BENJI BEAR'S SURPRISE DAY. Shelton, Ingrid. Illustrated by Ruth Wiens Block. Winnipeg, Kindred Press, c1986. 26pp, paper, $3.25. ISBN 0-919797-54-7. Distributed by Kindred Press, 4-l69 Riverton Ave., Winnipeg, Man., R2L 2E5. CIP K-Grade 3 Reviewed by Patricia Skarzynski Volume 15 Number 2 1987 March When Benji Bear remembers that it is his friend Rusty Rabbit's birthday, he decides to surprise him by baking a cake. Before his friend arrives, however, Benji receives a number of other visitors, all of whom are invited to partake of the delicious gift, so there is nothing left for Rusty. The dilemma is resolved when the rabbit reveals his birthday is the next day and Benji promises to make another surprise. Benji's generosity is based on the Christian premise that: "There is more happiness in giving than receiving. And God loves one who gives gladly." This is the author's message. It is also the moral that is reiterated three more times and dramatized very simply by the events of the story. As part of the Kinderbook series, this book is geared to children ages four through eight. Because of the obvious Christian bias, the story may have a limited audience of parents reading it to the younger age group. Older children, reading it on their own, may find the moralizing heavy and characters such as Chelinda Chipmunk, Dino and Dilly Duck, Delia and Dora Deer, etc., cute and simplistic. In paperback format without paper binding (stapled), it is not likely to last many circulations, especially in a junior paperback collection. Patricia Skarzynski, Nepean P.L., Nepean, Ont.