Little Beanie Belle Runs from the Bean Soup
Author: Alenka Spacal
Original title: Fižolčica beži pred fižolovo juho
Bajalka, Maribor, 2019
About the picture book:
Little Beanie Belle Runs from the Bean Soup is an original picture book about a little bean’s journey. Little Beanie Belle escapes from a bowl of beans intended for hot bean soup. As she runs, rolling about on the floor and surveying the world around her from below, nothing but legs surround her. This is to mimic the perspective of children exploring their surroundings as they play and crawl about on the floor, looking up with curiosity. Whose legs does little beanie belle stumble upon on her journey? Does she manage to run away from the fateful bean soup? As the seasons revolve, Little Beanie Belle’s adventures end where a new bean story is just beginning.
Alenka Spacal loves bean soup. When she was little, she collected beans of various colours. She planted them in pots along with other plants and waited for them to sprout. Delighted still by the wonderful colours and patterns of beans, she has come up with a story about a little bean.
Excerpts:
A LITTLE BLUE BEAN CALLED BEANIE BELLE LIVED INSIDE A POD WITH HER FAMILY. SHE LOVED TO PLAY WITH HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS. HER FAVOURITE THING TO DO WAS SWAY BACK AND FORTH ON HER BEANIE SWINGS. BUT EVERYTHING CHANGED ONE DAY WHEN ALL THE BEANS IN THE GARDEN WERE PICKED.
AS NIMBLE FINGERS SHELLED THE BEANS, A VOICE SAID: “THESE ARE GOING TO MAKE A DELICIOUS BEAN SOUP!”
LITTLE BEANIE BELLE LOOKED AT HER BROTHER AND SHRIEKED: “OH NO! RUN!”
THEY JUMPED OUT OF THE BOWL. THE FINGERS SNATCHED LITTLE BEANIE BOY UP, BUT LITTLE BEANIE BELLE WAS TOO FAST FOR THEM. SHE ROLLED ACROSS THE TABLE, TOOK A RUN, LEAPED INTO THE AIR, FLEW, AND LANDED SAFELY ON THE GROUND.
THERE WAS NOTHING BUT LEGS ON THE FLOOR.
“WHO ARE YOU?” ASKED LITTLE BEANIE BELLE.
“WE’RE SLIPPERS ON THE HUMANS’ FEET. I’M THE RIGHT SLIPPER.”
“AND I’M THE LEFT SLIPPER.”
“HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A BEAN SOUP?”
“NO, WE HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A BEAN SOUP. BUT WE HAVE BEEN SPLASHED WITH IT. YOU CAN STILL SEE WHERE IT LEFT A STAIN, HERE,” SAID THE RIGHT SLIPPER, POINTING.
“I’M AFRAID OF BEAN SOUP,” WHISPERED LITTLE BEANIE BELLE. “HOW CAN I GET AWAY FROM IT?”
“YOU RUN,” SUGGESTED THE LEFT SLIPPER.
“BUT YOU NEED LEGS TO RUN,” ADDED THE RIGHT SLIPPER.
LITTLE BEANIE BELLE HAD NO LEGS, SO SHE ROLLED ON.
… LITTLE BEANIE BELLE ROLLED OVER TO ANOTHER SET OF HAIRY LEGS. WHEN THEY SPOTTED HER, THEY STARTED KNOCKING HER ABOUT.
“WHO’S BEANING ME ABOUT?”
“WE’RE THE CAT’S PAWS AND WE LOVE BEANING YOU ABOUT.”
“HEY, FLUFFY TOES, LEAVE ME ALONE! WHY DON’T YOU TELL ME HOW TO RUN AWAY FROM BEAN SOUP INSTEAD?”
“YOU CLIMB ON TOP OF A CUPBOARD, MEOW.”
“I CAN’T DO THAT. I NEVER ROLL UPWARDS. I ONLY ROLL DOWNWARDS.”
Translated by Tadeja Spruk
Awards:
- Merit, in the category Books Published (for the Children’s Book Little Beanie Belle Runs from the Bean Soup), 3×3 International Illustration Awards 2023, USA.
- Books Merit Awards (for the Children’s Book Little Beanie Belle Runs from the Bean Soup), iJungle Illustration Awards 2022 Winners.
- Nomination, Children’s Book – Published, Hiii Illustration 2021 (for the Children’s Book Little Beanie Belle Runs from the Bean Soup).