When the introspective Frank meets the gregarious Bean, can they find a way to make beautiful music together? Dry wit and hilarious illustrations introduce a new unlikely pair.
Frank likes peace and quiet. He likes his tent, his pencil, and writing in his secret notebook. Bean likes noise. He likes his bus, his trumpet — toot, toot! — and making music. Loud music. But Bean is missing something: he does not have words. What will happen if Frank shares his words with Bean? With a laugh-out-loud narrative by Jamie Michalak, author of the Joe and Sparky series, and Bob Kolar’s bright, graphic, comical illustrations, this fresh and funny story will go down easy for beginning readers and young listeners alike.
FINALIST
| 2019 Cybils
Kolar’s (Trucker and Train) sleek, animation-style digital art and Michalak’s (the Joe and Sparky series) highly performative dialogue build to a manic hilarity that makes these pals, as Bean might say, “half cool and half amazing.” —Publishers Weekly
Kolar’s digital art is clean and pleasing, and the book contains four short chapters. An engaging and humorous tale of two friends whose personality differences lead to growth as well as some fun adventures. —School Library Journal
The humor is absurd, over-the-top, and laugh-out-loud funny. Mismatched friendships are a staple of early readers, but Bean’s boundless cheerful energy, his habit of speaking in all caps, and the concept of anthropomorphic food set this book apart. Hand this to fans of silly, offbeat stories. —Booklist Online
The Bert-and-Ernie-esque odd-couple pairing results in countless laugh-out-loud exchanges. Kolar's digitally rendered full-color illustrations take the jokes one step further, offering expressive physical cartoon comedy that's on a par with Michalak's clever wordsmithing...Beanie weenies served just right for young campers. —Kirkus Reviews
The simple yet detailed illustrations create a cute story for young readers. —School Library Connection
Bob Kolar is the illustrator of the first AlphaOops book and the author-illustrator of BIG KICKS. He lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
View titles by Bob Kolar
When the introspective Frank meets the gregarious Bean, can they find a way to make beautiful music together? Dry wit and hilarious illustrations introduce a new unlikely pair.
Frank likes peace and quiet. He likes his tent, his pencil, and writing in his secret notebook. Bean likes noise. He likes his bus, his trumpet — toot, toot! — and making music. Loud music. But Bean is missing something: he does not have words. What will happen if Frank shares his words with Bean? With a laugh-out-loud narrative by Jamie Michalak, author of the Joe and Sparky series, and Bob Kolar’s bright, graphic, comical illustrations, this fresh and funny story will go down easy for beginning readers and young listeners alike.
Awards
FINALIST
| 2019 Cybils
Praise
Kolar’s (Trucker and Train) sleek, animation-style digital art and Michalak’s (the Joe and Sparky series) highly performative dialogue build to a manic hilarity that makes these pals, as Bean might say, “half cool and half amazing.” —Publishers Weekly
Kolar’s digital art is clean and pleasing, and the book contains four short chapters. An engaging and humorous tale of two friends whose personality differences lead to growth as well as some fun adventures. —School Library Journal
The humor is absurd, over-the-top, and laugh-out-loud funny. Mismatched friendships are a staple of early readers, but Bean’s boundless cheerful energy, his habit of speaking in all caps, and the concept of anthropomorphic food set this book apart. Hand this to fans of silly, offbeat stories. —Booklist Online
The Bert-and-Ernie-esque odd-couple pairing results in countless laugh-out-loud exchanges. Kolar's digitally rendered full-color illustrations take the jokes one step further, offering expressive physical cartoon comedy that's on a par with Michalak's clever wordsmithing...Beanie weenies served just right for young campers. —Kirkus Reviews
The simple yet detailed illustrations create a cute story for young readers. —School Library Connection
Bob Kolar is the illustrator of the first AlphaOops book and the author-illustrator of BIG KICKS. He lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
View titles by Bob Kolar
