Told in a child friendly way about the destruction of. the second temple in Jerusalem.. it is a retelling of the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza from the Talmud. Lenny and Benny meet they live in different parts of the forest they have a great time playing until they fall out.
This book is about conflict, hurt anger but also forgiveness

This story of conflict is told in a different form, through an illustrated book featuring Lenny and Benny. Lenny is a bunny who is practicing for a competition. He can jump very high over the magical, illustrated land he lives in. Benny is also a rabbit, one who recently met Lenny! Lenny gets upset because Benny begins to beat him. Benny tries to make up for it, but it's very difficult.

This little tale tells the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza in a different and unique way. This is a story I hadn't heard of and decided to look up because of this book! I do enjoy learning something new. The actual story is retold in the back for anyone who wants a review or wants to learn like I did.

This book was incredible! I think it's a great way to teach a religious tale and make it fun and interactive. I highly recommend!

Five out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pen & Sword and Green Bean Books for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

This is a story based on a story from the Talmud, although this particular version does end very differently. It could be useful in the classroom as a starting point for an RE focus on Judaism
It could also be used as a discussion prompt for PHSE where the focus could be on developing and maintaining friendships and being thoughtful and kind to others. Using animals as the characters allows for a more distanced perspective, which helps to support young children's ability to adopt an objective stance.
The images are illustrative of aspects of the story

First, the simple blue and red cover caught my eyes. I love the illustrations.
Second, I like this adapted version of a tale. It's easy for little kids to comprehends. And the original tale is added in the back of the book made me understanding the story more.
Lastly, this story tells and teaches us how to be kind, how to control our anger.

LENNY AND BENNY by Naama Benziman retells the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza from the Talmud. The story of the fall of Jerusalem is retold in a way that explains the historical significance of the tale, but it is so well-illustrated and clearly-told that it appeals to a secular eye as well. This is another children’s publication on the @green_bean_books imprint of @penswordbooks

Lenny prides himself on his leaping abilities. When his friend Benny starts practising and can jump higher than him, Lenny cannot take it and he flies off into Trump-like indignance. Despite Benny’s persistent offers of friendship, Lenny cannot see past his anger, and so he loses a friend.

A while later, Lenny receives an invitation to Benny’s party, but it was sent in error. When Lenny attends, finally seeking to make amends, Benny humiliates him. This story ends nicely, when both of them have settled down, and Benziman then explains how the original story panned out differently.

I read with an atheistic lens, and see this as a timeless parable about level-headedness. The spritely illustrations in red and blue are noteworthy, especially when capturing the intense frustration of the feuding rabbits (or hares?).

Digital review copy shared by @penswordbooks over @NetGalley.

To be published 28th February 2021

A book about the importance of friendship and forgivenness, there is another story that this is loosely based upon thats been written into the book and adds a little bit of Jewish history. (Interesting for me also as I didn't realise and learnt something also) I found the illustration and colouring unusual but I really liked it because it highlighted emotions that could be felt within the book such as blue for saddness and red for anger and conflict and I felt that set the scene but not sure if it was intentional.

This book discovers anger, conflict and how others can feel hurt, important feelings for little ones and also feelings kids can feel every day with friends, family and siblings.

I really liked how forgiveness was a part of this story it's so easy for little ones to make and break friends but it's so much nicer to try and put aside any differences and learn to forgive. An important lesson for them which I loved, the girls had questions and wanted to know more and discuss about feelings which weren't nice or happy and I liked that this book explored that!

I received this ARC for free from Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review, with thanks to both and the author, Naama Benziman. All opinions are my own.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Lenny and Benny is a cute but important story for children about friendship and forgiveness.
This story is based on another story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza set in the days before the destruction of the second temple in Jerusalem but told in a child friendly way.
Lenny is the champion jumper of the forest. He befriends another rabbit called Benny from the other side of the forest and they have the 'best day ever' together until Lenny realises Benny can out jump him. Lenny calls Benny a cheat and they fall out.
Benny tries his best to make friends with Lenny but Lenny is very stubborn and will not mend his friendship with Benny.
One day Lenny receives a party invitation from Benny (which was meant for someone else), but when he arrives at the party he is called a liar and sent away.

This story teaches children about conflict, hurt, anger and friendship as well as forgiveness.

This is a nice story about friendship and the power of forgiveness. Rabbits, Lenny and Benny, fall out over who can jump the highest and stop talking to each other. Benny tries to make amends but Lenny isn't interested. When the postman accidentally invites Lenny to Benny's amazing party, Lenny decides that perhaps he is ready to be friends with Benny now, but when he arrives at the party, Benny is cross and sends him away. It takes a long time before Benny looks at the gift Lenny left behind and makes a decision about their friendship.

I particularly liked the way that colour was used in this book, with one colour being used for each of the rabbits and the text associated with them and all of the other animals in the story using a combination of the two. It made the story easy to follow. I also liked learning about the tale from the Talmud, that inspired this story.

A reimagining of a story from the Talmud, this story is a good life lesson for children in what holding a grudge can do. Plus the illustrations are striking in only red and blue.

This is just the kind of book we need now for the reality check on ourselves when we think that whatever we do, think and feel are the most important to us. Yes, they are! But it's also time to start thinking how our behaviour affects people around us. I know it's out right to be angry when we are wronged. But is it okay to be angry forever with someone who you were the happiest with once?

This small book means a lot to me. Yes, historically relevant but the author has made the story shorter and less provoking in terms of the concepts of hatred and wars.

I find this quite thoughtful and fit for the younger children to read.

I totally fell in love with the unique illustrations and the distinct, subtle colours used.


Thank you so much, authors and the publisher, for the copy.

I thought that this book was really great and the images in the book suited the story perfectly.

It has a lovely flow to it and it is very well written too and my daughter really enjoyed it so it was always going to be a hit with me of she enjoyed it.

I thought that the characters were lovely and this was a great and different way to tell a traditional story – it had a great moral to the story and I liked the messages of friendship and forgiveness too.

It is 5 stars from me for this one, very highly recommended!

This takes a fable-type story from early Jewish history and the Talmud, and converts it into something much more recognisably a fable for the young, concerning two disagreeable rabbits. I liked the way it was split equally between the red rabbit and the blue rabbit – and I include the entire colour palette in that, too – but I didn't get to think this was an essential purchase. Young readers concerning the fallout and recovery of a friendship have been done a bit better elsewhere. Still, those who justify interest in this volume based on the Jewish origins will certainly not be disappointed.

This story is a retelling of another story that I am not aware of!
This book teaches you about friendship, falling out, misunderstandings, and that sometimes your friends are better at something than you are.
Cute little illustrations too.
Great little book.

I did not realise this is a modern take on the Talmud story of Kamtza and Bar-Kamtza, nor did I know the original. But thanks to this ARC I know both now.
A story about friendship and the loss of it through envy, about making up and misunderstanding and perseverance - a good lesson to children...and adults!
Paired with very charming drawings in just two primary colours, it’s a perfect moral tale.

A delightful and interesting retelling of a story! The artwork is absolutely stunning and the story is very interesting. I found the retelling with it’s alternative ending to be a nice read for kids! I would definitely recommend it! It deals with friendship, forgiveness, and how misunderstandings and unresolved arguments can be destructive to friendships.

*Thank you Netgalley and Green Bean Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I received an advance copy of, Lenny and Benny, by Naama Benziman. This is a good book, but a sad book too. The colors are all red and blue. Its a story about friendship.