Benji and the Cliffside Crew
All Stories
Every Benji story. Each is complete on its own — read in any order.
- Benji and the Beekeeper's Garden
Mr. Beresford's neighbour keeps bees, and the bees have been agitated for three days. Benji has been on the wall between the gardens since morning.
- Benji and the Library Book
A book has gone missing from the Cliffside community library, and no one signed it out. Benji has been at the librarian's desk since Saturday.
- Benji and the Taxi Driver's Dog
A taxi driver's dog has been visiting Cliffside every Friday afternoon and going home alone every Friday evening. Benji has been watching the bus stop.
- Benji and the Harvest Festival
The Cliffside Harvest Festival is the first Saturday of October. This year, one specific basket of produce has been switched for another, and Benji has been sniffing the wrong basket since the loading.
- Benji and the Rain That Didn't Stop
Rain has been falling on Cliffside for four days, and a culvert near the school is blocked. Benji has been at the culvert since Tuesday morning.
- Benji and the Spelling Bee
The regional spelling bee is in two days, and one of the practice word lists has been altered. Benji has been at the school library since Tuesday.
- Benji and the Old Church Wall
The Cliffside chapel's old wall has started leaning, and the workmen blame water. Benji disagrees. Benji has been digging at one specific spot.
- Benji and the Photo in the Frame
There is a photograph in a frame on Miss Gloria's living-room wall, and one of the people in it is in trouble. Benji has been at her gate since Sunday.
- Benji and the Missing Trophy
The Cliffside Primary debating trophy disappears the day before the inter-school finals. Benji has been near the trophy cabinet since morning prayer.
- Benji and the Last Day of Term
It's the last day of term at Cliffside Primary, and someone has been moving items from the classroom store. Benji has been in the corridor since assembly.
- Benji and the River Race
The annual river race at Salt River is in two days. Someone has been near the boats at night. Benji is on the dock by five.
- Benji and the Night Before Independence Day
Cliffside is decorating for Independence Day in the morning. Someone has been moving the flags. Benji has been awake since 4 a.m. watching.
- Benji and the Bakery Break-In
Miss Hyacinth's bakery had bread missing on Monday morning, but no broken locks. Benji has been sniffing the side door since dawn.
- Benji and the Cricket Match
There is a cricket match at the community ground on Saturday, and someone has been tampering with the pitch overnight. Benji is on the boundary at sunrise.
- Benji and the Broken Radio
Mr. Beresford's radio breaks two days before the cricket finals. The crew has until Saturday to fix it. Benji has a theory about who broke it.
- Benji and the Lost Goat
Mr. Beresford's goat is missing. The grown-ups are blaming dogs. Benji disagrees, and Benji has a nose.
- Benji and the Mango Tree Mystery
Miss Doreen's julie mango tree has been emptying overnight, and no one in the neighbourhood will admit to it. Benji knows. The crew has to prove it.
- Benji and the School Fair
Something is wrong at the Cliffside Primary fall fair. Benji has been circling the cake-toss booth for an hour. The crew is paying attention.
- Benji and the Market Day Disaster
A vendor's money goes missing on a Kingston market morning. Benji has three suspects and no good way to explain any of them.
- Benji and the Fisherman's Secret
The dog has been sitting by the water since before sunrise, his nose pointed at one cooler in particular. When Nadine arrives for the weekend, he finally has hands.
- Benji and the Blue Mountain Bus
Nobody knew how Benji got on the bus. What bothered the teachers most, afterward, was the simple unanswerable question of how he managed it without a single adult noticing.
- The Day Benji Chose Them
Benji has been watching a small theft happen at the Cliffside market for forty-five minutes, and he needs help. The kind of help with hands.