Granny and Bean
Karen Hesse, illustrated by Charlotte Voake
I don’t think that I can think of anything better than spending a day with a small child on an English beach in wild weather, and this book shows why.
I was immersed in this story as soon as I opened the book. The rhyming text rolls through double page illustrations and together they capture weather, mood and life of the sea shore. The simplicity and joy of walking and jumping, watching and listening with someone who understands are celebrated fittingly.
The emphasis on not hurrying home, but remaining in the moment until every best shell and stone has been sorted and chosen reflects a deep understanding and respect for the child and their needs. It is beautiful to see this so sensitively incorporated into this celebration of landscape and cross generational relationships.
Published by Walker Books
