GRANNY AND BEAN

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.