Bean the Stretchy Dragon (Sally & Bean)

K-Gr 3--This engaging graphic novel, while long for the picture book set, will appeal to emerging readers. Bean gets into many adventures that alternate between a full-page image and three-panel images, depending on the part of the story. While the illustrations are eye-catching and do tell the story through emotions in Bean's face, the story itself does not always make sense. Bean is stuffed after eating but then immediately wants a snack; that leads to being scared in the swamp, which results in questions of who Bean is and if there are others like Bean. (These queries are never answered). Overall, the story is fun for younger children, but the longer format might scare them off; older children will find it too simple, with most pages having either half a sentence or only one sentence on it. VERDICT A book best to consider adding to a junior graphic novel shelves or early reader section of a library.--Jessica Clark