enraptured with flying kites. Unfortunately, as every reader who has ever tried to fly a kite has experienced, even with attention, kites can get caught or crash and break, bringing about a quick end.

Benji has a practiced routine; when his kites meet an early end, he makes his way back to the toy shop to purchase a new one. However, he does eventually run out of money. We see him desperate to earn enough to buy a new kite, so he does extra chores like extensive weeding outside until he has enough.

The book closes with his hard work having paid off, and he's back again at the beach, flying a glorious kite.

The story demonstrates the joy to be found in simple pleasures, as well as commitment to hard work in order to work towards a goal. It's a sweet story with charming illustrations.

I received a free digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Hmmm… It's hard to review this without giving away the ending – although the blurb is practically the entire story rewritten. Basically, our young hero likes kites, even if it seems he can't keep hold of them without them crashing, or getting lost. He's even prepared to work hard for a fortnight in the garden to earn a new one, but it's what happens when he first uses it that makes me go 'huh?!' I guess the book is a thumbs-up to the merit of impernanent things, the benefit of memories – the old saw that it's better to have loved and lost than never have loved at all. But there I was thinking our lad was a good role model for hard work, only for him to end up seeming just wasteful. I guess it's up to the reader to see him in the best light, for I can't say I did. The book is pleasantly illustrated, but it's a thumbs down from me as regards the moral of the piece and/or how it's conveyed. Two and a half stars.

Benji and the Giant Kite is a sweet picture book about a little boy who wants to save his allowance to buy a kite. After his kite crashes, he saves again so he can buy a big kite to fly on the beach. The theme of this story is responsibility and tenacity- two important characteristics that children need to learn. Unfortunately, this book lacked transition for me. I wanted Benji's experience to have a little more build up, and I was slightly disappointed in the ending. The illustrations were very sweet and simple, matching the simplicity of the storyline.

There are many picture books with beautiful illustration. Benji and the Giant Kite is one of them. I fall for its beautiful colors. The grass, the sea, and the sunset sky look magnificent. All the pictures were drawn very well. I love this book.

I really enjoyed the premises of this story: Benji saving up in order to earn money for the kite he wanted. I did find the ending a little odd though, after he worked so hard to buy the kite. However, the graphics were nice and my kids enjoyed the story.

"Benji and the Giant Kite" is a cute and simple children's book that, with charming illustrations, gives an excellent example of working for and earning the material possessions we want in life. The colorful, playful, and detailed images shown on each page of this book are sure to attract young children, and its message could help them develop a good work ethic.

Benji loves flying kites on the beach! He spends his allowance on new kites and strings, trying out all different kinds, though they all end up stuck in a tree or out of commission due to crash landings. After earning his allowance by doing chores in the garden, Benji takes a brand new kite to the beach and has the perfect day.
A charming story with colorful illustrations that will hold the attention of emerging readers!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC.

A beautifully illustrated and told tale of triumph against adversity. One that I shan't forget soon.

This is a really cute book about a little boy who LOVES to fly kites. It's short and sweet and would make a perfect bedtime story. The illustrations are really cute, and I love all the beautiful kites. I also appreciate that Benji wants to buy another kite but has already spend his allowance, so his mom gets the kite for him and lets him earn it by weeding the garden. It makes the kite that much more special.

This looks like an engaging picture book with charming illustrations. Unfortunately, however, the protected PDF version (non-Kindle) seemed either to show pages out of order—or be missing pages. The story seemed to jump from a downed box kite to the mention of another kite (with no transition) that the reader was supposed to be aware of. Therefore, we are unable to give this story a fair rating.