Mr. Benn

Following the welcomed re-release of Big-Top Benn comes another addition to the immensely popular collection of original Mr Benn adventures by author and illustrator David McKee. First published in 1967, Mr Benn: Red Knight introduces the friendly bowler-hatted character who delighted children a generation ago, and again today. In this fun story, Mr Benn finds himself transported to a medieval world, where he assists an unfortunate dragon whose role as firelighter to the king is threatened by a greedy matchmaker. McKee&;s original artwork will entrance children of all ages in what is sure to become a cult classic for yet another generation of readers.

Praise for Mr. Benn: Red Knight:
"The rerelease of this 1967 series opener introduces an adult picture-book hero who combines a childlike disposition with a taste for costumes, a belief in the fantastic, and terrific problem-solving skills. The Brit in a bowler hat needs something unusual to wear to a fancy dress party. He finds a promising little shop that delivers in spades once he dons a red suit of knight&;s armor. Transported from the fitting room into a story in which a poor dragon has been ousted from the village by the appearance of a match salesman, Mr. Benn acts as an intermediary and gets the dragon a better job&;as the king&;s fire-lighter. Through another door and back in the dressing room, he decides he doesn&;t need to go to the party after all, but promises to come back to the shop for more adventures. McKee&;s iconic 1960&;s artwork alternates pen-and-ink line drawings with richly colored, multilayered tone-on-tone illustrations. The conversational narrative serves as a lovely counterpoint to the fantastical story; it&;s no surprise that the tales have been animated for British television." -

School Library Journal