Bently & Egg

by William Joyce

A springtime comedy celebrating new life, friendship, and fatherhood by the incomparable creator of "A Day With Wilbur Robinson, Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo, " and "George Shrinks."

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Animals, Adventure, Juvenile

28 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1992

About the author

William Joyce does a lot of stuff—films, apps, Olympic curling—but children’s books are his true bailiwick (The Numberlys, The Man in the Moon, Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King, Toothiana, and the #1 New York Times bestselling The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, which is also an Academy Award–winning short film, to name a few). He lives with his family in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Joyce builds a world and sends the reader on a journey in the course of 30 or so pages. He can craft such a beautiful story like that. This is not a beginning book, but for more mature kids. I don't think this is Joyce's best work, but it's a great story.

Bently is a singing happy frog friends with a duck named Kack Kack. Kack Kack is a mother-to-be sitting on an egg and when another duck's egg hatch, she asks Bently to look after her egg while she goes to see the new community members. Bently gets bored and paints the egg and it happens to be easter and a boy finds the egg and absconds with it. Bently has to find a way to get that egg back and you know he does.

A lovely story adventure. I didn't find anything really surprising in the story, it was simply good storytelling and with art you would expect from a master artist like Joyce.

The nephew thought it was a good story. He thought the boy thinking it was an Easter egg was sort of funny and he was glad when the egg was recovered. He did think the middle was a bit slow in the house. He thought something cool could have happened. He gave this 3 stars and he liked the singing frog.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a sweet, artistic and adventuresome frog who watches over the egg of his best friend while she is out visiting. But, when he decides to paint the "boring" egg, a little boy mistakes it for an Easter egg and snatches it from the grass. Now, Bently must find a way to get it back! The ensuing adventure is great fun and it's nice when Bently finally feels attached to the egg just the way it is, rather than wishing it were something more "interesting."

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bentley Hopperton was a happy frog. He enjoyed life, especially when he got to sing to his best friend, the widowed duck Kack Kack. Then one day his anatine friend laid an egg, and all of her attention seemed to be taken up by this new addition. Bentley wasn't particularly enthusiastic, when Kack Kack left the egg in his care one day, but he reluctantly agreed to watch it. The madcap adventure which ensued, when his charge was eggnapped by a boy who mistook it for an Easter egg, and the many travails through which Bentley passed, in order to bring Kack Kack's offspring safely home, proved that in the end, this frog had a soft spot for the egg after all...

A sweet, humorous story, Bentley & Egg highlights a number of issues - the jealousy that children sometimes feel, for instance, when their friends make additional friends, or when a new sibling arrives in the family - that will strike a chord with the picture-book set. This being a William Joyce picture-book, of course, means that there is also a fantastical adventure story to enjoy, and children will find Bentley's quest quite entertaining. The artwork, done in acrylic paint, is soft and pastel-hued, perfect for an Easter-time book. Recommended to William Joyce fans, and to those looking for children's stories about friendship, or that have a (somewhat tangential) Easter setting.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

2001 January 1

I really like Joyce. I love his visual style, and I find his stories amusing. And frankly his Santa Calls knocks The Polar Express into a cocked hat of holiday rejects.

But! I should warn you, the kids never shared my enthusiasm.

***

I blame myself. Joyce is too mature for little kids. What toddler wants to hear the story of a man coming to terms with impending fatherhood, even if it is allegorical? Ah, but a ten-year-old can borrow her mother's stash of books and enjoy them on her own, just fine. Clearly Joyce is wasted on those still in the single digits.

Library copy.

[Courtney Apperson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bently & Egg is a great story about a frog with a best friend that is a duck. It tells the story of the frog, Bently, watching Kack Kack's egg and it getting picked up by a boy on an Easter Egg hunt. Bently goes through all obstacles to save the egg for her friend the duck. The theme of this story is friendship. Bently is willing to do whatever it takes to save the egg so that he can keep the friendship of his Kack Kack. The book is full of colorful characters, mostly animals that talk to each other in order to give a hand to Bently. Overall the book has a great theme and story line that would keep children of all ages interested.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will go with the Easter books. It's not a typical Easter story, in fact, it's more of a spring story, but that's even better. Once I've read this to the kids, I may modify my review.

I didn't like the fact that the little boy's immediate reaction was to smash the egg. When reading this aloud, I'd pause in amazement at that point, and we'd wonder why the little boy would want to do such a thing. Doesn't he know there's a baby bird growing in the egg?

[Kathy Ellen Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet and adventurous book!
Bently the frog paints his friend's egg, and that's where all the trouble starts!
They go on a really fun adventure, meeting people, stuffed elephants, fancy hats, and more.

Very fun; kids will love the adventures they get into.
Awesome illustrations too.

Haiku Review:
One little egg and
one persistent frog have lots
of fun adventures

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bently, a singing frog is left to care for his friend Kack Kack's egg. Bently isn't too happy about this arrangement, but soon finds himself in the biggest adventure of his life after the egg is taken, and Bently must rescue it, and return it to Kack Kack's nest.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A silly, whimsical romp, pleasant and droll. New edition, originally published by Harper in 1992.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adorable story 🥰 William Joyce is the original Fan Brothers

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

We talked about differing views. The grasshopper decorated and hid his friend’s egg while he was watching it and a kid thought that the egg was from the Easter bunny.

