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

★“Delightful, portraying a little one’s first forays into independence, joys, fears, and all...A simple yet wonderfully satisfying escapade.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Celebrating the supportive relationship between a child and her dog, this story gently introduces the resilience and bravery that come with the first steps toward independence.

Billie is reading quietly in her apartment while her mom does laundry downstairs. But her impatient dog Bean wants to go outside. Billie has taken Bean outside before when mom was watching, so she decides to try taking Bean out by herself—just around the block. Billie and Bean enjoy the vibrant city street, but after stopping to pick a flower in the park, Billie becomes disoriented by the tall buildings and can't remember the way back to their building. As Billie begins to worry, Bean tugs on the leash in encouragement and Billie discovers that she's braver than she thought she could be.

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

• Commended, Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard Selection

“Youngsters will delight in this tale of responsibility and self-reliance, built with just the right amount of suspense.”

School Library Journal

“Offers readers an approachable story that they can identify with told in a welcoming way and supported by fetching illustrations… A charming picture book that will appeal to younger readers and listeners while also paying heed to life lessons for children.”

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)

★“Delightful, portraying a little one’s first forays into independence, joys, fears, and all...A simple yet wonderfully satisfying escapade.”

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“The simplicity of the text tells the story in a straightforward way, but it is the illustrations that make the story interesting and captivating. Highly Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials