• Age: 3 to 5
• Grade: p to k
• Reading age: 3 to 5

★“Open, clear, inviting...A pitch-perfect portrayal of a summer day.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Celebrating the supportive relationship between a child and her dog, this story shows how we can all be brave and achieve things in our own time.

Billie prefers playing quietly, but the beach is a noisy place. Her energetic dog, Bean, is happy to explore the sand and water. When Billie does try going for a swim, she has a painful surprise and heads back to shore. But Bean digs up something that can help Billie get back in the water where she soon discovers a whole world of quiet solitude and spectacular color beneath the surface.

Julia Hansson is a children's book author and illustrator from Stockholm. She studied at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm and Tama Art University in Tokyo. She currently lives in Japan, where she has spent many years studying both illustration and the Japanese language. She is the author of Billie and Bean at the Beach and Billie and Bean in the City.

Julia Hansson's profile page

B.J. Woodstein is a Swedish-to-English translator, writer and editor, as well as an honorary professor of literature and translation at the University of East Anglia. She enjoyed telling her daughters all the ant facts she learned while translating this book and now has a newfound respect for ants. B.J. lives in Norwich, England, with her wife and daughters.

B.J. Woodstein's profile page

“Told with warmth, and illustrated with light-infused beach scenes, the book invites discussion of familiar events for young readers.”

Sal's Fiction Addiction

★“Open, clear, inviting...A pitch-perfect portrayal of a summer day.”

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Enigmatic...Infused with purples and peaches, Hansson’s luminous pencil and watercolor art aptly uses perspective, light, shadow, and the protagonists’ positions to embrace the book’s quiet tone.”

Publishers Weekly

“A pleasant story with a little hidden lesson about taking a second chance…Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“Soft, simple text and illustrations in muted beachy colors create a quiet tone for this...gentle story of courage sure to inspire other children to get their feet wet.”

Hakai Magazine

“Told with simplicity, this everyday story of a trip to the beach will capture the interest of young readers and listeners. The endearing friendship between Billie and Bean is quite appealing.”

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)

“A mix of playful and evocative elements...The emphasis on trying again after an unpleasant first experience is a useful one.”

Booklist

“A very realistic and relatable tale of childhood bravery…Well-suited to be read aloud, and for a group or class discussion on resilience and bravery, this accessible tale of courage is recommended.”

School Library Journal