Bella and Bean

by Sandra Bradley, Udayana Lugo (Illustrator)

Overview

“Little ones with big dreams of their own will be inspired by Bella’s persistence….Bradley's appended note encouraging them to follow their passions, no matter how far-fetched.”—Kirkus Reviews

For hippos, becoming big is guaranteed, and Bella and Bean can’t wait! But recently, Bella has started to dream about being something even bigger than big...

Bella and Bean have always enjoyed spending their time in the mud, dreaming of being big one day. But Bella is ready to share a new dream—opening a spa! Despite her friends and neighbors doubts, Bella is sure that with hard work, determination, and a little help, her dream may just come true. Written with humor and heart, Bella and Bean highlight the importance of supporting one another, perseverance, and believing that anything is possible!

Award-winning author of Cocoa Magic, Sandra Bradley, brings humor, thoughtfulness, and charm to the text. While highly acclaimed illustrator, Udayana Lugo, utilizes delightful dimension and depth in her mixed media art.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781772783377
Publisher:	Pajama Press Inc.
Publication date:	05/27/2025
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.00(d)
Lexile:	AD530L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

As a child, just like Bella, Sandra Bradley had a big dream. Inspired by her kindergarten teacher and encouraged by her parents, she dreamt of becoming a writer someday. Now, as the award-winning author of Cocoa Magic and Henry Holton Takes the Ice, as well as a clinical social worker and frequent school visitor, she encourages the children she meets to follow their dreams, with passion and determination. Sandra lives on the beautiful Rideau Canal with her New Zealander husband, Grant, and their three teenage kids.

Udayana Lugo is a self-taught illustrator of mixed heritage who is passionate about representation. She has illustrated more than 15 books, including Pink is for Everybody! (Owlkids Books), which was feature on CBC Kids; When You Meet a Dragon (Orca); and City Beet (Sleeping Bear Press), which was shortlisted on the Crystal Kite Awards. Udayana lives in the traditional, ancestral, and unceded land of the Musqueam and Squamish nations, also called Richmond, BC, Canada with her husband, two kids, and a dog.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Bella and Bean

The Children's Book Council "Hot off the Press" May 2025 Selection

“Little ones with big dreams of their own will be inspired by Bella’s persistence….Bradley's appended note encouraging them to follow their passions, no matter how far-fetched.”—Kirkus Reviews

"Bella and Bean is especially and unreservedly recommended as a lively, fun, and enduringly popular pick for family, daycare center, preschool, emelentary school, and community libraray picture book collections."—Midwest Book Review

“Bella and Bean is an inspiring and eye-opening book that teaches young children the power of believing in oneself while highlighting the importance of perseverance”—YA Central

"Bella and Bean would make a wonderful addition to any home or classroom bookshelf, with strong connections to goal-setting, growth mindset, and how perseverance can lead to incredible things. A heartfelt message from the author to young readers at the end of the book is the icing on the cake."—Canadian Children's Book News

“This book will encourage readers to use their imagination and enjoy new perspectives of everyday experiences while working cohesively with others.”—Youth Services Book Review

From the Publisher

2025-02-15
A pachyderm has sky-high ambitions.

Bella and Bean, two young hippos with pink-tinged cheeks, sit in the mud and chat about their futures. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” asks Bella. “Big, of course,” replies Bean. But Bella has different aspirations. After some hesitation (“Promise you won’t laugh?”), Bella says that she wants to turn their watering hole into a spa. Bean is gently skeptical, but Bella is determined, and the two pals build a welcoming bridge, create a waterfall, and weave a curtain of vivid pink flowers. The palette of the grasslands brightens tremendously, and the pops of color match the wide-eyed enthusiasm of the two entrepreneurs. But the pair soon encounter a hitch in their plans. “Nobody’s coming to our spa,” Bean points out. The ever-optimistic Bella corrects her friend: “Nobody’s comingyet.” With help from other watering hole pals, the spa starts to bloom. The business model looks more like a water park than a relaxing mud bath, but that’s beside the point. Though the tale is on the quiet side, little ones with big dreams of their own will be inspired by Bella’s persistence. They’ll also take heed from Bradley’s appended note encouraging them to follow their passions, no matter how far-fetched.

A reminder that with confidence and support, anything is possible.(Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews