Bella & Bean

by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Aileen Leijten (Illustrator)

Bella wants to write poems.

Bean wants to go for a walk.

Bella wants to write poems.

Bean wants Bella to look at her cute toes.

Could these two best friends be more different? But as Bean's attempt to coax Bella away from her notepad become ever more over the top, Bella finds her poetry taking unexpected twists.

You might be a Bella or you could be a Bean - either way, this sweet, clever tale will remind you there is perfect poetry to mismatched friends.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Childrens, Friendship, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published February 10, 2009

About the author

Rebecca is a poet and picture book author of such titles as What is Science? (a 2006 Subaru SB&F prize finalist), and Lemonade Sun (an American Booksellers "Pick of the Lists"). Her work is featured widely in poetry anthologies and textbooks. Rebecca promotes children's poetry, giving presentations and workshops to students, teachers, librarians and writers. She lives in Indiana.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this story. It's cozy and cute--the tale of two mice, one loves quiet time and poetry and introspection, the other delights in fashion and socializing and fun. But, of course, each enriches the life of the other and, though inevitable squabbles ensue when two such different personalities meet, their friendship is strengthened by the fact that each admire the other's talents. Most of the time, I thought the illustrations were adorable (as on the cover) but a few times the mices' faces/mouths seemed a bit weird to me. But, overall, this is a cute story especially if any young ones are experiencing the growing-pains of a friendship with someone who has different interests.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bella and Bean were something of an odd couple: one content to sit quietly writing poetry all day, the other eager to be out and about, experiencing the joy of life, and the wonder of the wide world. Hoping to convince Bella to lay down her pen, and share the day with her, the irrepressible Bean adopts successively more outrageous strategies, from wiggling her toes in her friend's face, to lugging a massive snow bush around. Her seeming lack of success is rather disheartening, until the friends' evening picnic reveals just how influential Bean really has been, when it comes to Bella's poetry...

There were definitely things I enjoyed about Bella & Bean, chief amongst them the idea that people and experiences which can be rather difficult at times, are also sometimes the most valuable, the most important to us. Bean is clearly something of a pest, but she also inspires Bella in creative new directions. That said, while I liked the idea of the book, I'm not sure the narrative itself really worked for me - it felt as if the author was trying too hard to be meaningful, to create a Frog and Toad style story - and the artwork, while ostensibly cute, didn't appeal to me. It's not that there was anything really wrong with the book, but I simply couldn't work up any enthusiasm for it. This was a low three stars...

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bella is a poet who needs time for thinking and writing. Bean, her best friend, wants Bella to come out and play. Can't Bella write poems and plant snowbushes at the same time? Can't Bean give Bella some space?

In this book about creativity and friendship, Rebecca Kai Dotlich gives us two friends who manage to remain friends despite their differences.

Dotlich, a poet for sure, sprinkles the text with Bella's poems, and as Bean so aptly points out: some rhyme and some don't. There are some killer lines in here. My favorite: "the sky poured stars like sugar."

I used this book recently with a group of teachers in a writing exercise about friendship. Writing and friends. They go together as Bella and Bean so aptly show us.

The love between the two shines through, and Aileen Leitjen's lovely art amplifies it.

As well, anyone who has had work to do, but is being called out by a friend or little one, and anyone who has wanted an earnest friend to come play, will appreciate the frustrations from both forces.

There is grump enough to go around, as well as Bean's cute toes. This one is a charmer.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to my girls last night. All three of us took great delight in the illustrations -- the color scheme is quite beautiful and soothing. As I was reading, I thought the concept of the story (Bella likes to write poems alone, and Bean wants to PLAY, PLAY, PLAY together) would be lost on my girls. But the illustrations held their attention, and when the book was over, I saw two very big smiles erupt across their faces. As I tucked them in, they each whispered in my ear, "I have a poem for you..." Well done, Ms. Dotlich, well done.

[Ralf Urbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter really enjoyed this one also. Helpful story to aid the importance of friendship and that sometimes a friend is where you draw your biggest inspiration from. My daughter also enjoys writing poetry in her room. Great illustrations and colors bringing to life the playfulness of the girls fun.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bella just wants to write poems, but Bean keeps interrupting her! Turns out that Bean's visits bleed into Bella's poems, and when Bella slowly realizes this, she invites Bean to a night by the pond. Together they write poems about each other. The story is sweet, the poems simple and beautiful. I loved Bella's system of writing poems: first writing down words she wanted to use and then fitting them together. This seems like a great way to get kids into poetry (and maybe adults like me!). The way Bella and Bean reconcile so gently by spending time together and melding their different interests was a great example of working things out.

[Carol Farrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet book that would be great for K or early elementary kids. It talks about poetry, both that rhymes and doesn’t rhyme, and it talks about friendship and how sometimes you have to give someone a break when they’re being grumpy.

[Shannon Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical and lovable story about two friends, who happen to be mice. I also enjoyed the sweet illustrations by Aileen Leijten.

[Andrew Claybourne]

This book tells the story of two friends with very different personalities. Despite their differences, they work together in creative endeavors. This also shows how children should foster creativity.