[Mrs. Melaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Bently the frog’s friend, the young widow Ack Ack the Duck, asks him to watch her egg, he agrees with reluctance. Noticing how bare and blank the egg looks, Bently decides to paint it. When a little boy finds the beautifully decorated item, he mistakes it for an Easter egg, and “eggnapps” it. Bently launches a rescue attempt that eventually results in him flying, floating, swimming, and negotiating for the egg. Though he successfully returns the egg to the nest, the decorations on the shell are gone, but Bently discovers that he now loves the egg for itself… just in time for the egg to hatch. A final page shows Bently being drawn into the new little family. The illustrations are lovely and feature a palette of springtime pastels. Though this is a enjoyable story on its own, it also contains many elements that could be discussed: the power of art, friendship, responsibility, adventure, and non-traditional families to name a few. Though not technically an Easter book, recommend this for a politically correct alternative for reading at that time of year. Recommend also to anyone who would enjoy an imaginative tale featuring brief adventures and a happy ending that is equally as imaginative as Joyce’s The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmor, but a bit less philosophical in nature.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

When his friend Kack Kack the duck is called away to see her sister's seven hatchlings, Bently the frog is left to watch over the egg. He doesn't understand it's importance. He thinks it rather boring looking so he paints it. But then the egg is mistaken for an Easter egg and is "egg-napped" by a young boy. Bently immediately sets out in pursuit. In his quest to retrieve the egg, Bently meets many interesting and imaginative creatures. He himself has many adventures. He finally gets the egg to safety and promptly falls asleep. While he's asleep, the egg develops many tiny cracks. When Bently wakes up he's distressed to see the cracks and is horrified to find that as he watches, the cracks get worse! But then out pops a baby duckling! Surprise!

[Drew Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bently Hopperton is a dapper little frog, but when he is entrusted with the precious egg of a friend and his artistic flair leads the poor thing to be eggnapped, he knows he must do what he must to retrieve it.

This is a book I definitely remember seeing as a kid (that rabbit on the cover is crazy familiar), but I don't really remember ever reading it. In later years I recognized William Joyce's work, so it was fun to read this Eastertime jaunt. I relate to Bently Hopperton probably more than I should (especially considering his frogginess), and I like that he does his duty even if it's outside of his comfort zone. The Boy (2.75) was amused by some of the illustrations, but the text is a little wordy for him just yet.

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bentley is a frog who loves music. He sings his own songs to his friends in the pond and especially Kack Kack and lady duck and his best friend.

One day Kack Kack lays an egg but must rush off to visit her sister and her new baby ducklings. She entrusts her egg to Bently.

Bently is not thrilled by this but is soon taken on a series of adventures as the egg is threatened. In all his efforts to save the egg, Bently finds that he cares for the little thing.

In the end Bently receives a wonderful surprise and a new friend.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet little story, one of the author's earlier picture books (1992). The story is a wonderful reflection on acceptance of change and how good things can come about from that journey. I have read and enjoyed later juvenile fiction books, especially the illustration work, and you can see his development. Being and earlier work, the illustrations in this one aren't as vivid and edgy, much more gentle, perfect for the 4-8 target audience. I was happy to see this hasn't gone out of print, but was actually re-issued this year.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful children's book with story and pix by William Joyce, a terrific CB illustrator. The story is about a frog, Bently, who is left in charge of his duck friend Kack Kack's egg which he decides to paint as he thinks it is too dull and pale--only the first of his many adventures with the egg. It's a particularly good story to read aloud to children, especially when Bently bursts into song.

[Magenta Cooly · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite aside from Morris Lessmore! Bentley is so artistic, and loving; and though reluctant to spend his time babysitting, or eggsitting, he grows to love his adopted mother's first child, and protects it with all his being. The most touching moment was where the egg finally hatches, and Bentley experiences the joy of a new life coming into the world.
Yet another wonderful story created by one of America's greatest authors.

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A frog and duck are close friends. One day the duck, Kack Kack, wants to leave to go see her sister's new ducklings so she leaves her egg with the frog, Bently. Bently thinks the egg is rather dull so paints it up really pretty only to have it snatched away by a boy who thinks it's an Easter egg. Bently braves many scary and dangerous situations to get the egg back.

Lovely illustrations by William Joyce.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful story of the friendship between Bently an artistic frog, and Kack Kack his nurturing mother duck friend. When Kack Kack's beautiful painted egg is grabbed by a rough little boy, while Bently the frog is babysitting it, the challenge to retrieve it proves daunting. This adventurous tale takes many twists and turns for the fragile painted egg, and heroic Bently the frog. The painted illustrations are fresh and wonderful.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been published in 1992, this enjoyable story is longer than the usual ones now.
Bently the frog was left in charge of his best friend's duck egg. At first he didn't like it, but when the egg was stolen Bently went to extreme measures to get it back to its nest.
Great story to inspire a child's imagination, and wonderful illustrations.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very cute. The ilustrations are wonderful, and the story is engaging. It's not really about Easter, although an egg hunt is part of the story. It's about an orphan frog baby-sitting his only friend's egg.

[Meredith Estes · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, the illustrations were phenomenal and so very detailed. The story was sweet and all three of my girls liked it. But, they didn't love it like some of his other books.

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, old-fashioned picture book with an actual, plot-arc story. Well-done.

[Olivia S · Rating 1 out of 5]

REALLY didn't like this book. Way too much text, too many songs, thinks it's really cute, but it's not. Boring and annoying.

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another William Joyce classic. Loved the timeless feel this book's story and illustrations have.

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well told adventure

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite read aloud in spring.

[Re • · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a delight and made me tear up a bit!! My dark soul was warmed by this good golly gosh!!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wotta premise! Artistic Bently, a frog, agrees to help out his friend, Kack Kack the Duck, by doing what? Egg-sitting, that's what.

Bently's creativity inspires him to paint that egg:

Oh, special egg, oh, roundy egg,
Oh, splendid, artful Bently egg,
I painted you with feelings too
Mysterious to say to you.

The whimsical tale goes on and on, with that same gentle sense of humor.

I'd call this FIVE STAR book a treasure.