EVERYDAY BEAN

Small stories about an even smaller hedgehog populate this cozy series starter.

The book opens with Bean and Grandma—who live in a tidy home, with giant strawberries growing in their yard—roasting marshmallows round a campfire, both eager to tell readers a story. Unable to decide on one, our protagonists ask the narrator to tell a few; the tales that follow all speak to experiences and concerns that will be familiar to small children. When Bean outgrows her favorite blanket, it becomes her favorite bandana. On a chilly day, Bean dons a sweater that was too large last year but now is much too small. Through it all, Grandma cares for Bean all on her own, finding time to be there when Bean needs her while also giving her space to learn, grow, and explore. Varied in length, the tales are laced with simple yet delightful truths: “I lost it somewhere in the meadow, but it will be back tomorrow,” says Bean when Grandma notices that the youngster’s bad mood has disappeared. Meanwhile, Graegin fills her delicately rendered, earth-toned art with charming details, as when Bean’s little quills poke between the spaces of her bike helmet. Best of all, this intergenerational tale shows how grandparents and grandkids can live happy lives, needing no one but one another.

Even the tiniest adventure can be considered big when blessed with such enormous charm.