[Ellen L. Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a imaginative friendship between two very different characters. It's a splendid read-aloud.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This poetry book is for a much younger audience. This is the story of two mice who could not be more opposite. Bella is a writer and she is hard at work, writing on a poem, while Bean keeps interrupting her about other things such as flowers. They all wonder if Bella can enjoy the nice day outside since she is working on a poem. The end result is a beautiful poem that they all work on together. I thought that this was a cute story and I thought it would be a good lesson for children. It not only teaches children strategies on how to write a poem, but also teaches them that learning and writing can be fun. The characters were charming and the pictures were captivating. The book is filled with letters, words, images, and dancing and comes together to be a cute story! I would read this to my own child but I do not think I would read it to a group of elementary students.

[Sarah BT · Rating 2 out of 5]

picked this book up because one of the character's was named Bean, and as a Bean, I had to read it. I wasn't really a huge fan. The story just felt like it never really flowed that well.

This is a book about friendship and a book about poetry, but I wonder what age group will really get all the poetry writing. It's a picture book for older readers and would work as a great introduction to poetry for older picture book readers. The artwork is whimsical and the mice are cute, I just wanted a bit more from the story. I'm not sure exactly what I wanted and what I felt was missing, but I just felt a bit disappointed by the book

[Katie Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bella & Bean," by Rebecca Kai Dotlich is a story of two friends, Bella and Bean, who are complete opposites. Bella loves to write poetry and enjoys quiet. Bean is adventurous and loves to have a good time. Although they are so different, they are still great friends. They end up writing a poem about their friendship and how it will last forever. This book was a 2010 Golden Kite honor winner in the category of picture book text. I agree with this book receiving the award. I liked how the story was written. There was a sense of a comfortable feeling between Bella and Bean just in the remarks they made to each other. I really enjoyed this book.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story! It's a tale of poetry and friendship, being in the present and being creative and focused. The poems in the tale are beautiful and are woven nicely throughout. And the yin and yang of Bella and Bean are delightful and create an enchanting story. We really enjoyed reading this creative, whimsical tale together and our girls compared themselves to the two friends.

I really liked the poem at the end:

One blanket
holds two friends
calm and cozy
at the edge of a pond.
The moon looks like
a clock in the sky
with the big hand on
Forever.

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bella is so intent on writing poetry that she is irritated by her friend Bean's invitations to live life until the activities Bean suggests insinuate themselves into her poems and she runs off to share them with her friend. An excellent book for introducing a poetry unit in the early grades. The illustrations of two little mice are colorful and creative in their stylistic design and sometimes creep out of their frames. The story is slow moving, but sprinkled with Dotlich's delightful poetry. I especially liked the last line: The moon looks like a clock in the sky with the big hand on Forever.

[Megan Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bella & Bean is a sweet story about two friends who enjoy different things. Bella loves poetry and loves to spend her days creating poems. Bean loves doing anything but poetry! Bean tries her hardest to steer Bella away from her writing but in the end becomes an important piece to Bella's writing. Told with just enough humor that children love, this book is a great read. A perfect book to kick off National Poetry Month in April!

[Kiesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bella and Bean are the very best of friends. Bella loves to write poems. Bean doesn't understand why Bella wants to sit around all day and write poems. Bella doesn't understand why Bean keeps bothering her. In the end, poetry and friendship win, because the friends recognize and admire each others differences! This adorable book is best suited for students K-2nd grade.
Teacher Tip: Use this book to have a discussion about friendship. You can also introduce poetry as a genre.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book was a cute sweet story. It will be a good suggestion for someone who is looking for a longer picture book for a bed time read. Two friends who want to do different things and one of them really wants to write poetry in peace. Since I love friendships where you are very different from your friends I think this is a great book. Ages 4+

[Peggy Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bella and Bean are opposites. Bella is a poet. Bean is adventurous. This story about two mice who have opposite personalities, told in simple prose combined with beautiful poems, shows that sometimes bringing opposites together, in both friendship and in the written word, can complement each other to form a wonderful combination.

[Liz Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a poetry book, per se, but about a little mouse who is enjoying writing poetry.

So. Long. A little too long for a K read-aloud--much went over their heads--and the dialogue ran together a little in a way that made it difficult for me to differentiate between characters with my voice. (Need a little rehearsal before reading this one.)

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story of two mice who find they can still be friends even though they have different interests.

The poetry Bella writes in this picture book is lovely. Definitely not like most poetry you'd find characters writing in picture books--no silly, forced rhymes, which was refreshing.

[Boni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the illustrations, love the concept, but it was really long and wordy. And so much dialogue in a PB is confusing- hard to keep the characters straight. Read more like it should have been an easy reader or early chapter book.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author wrote my favorite poem (A Circle of Sun) in my favorite poetry book (Here's a Little Poem). This is a sweet book about friendship and poets and poetry. The "book-aneer" is going to bring this to my favorite poet, Aerie!

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't highly impressed. There were even some editing choices I wouldn't agree with. The story itself? OK. The pictures? Also OK. A bit dragged out for me. But the message of friendship was a good one.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bella and Bean are friends. Bella would rather be inside writing poems while Bean wants to play outside.

Lovely, descriptive writing if not a tad cliche in places, but the final poem at the end is simply magical.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is the sweet story of two mice who are quite different. Bella is a poet focused on her writing and is often too busy to take time for the little things while Bean is a fun, free-spirit. In the end we see that they bring out the best in each other and they are the perfect pair

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Rebecca Kai Dotlich's poetry, and I love this picture book about two friends who love each other in spite of their differences. Of course, poetry features prominently.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little long but great for introducing words and the idea of using words.

[Tanya Wadley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Loved some of the poetry, but didn't like the story line so much.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story of how two friends can be so different but still have a deep and appreciative relationship. Good for appreciating differences in friends and peers.