Ben Says Goodbye. This item is unavailable.Ben Says Goodbye

When Ben’s best friend moves away, he decides he will move, too - under the table, where he lives as "Caveman Ben." Supported by his family, Ben is able to work through his emotions until he feels ready to reemerge and look forward to new friendships.

When Ben’s best friend Peter moves away, Ben decides that he will move, too―into a “cave” under the kitchen table. Caveman Ben doesn’t need any friends except his tame (stuffed) lion. He hunts for his food (thoughtfully left on a plate by Mom and Dad) and communicates in grunts. And in the safety of his cave he can imagine a world where friends control their own destinies and distance is no obstacle.

Award-winning author-illustrator team Sarah Ellis and Kim La Fave have produced yet another book in which they gently guide Ben through an experience that is both familiar and daunting to preschoolers everywhere. Ellis’ text deftly taps into the thoughts and feelings of a young child, while La Fave’s endearing art captures both the depths of Ben’s dismay and the warmth of the family members who support him through his crisis.

Young readers and listeners will celebrate with Ben as, having been given the space to work through his difficult feelings, he emerges from his cave ready to rejoin his family and look forward to new friendships.

― Publisher

Sarah Ellis has written more than twenty novels and picture books for young readers. Her many honors include the Governor General’s Award, the Mr. Christie Book Award, the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Book Prize, and the prestigious Vicky Metcalf Award for a body of work. Written from her insightful memories of her own childhood and keen observations of the world around her, Ellis’ stories masterfully reflect her readers’ own experiences. She lives with her family in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Kim La Fave is a multi-award-winning illustrator and designer in paint, pencils, or digital media. His honors include the Governor General’s Literary Award for Illustration, the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, the Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Award, and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award. A graduate of the Alberta College of Art, Kim also honed his skills in Toronto and New York before returning to British Columbia where he now lives with his wife and family.