Beans on the Roof

by Betsy Byars, Melodye Benson Rosales (Illustrator)

George Bean always wants to play on the roof of his apartment building. But only his older sister Anna can sit there, because she's writing a roof poem. Anna may be the first Bean to be in a book if the poem wins a contest at school.



George decides to write a roof poem too. Soon all the Beans are on the roof writing the roof poems. All except George. He needs some inspiration. How will he get it?

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1988

About the author

Betsy Byars was an American author of children's books. She wrote over sixty books for young people. Her first novel was published in 1962. Her novel Summer of the Swans won the 1971 Newbery Medal. She also received a National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Night Swimmers and an Edgar Award for Wanted ... Mud Blossom!!

Daughters Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers are also writers.

Reviews

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the time, the Bean children - Anna, George ("String"), and Jenny ("Jelly") - are not allowed to go up on the roof. When Anna has to write a roof poem for a school assignment, however, Mama makes an exception for her, and soon the entire family is up there seeking poetic inspiration.

This book is very spare and short compared to many others by Betsy Byars, and is clearly geared toward an early elementary audience. Even though the plot seems slight, however, Byars manages to pack a lot of subtle details into the dialogue and description. By virtue of the fact that George and Jenny have nicknames at school and Anna does not, the reader gains insight into each child's status among his or her peers and understands that Anna may be quieter and more serious than her siblings. The Bean parents' pride over Anna possibly having her poem selected for a book at school and their comments about not having finished school themselves and having grandparents who could not read at all tell a lot about their past and their future hopes for their children. Even the poems the family members write on the roof reveal something about each one's priorities and sense of humor. It never ceases to impress me how Byars can turn the simple day-to-day events of life into these heartwarming and meaningful stories.

Beans on the Roof is a sweet book that could be used to introduce the concept of writing poetry to kids who are just beginning to compose their own works. It celebrates the warmth of friendship among siblings and the value of writing something you love even if it is not like anyone else's work, and even if it is not recognized by others in the way you hope. In some ways, it reminds me of some of Patricia MacLachlan's shorter, descriptive chapter books (White Fur Flying, The Truth of Me, Fly Away, etc.), but with a lighter touch and a clear appeal to younger readers. I had never heard of this book before this reading, but even though it is not Byars's absolute best, it is still very satisfying and absolutely lives up to the quality of writing I have come to expect from her.

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

[Benedict Randhawa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anna have to write a poem about roof. When George and Jenny saw this Anna is on the roof. They also wanted to go to roof But they are not allowed to go on the roof. So they decided they also wanted to write a poem.

[JS · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think George is genius. I like his cat poem the best. :D

[Andres Perez]

Ok
Not bad

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beans Children are not allowed to go to the roof . But Anna is on the roof . She have to write a poem about roof. George wanted to go to the roof but his mother won't let him go so he deiced to write a poem about a roof too . But George don't know what to write. It's a nice story and a last part was little sad.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Bean goes up on the apartment building roof to write a poem. If it is good enough, it will be published in a book. George Bean is jealous. Mother Bean protects Anna's privacy as long as she can, but George's nagging is relentless. She eventually gives in and lets him go up to the roof so that he can write a poem. He promises not to bother Anna, but George can't resist laughing and talking about the poem that just pops into his head. Soon Anna gets exasperated, and tells him that his poem isn't really a roof poem. George thinks and thinks but soon gets tired. He calls down to their sister, Jenny, who is jumping rope on the sidewalk. Jenny joins her brother and sister on the roof, and Mr. and Mrs. Bean follow. Everyone but George successfully writes a roof poem. When Anna submits her poem to the book publisher, she eagerly awaits news that it’s been accepted.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favourite authors, this is a title I had never heard of before. An early chapter book for suggested ages 5-8 or up to about Gr. 3, this is an easy to read story about family. Anna has to write a poem for school and chooses to write about roofs, so her mother lets her go up on the apartment roof to write the poem. The two younger siblings want to go up as well so must promise not to bother Anna and have to write a roof poem as well. The story that follows is a simple tale of siblings, family and poetry. A nice story, though it does portray an '80s lifestyle thus feeling a bit out of date. One thing that struck my as absurd was the illustration of Anna; she has a mullet! I don't believe I've ever seen anyone in children's illustration with that hairstyle before and she looks absolutely awful. LOL. A decent enough story but not one of Byars best by any means.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 2 out of 5]

Each of the five members of the Bean family writes a "roof" poem on the roof of their apartment building.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think this book was funny because the roof was like a hang out spot.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

good beginning chapter book for boys or girls. Can also be used for poetry month.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I went in to it with expectations that were too high. I wasn't a fan of this one. It didn't seem to have much to it.

[Kacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet story of how a family supports each other through good times and bad. It is a perfect beginning chapter book for young readers.