Bean's Night
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the story line is straightforward and simply told. Shaded illustrations accurately reflect the nighttime setting. Bean's antics can be interpreted as funny or naughty and may trigger reactions from youngsters.
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What's the story?
Cat lovers will immediately recognize--and be amused by--the mischievous antics of the main character, a black cat named Bean. When night comes, Bean awakes and pursues a toy mouse. By sunrise, Bean is fast asleep with his small companion.
Bean is a typical feline who sleeps by day and plays all night. Bean's source of entertainment is a pink toy mouse, which he avidly plays with. The action is described in simple two-word (subject-verb) sentences such as "Bean scrambles" and "Bean dives." The illustrator uses light and dark shades to depict the difference in lighting between day and night.
Is it any good?
A playful black cat named Bean busily pursues a toy mouse in this enjoyable and durable board book. Children may recognize the amusing leaps and scrambles if there is a cat in the family. The concept of day and night is introduced along with the nocturnal nature of cats. The text consists of two-word sentences describing Bean's every move, and older toddlers may choose to join in the read-aloud once the text becomes familiar.
The dark illustrations are well composed and accurately depict Bean at play as he creeps, hides, scrambles, and sleeps. The mouse is a bright pink color, indicating it is only a toy. Shading in variations from gray to blue are used to distinguish daytime from nighttime.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about nighttime and daytime activities. What do people usually do at night and during the day? What about other animals?
Book details
- Author: Sarah Hines-Stephens
- Illustrator: Anna Grossnickle Hines
- Genre: Picture Book
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Harcourt Brace
- Publication date: April 1, 1998
- Number of pages: 18
- Last updated: September 21, 2015
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