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Little Bean

John Wallace's Charming Book for Busy Dads Everywhere

Mar 18, 2008 Arlene Kelly

All Little Bean wants is her daddy to read her a story. But he's always so busy. And tomorrow he's going away. What can Little Bean do instead?

It’s not that her daddy doesn’t want to read her a story, or play with her. But like a lot of dads, Little Bean’s dad does work on his computer at home. He’s very busy trying to get ready for his business trip the next day. Oh dear – he’ll never be able to read her a story if he’s gone away. Maybe just a quick story before he leaves? But Little Bean is so tired she falls asleep before he finishes work. And when she wakes up in the morning, he’s gone. He had to leave very early.

Little Bean Gets Busy!

Little Bean is really sad that her daddy has left, especially since he never got the chance to read her the story. But if he’s going to be busy doing daddy things, then Little Bean is going to get busy too! For a start, she has a lovely black dog to play with. And she spends the whole day doing Little Bean things – playing ball, having lunch, answering the phone, feeding her goldfish, brushing her teeth and tucking her dog into his bed. But as soon as she stops being busy, she can’t help but think about her daddy, and wonders what he’s been doing all day.

He’s Not Having Much Fun

While Little Bean is being very brave about having to spend two whole days without her daddy, he’s stuck doing really boring things – going to meetings, making phone calls, writing reports. He hardly gets a chance to eat he’s so busy. Just like Little Bean he brushes his teeth at the end of the day. And he wonders what SHE’s doing right now, so far away. He’s even brought a picture of her with him on his trip, just to keep him company. Little Bean’s daddy would much rather be at home reading her a story than in sitting in a lonely hotel room. But sometimes that’s what daddies have to do.

So on his way home, he stops at a bookstore to surprise Little Bean. When he gets back that night she’s fast asleep – but not for long! At last Little Bean and her daddy are both doing what they want to do; enjoying a story together.

For little children everywhere who just want to spend time with their daddy, John Wallace has produced a little gem of a picture book. In Little Bean (HarperCollins Children's Books, published 1996, ISBN: 0 00 664581 x), instead of just telling the story from the child’s perspective, the author shows what it’s like in the grown-up world, having to do things even if you don’t want to. But you just know he and Little Bean will get to that story no matter what! Other titles in the series include Little Bean's Friend and Little Bean's Holiday.

The copyright of the article Little Bean in Children’s Books is owned by Arlene Kelly. Permission to republish Little Bean in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Little Bean