(1) 1-3 Tiny Bean's Big Adventures series. Meet hedgehogs Bean and Grandma in this pitch-perfect collection of eleven brief stories for early readers, ranging from two to eight pages long. An omniscient narrator introduces this duo's sweet and loving intergenerational relationship. Caregiver Grandma is always there to look after Bean, from fixing too-small blankets and sweaters to tucking her in every night "like a Bean burrito." When "Bean is in a mood, a dramatic moping mood, where nothing seems quite right and she wants to go away," Grandma gives her the space she needs: "Don't forget your hat. Off you go now. Toodle-oo!" Activities with Grandma include choosing a new houseplant (a cactus, of course) and helping with chores such as picking giant strawberries...and then eating them. Readers also see Bean at play: practicing her "BOOs" disguised as a ghost, swinging, and using her imagination. Recurring characters (Bean's stuffed piglet Clem, her cat friend Gus, the badger mail carrier, and rabbit florist Mr. Green) lend familiarity for new readers, while the straightforward text is the right mix of simple and slightly complex words. Graegin's first solo venture beyond picture books features cozy digital illustrations in an earthy palette that suits the natural setting of the critters' world. Lively and mixed page design accentuates Bean's playfulness. Bean and Grandma's heartwarming everyday adventures, complete with subtle and genuine humor, are ripe for repeat reads and further series entries.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2025

(2) K-3 A girl sets her beloved stuffed fox under a swing set, and a fox (resembling the toy) grabs it. A bespectacled classmate joins the girl in her pursuit through a forest to the thief's home, where they orchestrate a trade. The imaginative, mostly wordless story is told in comics format, starting with a limited, blue-hued palette and evolving to include vibrant, full-color spreads.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2017