Review by Booklist Review
Although it's not a sunny day, Granny and Bean (an ungendered child) set off for a beach walk. They don raincoats and boots and tromp across pale sand beneath a gray sky, as a rough surf rushes in and a wet, cold wind blows. Still, there's much for them to enjoy: curlews trilling in the mist, herring gulls swooping overhead, dogs out for a walk, and logs just right for leaping over. When they find the perfect spot, they sit on boulders to enjoy a snack, then gather up their favorite shells, and return home. Hesse's rhyming couplets do a great job detailing the scenes ("Their cheeks were chafed red and their hair dripping wet, / Still Granny and Bean didn't head home yet"). Voake's mixed-media artwork highlights grays and earth tones suited to the dreary weather, making Granny's yellow slicker and Bean's blue raincoat pop off each spread. Compositions are uncluttered, and characters are often viewed from a distance, giving the setting equal importance in the proceedings. A relaxing nature stroll with much to savor.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this soothing wind-down story, Newbery Medalist Hesse's lines lull with rhyme and repetition, while mixed-media spreads by Voake (Some Dinosaurs Are Small) follow Granny and Bean on a long walk "in the sand, by the sea, with the sky all gray." The two, who both present as white, poke along at the same slow speed. Granny wears a yellow slicker and boots, and carries a green bag full of vital supplies; Bean sports a blue raincoat and clutches a long rope of seaweed. Vivid spots of color stand out against the gray water and sky. The two let the water break over their boots ("The wild waves crashed/ and scuttered"), stop to greet dogs, laugh when the wind catches their hats, and still, they don't go home. Images show them frequently from a distance, the better to see the sweep of sea and sky and distant sailboats. At last they stop for tea (a banana for Bean, and cupcakes), then, having "sorted and kept their best shells and a stone," head home just as the sun breaks through, returning to the familiar in a book that understands the importance of taking time in the natural world. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
A grandmother and toddler grandchild spend a day on a stormy beach sharing the classic seashore pleasures of dodging waves, challenging the wind, watching birds, gathering seaweed, greeting dogs, and sorting shells. Hesse's rhythmic text in rhyming couplets avoids sounding singsongy with thoughtful punctuation and page design. The first line summarizes the whole story: "Granny and Bean went walking one day / in the sand, by the sea, with the sky all gray." This plainspoken text provides a foundation for Voake's atmospheric mixed-media illustrations in which the interplay of gray and white in sky, sea, shadow, and rain is celebrated. Against this dynamic, impressionistic background, Granny and Bean, in glowing primary block colors, are sturdy and joyful. Granny's bright yellow slicker tells us much of what we need to know about her. A curlew and beach grass on dunes suggest a specific location, but the relationship between a small child and an adult who has the time and patience to wander, who doesn't mind wet feet, and who provides a sustaining snack at just the right moment feels universal. A fine addition to "going for a walk with a grandparent" stories. Sarah Ellis September/October 2022 p.60(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Gray days can be just as much fun. Granny and Bean are out for the day, and although the weather is gray and a little dreary, they're not going to let that stop them. Bundled in raincoats, warm hats, and galoshes, the pair make their way along the beach, enjoying their time together. Told in rhyming verse, the story is a quiet study of life by the sea. The illustrations, which rely on grays, browns, and tans, perfectly capture the chill and damp of a blustery day. With Granny's yellow coat and Bean's blue coat and red pants combination, the two stand out in sharp contrast to the seaside, making the story appropriate for large storytimes and classroom reads. Lap readers will appreciate Bean's facial expressions and body language as the pair dodge the cresting waves, run along fences, make sand castles, greet friendly dogs, and enjoy cupcakes and a banana. Librarians and educators will appreciate that the book provides a gentle counterpoint to the plethora of "sunny days at the beach" books, and caregivers, especially those living near the sea, will find the message that a gray day can be full of activities useful. The few characters who appear are all light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Perfectly captures the mood of the day. (Picture book. 4-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
