Ten tiny stories about a tiny character called Bean are collected in Tiny Bean’s Big Adventures V01. It is currently available but read via an online reader copy. The author Stephanie Graegin made a sweet collection of life events for the younger to almost 10 aged reader. The older toddler will love being read to, while the aged 7 or 8 will enjoy their first “big kid” reading chance.
Overall, things are just cute. Cute characters, cute stories, cute illustrations. There is some humor that adults will get, but it is not inappropriate by any stretch of the imagination. We just have a grandmother and grandchild doing things that hedgehog people do. It is old-fashioned in the style of things but has a modern voice. There is some “excitement” but not over the top, edgy or too much. The colors are not bold, but not muted either. The details are minimalist and just give what is needed to move things along. And it is simple, but not simplistic. It just gives a cozy reading experience.
The best part for me is that you have multiple stories and therefore you can read one a night or one for each time you need a quiet reading time (bedtime, nap time, or just a quick time out). It probably would work best for one-on-one reading time, but it might be possible that the book would be large enough for a group reading (I have not seen a finished copy to confirm this). I also liked the traditional look of an “old fashioned grandmother” who looks like she stepped out of a Calico Critters package. This look makes it not for everyone, but it has something for everyone.
I am not sure I will go on to read other titles about Bean, but I will keep my eyes open for more Graegin titles.