The Cool Bean

Written by Jory John

Illustrated by Pete Oswald

Book review written by Julia Pratt

Price: Available from Bruce McKenzie booksellers on George Street, Palmerston North for $19.99

Such a ‘cool’ story aimed at children aged 4-8 years, written with funny puns and in language that children can relate to. The story alludes to social changes that can occur over time with peer groups, or in this case a pod of beans. The story starts with beans who are all friends from the same pod. As their friendship changes, the pod spends less and less time with one particular bean who feels less cool than the other beans. As this bean loses touch with his friends, he tries desperately to fit in again. He dresses up to be cool and acts cool with a swagger but fails miserably. When he is feeling like he will never be ‘cool,’ his peers reach out through small gestures and acts.

Bean soon learns that, underneath their cool persona, his mates are the same underneath and that it is not about how cool you look, the clothes you wear, the way you walk, where you sit, or what order you are picked, but it is about how you treat others with kindness. A small gesture at the right moment can mean everything to someone. Bean sees that he may look uncool, but his actions are anything but, and that is what makes the coolness stand out.

Check out the other ‘cool’ books written and illustrated respectively by Jory John and Pete Oswald: “The Bad Seed,” “The Good Egg,” and “The Great Escape.”

The children’s book reviewed above has been generously donated by Bruce McKenzie Booksellers on George Street, Palmerston North to give away to a lucky Parents Centre Member.

Jennifer Ellis

who has won a copy of ‘Tulip and Doug’