For hippos, becoming big is guaranteed, and Bella and Bean can’t wait! But recently, Bella has started to dream about being something even bigger than big...

Bella and Bean have always enjoyed spending their time in the mud, dreaming of being big one day. But Bella is ready to share a new dream—opening a spa! Despite her friends and neighbors doubts, Bella is sure that with hard work, determination, and a little help, her dream may just come true. Written with humor and heart, Bella and Bean highlight the importance of supporting one another, perseverance, and believing that anything is possible!

Award-winning author of Cocoa Magic, Sandra Bradley, brings humor, thoughtfulness, and charm to the text. While highly acclaimed illustrator, Udayana Lugo, utilizes delightful dimension and depth in her mixed media art.

Praise for Bella and Bean

The Children's Book Council "Hot off the Press" May 2025 Selection

“Little ones with big dreams of their own will be inspired by Bella’s persistence....Bradley’s appended note encouraging them to follow their passions, no matter how far-fetched.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Bella and Bean is especially and unreservedly recommended as a lively, fun, and enduringly popular pick for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.”—Midwest Book Review

“Bella and Bean is an inspiring and eye-opening book that teaches young children the power of believing in oneself while highlighting the importance of perseverance”—YA Central 

“A good read aloud for early elementary classrooms, particularly before a group project.”—CLDC – Children's Literature

“Bella and Bean would make a wonderful addition to any home or classroom bookshelf, with strong connections to goal-setting, growth mindset, and how perseverance can lead to incredible things. A heartfelt message from the author to young readers at the end of the book is the icing on the cake.”—Canadian Children’s Book News 

“This book will encourage readers to use their imagination and enjoy new perspectives of everyday experiences while working cohesively with others.”—Youth Services Book Review 

As a child, just like Bella, Sandra Bradley had a big dream. Inspired by her kindergarten teacher and encouraged by her parents, she dreamt of becoming a writer someday. Now, as the award-winning author of Cocoa Magic and Henry Holton Takes the Ice, as well as a clinical social worker and frequent school visitor, she encourages the children she meets to follow their dreams, with passion and determination. Sandra lives on the beautiful Rideau Canal with her New Zealander husband, Grant, and their three teenage kids.   Udayana Lugo is a self-taught illustrator of mixed heritage who is passionate about representation. She has illustrated more than 15 books, including Pink is for Everybody! (Owlkids Books), which was feature on CBC Kids; When You Meet a Dragon (Orca); and City Beet (Sleeping Bear Press), which was shortlisted on the Crystal Kite Awards. Udayana lives in the traditional, ancestral, and unceded land of the Musqueam and Squamish nations, also called Richmond, BC, Canada with her husband, two kids, and a dog.