Emma Bean

by Jean Van Leeuwen, Juan Wijngaard (Illustrator)

Emma Bean, a homemade toy rabbit, joins Molly at birth and shares her trials and triumphs as she grows from infant to little girl

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Jean Van Leeuwen was an American children's book author, of over forty children's books, including the Oliver Pig series, and Bound for Oregon.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Bean is a sweet story that all young girls will love. Every girl has a blanky, stuffed animal or toy they can compare to Emma Bean that they will forever have a love for. The little girl named Molly gets Emma Bean as a present from her grandmother when she is born. From that day on, Emma Bean does everything with Molly from being drug around the garden, to tasting new foods and having dinner, to taking baths and being thrown around up in the air with Molly’s dad or friend. Eventually Emma Bean is drug around so much that she has to be mended. While Molly gets a little bit older and cannot take Emma Bean everywhere, Molly always tells Emma Bean what she did at the end of the day when they are snuggled up in bed together. Molly and Emma Bean are forever friends.

I remember having this book read to me as a child and I loved it. To this day it reminds me of my blanky I have had since I was a little girl; I drug it around until it was torn to shreds and had to be fixed, I still have it today. This is quality writing with voice that makes anyone laugh. The descriptions make the story come to life along with the beautiful watercolor illustrations. As it is not particularly a story for boys I would not read this to a class, however starting at age two parents should read this to their little girl.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one always puts a lump in my throat because I know this will be how I remember my daughter. We read this at least once a week and it is a sweet, lovely story about a little girl and the handmade "friend" that is her constant companion all throughout childhood.
This is so like my own daughter who wants her "baby" to be with her wherever she goes.
She was a miserable infant and we started laying Baby in the crib with her and in her carseat to try to comfort her and now she loves Baby and mothers her just as she sees us parenting her. It is so sweet and makes this story so relevant and endearing. Highly reccomended!

[Barbara Barth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the sweetest stories I read to my girls... the illustrations are stunning. I am thinking about having the pages of our beat up old book framed, the images are just so beautiful.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my absolute favorite book as a child. I'm adding it to my Goodreads so that I remember to read it to my own child someday :)

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girl and her special stuffed bunny.

[Jessica Maddox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story about a little girl and her Emma Bean bunny.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Bean by Jean Van Leeuwen – My one complaint is that the mom apologizes to the kid for punishing her. But as an adult who still loves her rabbit very much, I loved this! Happy Reading!

[Marcus McCollom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story to read to my nieces

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believe the blurb. It is sweet. It is beautifully written, and illustrated. It will be a treasure for many children. Do not believe the reviews that call it a girls' book... there are many boys who will love this too. Not all boys need books like Battle Bunny (and there are girls who like that, too!).

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this sweet story book. My girls loved it, and now the first thing my 18-month-old granddaughter does when she arrives at my house is find this book and bring it to me to read to her.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this to my kids when they were younger.