The Cool Bean (Food Group)

by Jory John (Author) Pete Oswald (Illustrator)

The Cool Bean (Food Group)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: Food Group

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

AN AMAZON BEST BOOKS OF THE MONTH (DECEMBER 2019) SELECTION!

The "too-cool-for-school" third picture book from the #1 New York Times bestselling creators of The Bad Seed and The Good Egg, Jory John and Pete Oswald

Everyone knows the cool beans. They're sooooo cool.

And then there's the uncool has-bean . . .

Always on the sidelines, one bean unsuccessfully tries everything he can to fit in with the crowd--until one day the cool beans show him how it's done.

With equal measures of humor, wit, and charm, the #1 New York Times bestselling duo Jory John and Pete Oswald craft another incredible picture book, reminding us that it's cooler to be kind.


Select format:
Hardcover
$19.99

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School Library Journal

Starred Review

PreS-Gr 2—A bow tie-wearing chickpea attends school with a trio of really awesome beans. So awesome, that they are what most people would call "cool." All the beans used to be friends, but now they are seemingly too cool for the nerdy chickpea. Yet, the cool beans show that being kind and caring for others is the true way to demonstrate just how hip a person can be. The creative team behind The Bad Seed and The Good Egg deliver a comedic tale of trying to fit in among one's peers. The cool beans represent the archetypal popular kids in any school setting; they are able to play sports, rock out on a guitar, and even display the greatest art skills, making this story relatable to plenty of readers despite the picture book format. Additionally, the text is full of puns found in the tiny details on each page, which are sure to make older readers giggle, including "Leguma Beach" and "The Great Gatsbean." Younger readers will not miss out on the humor, as the illustrations are goofy and adorable. The chickpea's attempts to be cool fall flat, but after a couple mishaps, the other beans come to his aid. VERDICT This is a gentle, sweet story of how generosity and kindness are the true qualities to champion, and offers a great example for young readers and an important reminder for older readers. A strong addition to any collection.—Kaitlin Malixi, Kensington Health Sciences Academy, Philadelphia

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Cool beans indeed.—Kirkus Reviews

This book is great

I loved the book so much! Its part of my fav series. Its tells a good story.

Jory John
Jory John is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of many books for both children and adults. He is the author of Penguin Problems and Giraffe Problems, both illustrated by Lane Smith; The Bad Seed and The Good Egg, both illustrated by Pete Oswald; and Quit Calling Me a Monster! and I Will Chomp You!, both illustrated by Bob Shea, among many other books. Jory is a two-time E.B. White Read-Aloud Honor recipient and has won numerous state book awards for his writing. Jory lives in Oregon. You can find him at joryjohn.com or on Twitter @IamJoryJohn.

LANE SMITH has written and illustrated a bunch of stuff, including Grandpa Green, which was a Caldecott Honor Book; It's a Book, which has been translated into over twenty-five languages; and The Stinky Cheese Man. Four of his books have been New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year. In 2012, the Eric Carle Museum named him an Honor Artist for "lifelong innovation in the field of children's books." In 2014, he received the Society of Illustrators Lifetime Achievement Award. Lane and book designer Molly Leach live in rural Connecticut. Visit him on the Web at lanesmithbooks.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780062954527
Lexile Measure
530
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
HarperCollins
Publication date
December 03, 2019
Series
Food Group
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV039050 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
JUV039200 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Manners & Etiquette
Library of Congress categories
Self-confidence
Conduct of life
Popularity
Kindness
Beans

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