Alan C.

Fox is an entrepreneur,

Fox & Kuijl

philanthropist, relationships expert,
and The New York Times bestselling
author of three books for adults that
provide advice for living a happier,
more successful life. His much-loved
children’s book, Benji and the 24 Pound
Banana Squash, the first in the Benji
series, was recently published by Clavis.
Alan, who enjoys reading, writing,
poetry, and the beach, lives in Los
Angeles, California with his wife. He
has six children and two stepchildren,
and is the proud grandfather of eight.
Benji wants to buy a giant orange kite. Benji loves to fly kites—big kites,
small kites, even box-shaped kites.
But it’s very expensive, so he works hard to earn the money One day he sees a giant orange kite
by helping his mom in the garden. in the toy shop near the beach. Benji
Finally, the exciting day arrives when Benji can fly his beautiful kite . . . wants to buy the kite, but he has
already spent all of his allowance,
A picture book about making your dreams come true. so he earns money helping his
For kite lovers ages 4 and up. mom in her garden. Finally, he has
enough to buy the big, beautiful,
orange kite. Benji takes it to the
beach and lets the string out. The
kite reaches for the sky—higher
and higher and higher . . .

and the giant kite

Eefje Kuijl studied at the HKU
(University of the Arts) in Utrecht,
the Netherlands. She works as a
freelance artist for a range of clients,
making bright colorful illustrations
for children’s books and magazines.
Eefje lives in Breda, the Netherlands
with her husband, Philip, son, Guus,
daughter, Fien, and a dog called Jip.

www.clavisbooks.com $17.95 US

ISBN: 978-1605374031
51795

NEW YORK 9 781605 374031

 Fox & Kuijl
Benji wants to buy a giant orange kite.
But it’s very expensive, so he works hard to earn the money
by helping his mom in the garden.
Finally, the exciting day arrives when Benji can fly his beautiful kite . . .

A picture book about making your dreams come true.

For kite lovers ages 4 and up.

and the giant kite

www.clavisbooks.com $17.95 US

ISBN: 978-1605374031
51795

NEW YORK 9 781605 374031

 This book is dedicated to children everywhere.

Be kind to each other.

© Alan C. Fox 2018, published by Clavis Publishing

Visit us on the Web at www.clavisbooks.com.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system,

or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher,
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

For information regarding permissions, write to Clavis Publishing, info-US@clavisbooks.com

Benji and The Giant Kite written by Alan C. Fox and illustrated by Eefje Kuijl

isbn 978-1-60537-403-1

This book was printed in April 2018 at Publikum d.o.o., Slavka Rodica 6, Belgrade, Serbia.

First Edition
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Clavis Publishing supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.

www.alancfox.com
Alan C. Fox & Eefje Kuijl
www.eefjekuijl.com NEW YORK
Benji loved purple skies, sunset skies, cloudy skies,
blue skies, and kite skies.

Especially kite skies.

Benji often spent his allowance at the local toy store
for a kite and twine.
 Benji lived near a beach where a strong wind blew.
It was a great wind for kite flying. But sometimes,
just when his kite became a speck in the summer sky,
the wind would suddenly drop, and so would his kite.
Benji had lost many kites on that beach.
 One day the man at the store suggested a box kite. On it’s very first flight,
Benji couldn’t believe a kite shaped like a box could fly. the box kite crashed into a tree.
But Benji liked new ideas. Benji cried.
 “I’ll weed the garden?”
“All right. But we’ll have
to put the kite away
until you earn
the money.”

The next time Benji’s mom took him to the toy store
he saw a giant, diamond-shaped kite.
It was much bigger than the other kites.
Benji wanted that kite.
“Mom, this is a really nice kite.”
“I’m sorry, dear, but you’ve already spent your allowance.”
Benji worked in the garden for two weeks. In the morning he weeded the vegetables.
In the afternoon he weeded the flower beds.
It seemed he would never finish. But Benji wanted that kite,
so he worked hard.
Finally, Benji’s mom took the kite out of the closet.
“You did a good job, Benji,” she said.
Benji held the kite gently so it wouldn’t break
on the way to the beach.

He ran over the sand to the sea.

The kite tugged gently at the twine and then floated into the air
like a dandelion seed.
 Benji’s giant kite soared higher and higher with every gust of air.
It rose over all the people.
It rose over the hotdog stand and the houses beyond.
The kite turned right and left at Benji’s command. He was a kite whisperer.
Benji let his little brother hold the twine, and his father, too.
At last the giant kite had drawn all of the twine toward the clouds.
The kite was just a distant speck in the sky.
 “Time to go,” said Benji’s dad.
“Let’s bring your kite home.”
Benji looked up at his giant kite flying
near the clouds where it belonged.

He breathed the freshness of the evening air

and for one final moment felt the kite tugging on the twine in his hand.
Before he could change his mind, Benji unwound the twine and let it go.
“Goodbye, kite,” Benji said.
 He fixed that moment in his memory,
and then turned to leave as the giant orange kite
floated free into the sunset sky.

It may be up there yet.