Granny and Bean

by Karen Hesse, Charlotte Voake (Illustrator)

Overview

From a stellar creative team, the lyrical story of a grandmother and grandchild as they share an intimate adventure by the windy sea—and make a stop for teatime.

Their laughter rose; full of joy, it spilled
’cross sand, through mist,
as the curlews trilled.

Gray skies, foamy waves, and brisk wind await Granny and Bean when they head out for their day by the sea. But they are full of only wonder and delight at all the shore has to offer. They listen for the shrieks of the seabirds as they discover treasures hidden in the sand, greet dogs as they pass, leap over logs, and settle out of the wind for a cozy treat before tramping homeward again. Rendered in simple, lilting text by Newbery Medalist Karen Hesse and expressive, windswept art from acclaimed illustrator Charlotte Voake, Granny and Bean have an adventure to cherish until their next magical day at the shore.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536214048
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	09/27/2022
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	523,404
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 9.56(h) x 0.34(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Karen Hesse is the author of numerous books for young people, including Out of the Dust, winner of the Newbery Medal and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction; The Cats in Krasinksi Square, illustrated by Wendy Watson; Letters from Rifka, winner of the National Jewish Book Award; and Night Job, illustrated by G. Brian Karas. She was also the recipient of a MacArthur Fellows Grant in 2002. She lives with her husband in Vermont.

Charlotte Voake is a Welsh-born author and illustrator of many books for children, including Ginger, a Nestlé Smarties Children’s Book Prize winner and American Library Association Notable Children’s Book; Ginger Finds a Home; Pizza Kittens, a Nestlé Smarties Children’s Book Prize Silver Medal winner; and Hello Twins, a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. Charlotte Voake lives in England with her family.

Editorial Reviews

07/11/2022

In this soothing wind-down story, Newbery Medalist Hesse’s lines lull with rhyme and repetition, while mixed-media spreads by Voake (Some Dinosaurs Are Small) follow Granny and Bean on a long walk “in the sand, by the sea, with the sky all gray.” The two, who both present as white, poke along at the same slow speed. Granny wears a yellow slicker and boots, and carries a green bag full of vital supplies; Bean sports a blue raincoat and clutches a long rope of seaweed. Vivid spots of color stand out against the gray water and sky. The two let the water break over their boots (“The wild waves crashed/ and scuttered”), stop to greet dogs, laugh when the wind catches their hats, and still, they don’t go home. Images show them frequently from a distance, the better to see the sweep of sea and sky and distant sailboats. At last they stop for tea (a banana for Bean, and cupcakes), then, having “sorted and kept their best shells and a stone,” head home just as the sun breaks through, returning to the familiar in a book that understands the importance of taking time in the natural world. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Told in rhyming verse, the story is a quiet study of life by the sea. The illustrations, which rely on grays, browns, and tans, perfectly capture the chill and damp of a blustery day. . . . Librarians and educators will appreciate that the book provides a gentle counterpoint to the plethora of “sunny days at the beach” books. . . Perfectly captures the mood of the day.
—Kirkus Reviews

In this soothing wind-down story, Newbery Medalist Hesse’s lines lull with rhyme and repetition. . . . understands the importance of taking time in the natural world.
—Publishers Weekly

This plainspoken text provides a foundation for Voake’s atmospheric mixed-media illustrations in which the interplay of gray and white in sky, sea, shadow, and rain is celebrated. Against this dynamic, impressionistic background, Granny and Bean, in glowing primary block colors, are sturdy and joyful. . . the relationship between a small child and an adult who has the time and patience to wander, who doesn’t mind wet feet, and who provides a sustaining snack at just the right moment feels universal.
—The Horn Book

The setting may be overcast, but Hesse’s jaunty rhyming couplets provide plenty of cheer. . . the full-bleed spreads transport the reader into the moody scenery, with an effective palette shift in the final endpapers as a break in the clouds welcomes a visually cathartic finale to a day of docile drama. . . an aesthetically dazzling, tenderhearted celebration as part of a Grandparents’ Day storytime.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

2022-05-25
Gray days can be just as much fun.

Granny and Bean are out for the day, and although the weather is gray and a little dreary, they’re not going to let that stop them. Bundled in raincoats, warm hats, and galoshes, the pair make their way along the beach, enjoying their time together. Told in rhyming verse, the story is a quiet study of life by the sea. The illustrations, which rely on grays, browns, and tans, perfectly capture the chill and damp of a blustery day. With Granny’s yellow coat and Bean’s blue coat and red pants combination, the two stand out in sharp contrast to the seaside, making the story appropriate for large storytimes and classroom reads. Lap readers will appreciate Bean’s facial expressions and body language as the pair dodge the cresting waves, run along fences, make sand castles, greet friendly dogs, and enjoy cupcakes and a banana. Librarians and educators will appreciate that the book provides a gentle counterpoint to the plethora of “sunny days at the beach” books, and caregivers, especially those living near the sea, will find the message that a gray day can be full of activities useful. The few characters who appear are all light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Perfectly captures the mood of the day. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews