Bean's Big Day [Hardcover]

Karen Ackerman (Author), Paul Mombourquette (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

From the moment the telegraph in the general store taps out a message that a man from the moving pictures is coming to choose someone to be in his picture show, folks are talking and arguing and secretly dreaming about the big day. And by the time it arrives, the whole town seems to have gone crazy! Eight-year-old Cricket has never seen a moving picture before, but she thinks it must be something mighty special to make people behave so foolishly. Karen Ackerman gleefully captures the follies of the human spirit in this charmingly nostalgic tale about movie madness and visions of fame. Paul Mombourquette's vibrant art infuses the memorable cast of characters with depth, humour, personality -- and just a touch of nonsense.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-Things go topsy-turvy when the citizens of Bean, a small early-20th-century town in Pennsylvania, learn that a man from the moving pictures is coming to visit and is set to pick one of their own to be in a show. The narrator, eight-year-old Cricket, provides a folksy view into how the locals react to the news, show up dressed to the nines on the designated day, and deflate with disappointment when the least likely individual is chosen. Done in pen and ink with watercolor and white gouache, the bright cartoon artwork is filled with frenzy. There are many comical characters to pick out of the scenes when the whole town is assembled, such as the overbearing matriarch and the addled mayor. The narrative, though easy to read, is lengthy. The story ends on a bit of a didactic note when Cricket observes, "-to see what's special in a person, I think you've got to be willing to pay them some mind." True enough, but this message more than likely will pass over the heads of the book's audience.
Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA
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About the Author

Paul Mombourquette is an award-winning children's book illustrator. He has illustrated several books including Fog Cat, Emma and the Silk Train, and Klondike Cat. Paul is a computer animator and works for Disney Interactive Studio. He currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Kids Can Press (February 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1553374444
• ISBN-13: 978-1553374442
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,709,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)