Bean Thirteen

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the concept of fairness or feeling frustrated by things that just do not fit into neat categories. Whether it is a literal battle over sharing snacks or a developing interest in how numbers work, this story provides a playful way to talk about logic and the 'messiness' of math. It follows two grasshoppers, Ralph and Flora, who collect thirteen beans for dinner and find that no matter how many guests they invite, one bean is always left over. While it is technically a book about prime numbers and division, it is emotionally centered on the anxiety of the 'leftover' and the funny ways we try to control outcomes. It is perfect for children aged 4 to 8 who are moving from simple counting into the world of grouping and logic. Parents will appreciate how it validates a child's desire for order while using humor to show that sometimes, life (and math) has a mind of its own.