Bess and Bella

by Irene Haas

On a cold winter afternoon Bess and her doll are having a tea party with melted snow and cookie crumbs, when -- falump! -- a little bird named Bella falls from the sky. Bella offers treats for a proper tea, and a new friendship begins. Little does Bess know that this is just the first of many delightful surprises to come during that afternoon.

Young readers will be charmed by Bess and Bella and enchanted by Irene Haas's beautiful artwork that brings them vividly to life.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 20, 2005

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more I reflect on this, the more I like it. Sure, it's a trip. And no, I don't think I ever had that kind of an imagination. But some kids do.... It may not be 'real' but it's certainly 'true.' And the pictures are adorable.

Such a retro, nostalgic book. Even the size is special, as it's small enough for little hands to hold all by themselves while they lose themselves in the details. Haven't you ever wondered what migrating birds pack for the trip?

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So adorable! Love the illustrations, style and sense of imagination. In a few cases, the story was a bit too "all over" for me (the disconnect between the quiet tea party and the exciting arrival of the fire truck, for example) but the sweet friendship between Bess and Bella was a constant throughout and this is just a very happy, cozy book. Even though I read this on a beautiful spring day, it is best suited to winter-time.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this little story. Sweet and with a child's imagination. Curious to see what dd thinks of it.

[Meredith McCaskey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of odd, but my kids loved it.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet illustrations

[BRNTerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a lonely child who makes friends with a bird named Bella. Bess and her doll Rose are playing outside in the snow. Bella falls from the sky with her suitcase after attempting to fly south for the winter but it got to be too much for her so she made a crash landing on Bess' tea party. Bess invites a crew of firefighter dogs who were passing by to join them, then eats a meal with a mouse family, then Bess heads home. Bella stays with her and lives in her room until springtime. Another cute innocent story with beautiful illustrations by Irene Haas. My favorite image is below.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author and illustrator Irene Haas has created a uniquely quirky friendship story about Bess (a human) and Bella (a bird).

The episodic story sequence is perfect for an intelligent first grader, and I can't praise the drawings highly enough. Absolutely magnificent!

FIVE STARS acknowledging this fabulous book by Irene Haas.

[Misbah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bess is lonely and wishes she had company when a bird named Bella joins her. Soon by a twist of fate more guests arrive and Bess makes more new friends.

There wasn't much going on in the story but the characters and illustrations are cute.

[Megan Kids · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweet pictures

[Ezekiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of friendship with whimsicality. Bess is a young white girl out in the snow with her doll, wondering if she'll ever find a friend to play with. Out from the sky tumbles Bella (a bird) who apparently had spent too much time packing to fly south for the winter and had therefore been flying in the stormy sky. When she sees Bess' tea (with only crumbs) she unpacks her suitcases full of tea and jam. Some dogs on a firetruck come by, along with a family of mice. Eventually Bess' mom calls her inside (due to the snow falling), and Bess brings Bella home to stay for the winter.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am always drawn to the art of Irene Haas as it manages to be whimsical, magical, and yet homey all at the same time. Lots of birds and tea cups and biscuit crumbs, the stuff of magic and of home. The story has a random feel to it - the kind of story a child tells that makes sense in his head but makes a grown up sigh for lack of connection. Still, I think her images linger and that is what's important.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a cold winter afternoon, in her snow-covered yard, lonely Bess is about to have an austere tea party with her doll, Rose. Then Bella the bird falls from the sky and brings a bit of magic to brighten Bess's day and her winter. A sweet, magical story with lovely pictures in muted, wintry colors. Each two-page spread features a full-page picture on one page, and a tiny picture above or below the text on the facing page.

[Kelly Holmes · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story was all over the place. Too many characters and the ending felt abrupt. Cute illustrations, but they're not enough to make up for the text.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bess and Bella a gentle story of friendship between a child and lost bird. Full of muted, watercolor illustrations.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this because it is gentle, and reminds me of stories that go from one thing to another and become true.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreamy, loose, satisfying.