Our Dog Benji

We all know that dogs will eat anything. We also know that kids' tastes generally aren't so wide-ranging.

While ice cream and pizza might be devoured in the blink of an eye, the dreaded 'green stuff' (vegetables to the adults) is often pushed to one side of the plate. Author Pete Carter understands this phenomenon well, as he shows in the adventures of Benji. In delightful duotone illustrations and engaging text, we see how Benji's willingness to eat anything - from daffodils to brussels sprouts, ice cream to avocados, sandwiches to bones - gradually inspires his child owner to be a little more adventurous at mealtimes.

Although dogs and kids do have standards and it seems there's one thing neither of them will touch! The perfect book to encourage fussy eaters to try a few more vegetables! Illustrator James Henderson is Pete Carter's nephew, making this picture book a family affair.

About the Author

Pete Carter is a writer and photographer. One of his two dogs is the muse for Our Dog Benji; the other hopes to star in Pete's next book. As a child James was never far from a pencil or felt tip. Born in Christchurch he and his family moved to Wellington in time for his high school years.

He was infamous here for his caricatures of teachers. He studied illustration and design at Massey University. For the last two years James has operated as a freelance illustrator for corporates including one of New Zealand's major banks. More recently, one of James' illustrations can now be seen on the screens of all Kiwi Bank ATM machines.