When a grand mother and grandchild take a day to themselves, even the windy sea cannot stop them from enjoying themselves. Through the gray, cloudy skies, the wonders of the beach and ocean and the creatures around them come to life in Granny and Bean by Karen Hesse.
The message is “stop and smell the roses” or in this case, pet the dogs that walk by, listen to the birds, and stop for teatime. And all this comes to life with the fun illustrations of illustrator Charlotte Voake. The art is not “overly popping” but it does have a strong presence. The pages are decked out with simple images, that have emotions and accent the story. Everything has a tone of a relaxed day, enjoying the moment and each other’s company.
The late September/early October 2022 will be the perfect publication time as this book makes me think of end of summer and early fall. And regardless of if you leave near the ocean or not, you can appreciate the hopefulness and adventure that happens. There is a classic feeling to the story, but also a modern touch. It is cozy and comfortable, while keeping the reader or listener wanting to know more.
Perhaps this works best for a one-on-one reading, but a group setting is not out of the question. However, it does lend itself to be for ages five and up, though the younger readers can “read” the illustrations. Granny and Bean works well as a gift for a child or an adult who like Hesse or appreciates art.
