Poor Ima Bean! She doesn't mean to break Grandpa's fishing pole, send Hester the mule galloping through Mama Lima Bean's wash, wreck Brother Chili Bean's bicycle, or scatter a whole truckload of apples--each calamity just naturally follows on the heels of the last. Begining with a serene view of Mossyrock Creek, Lloyd builds the chaos in successive scenes until, with ``cabbages and carrots and `taters and `maters flying every whichaway,'' Ima bails out, packs a bag, and trudges dejectedly off in search of a new home. ``But wouldn't ya know!...in my family, you're always family...even when you goof!'' Instead of exile, Ima is last seen receiving hugs and comfort. In this comical, reassuring tale, Lloyd's precise lines and clean colors make even the wildest mishaps look curiously tidy. (Picture book. 5-7)
