What an empowering book for a young child to read. Billie shows us, by example, that being brave and taking a chance is really pretty easy if you don't think too hard and just go for it.

I had no idea this was a series, but now I'm ready to find all the English translations of Julia Hansson's books. They aren't well-known in the US, but we can do something about that! I've already put in a request to add on BookBub and Goodreads. Amazon is aware, but we can't post reviews there until it publishes in February.

This book tells the story of a little girl and her dog and their trip to the beach. Billie gets stung by a jellyfish when she first goes into the water and is scared to go back in, but once her dog Bean finds her a snorkel she feels a little braver about going back in to the dark water. In the end it is a fun trip to the beach. The illustrations are interesting and colourful and the text is fairly short and simple. It is a bit small and is usually black on light coloured backgrounds, so it is relatively easy to read. I think that this would be a nice story book for parents or teachers of children in the age 4-8 range. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

: "I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Billie and Bean at the Beach is a wonderful story with many life lessons, including ever giving up even if you get a little hurt. Facing your fears. The images are fun and colorful which is always a bonus.
I can already see doing with what was the treasure Billie found with a class.

The perfect work of children’s fiction for the shyer, quieter, introverted child. Billie and her dog go to the beach for a day of fun and sun,, but Billie quickly learns she is out of her comfort zone. Billie prefers playing quietly, and the beach is both crowded and noisy. On the other hand, her faithful companion Bean is all about exploring the vibrant energy of the seashore, and getting down and dirty in the sand and water. Unfortunately, Billie’s first attempt at getting out of her comfort zone results in a rough jellyfish sting. No worries – Bean saves the day, giving Billie a snorkel mask so that she can see underwater. Despite Billie’s fear of braving the ocean again, she does it. And guess what? She discovers that beneath the sea is a quite and beautiful world, perfect for her introverted tastes. A precious little book with entertaining, modern illustrations that shows us that every environment has something for us, despite our differing preferences, and that the world around us has more to offer us than we think. Not to mention the storyline of Billie also getting back in the water and braving her fears, to be rewarded in the end.

Billie and Bean at the Beach by Julia Hansson is the beautifully illustrated story of a young girl who finds the confidence to explore the world around her, with a touching assist from her canine friend. Following an unpleasant experience as she wades into the water during a day at the beach, Billie is quick to retreat out of the sea and decides that she has had quite enough. But her dog Bean will provide just the gentle push she needs to muster the courage to try again, and she is rewarded with an enchanting new discovery just below the surface of the water.

This is a wonderful story about finding the courage to step out of our comfort zone to discover the exciting possibilities that exist just beyond. Recommended for all ages.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for an ARC.