Methodical Frank (a walking, talking hot dog in a bun) heads out for a quiet hike so he can write in his secret notebook. But his writing is continually interrupted, and finally he settles down for the night with just one lonely marshmallow to toast ("Good night, Frank,' says Frank"). In the morning, a loud horn interrupts his breakfast, and he meets Bean, a traveling musician. Bean "the Magical Fruit" drives a bus and carries a trumpet, drum, triangle, and motorbike. Comic misunderstandings abound as the two mismatched personalities slowly become friends. With extensive full-color cartoon illustrations and 30 to 60 words per page, the book is aimed at readers who are moving into more complex plots and dialogue. The humor is absurd, over-the-top, and laugh-out-loud funny. Mismatched friendships are a staple of early readers, but Bean's boundless cheerful energy, his habit of speaking in all caps, and the concept of anthropomorphic food set this book apart. Hand this to fans of silly, offbeat stories.

PreS-Gr 1 Drawing inspiration from the vastly different personalities of her two children, Michalak has created an easy reader story of two anthropomorphic foods with almost nothing in common who become unlikely friends. Frank is a hot dog who wears glasses and a headlight helmet, likes to eat oatmeal, and writes in his secret notebook. Bean is a rather large bean who loves doughnuts, drums, and anything loud. The quiet of Frank's camping trip is shattered when Bean arrives in a bus loaded with musical instruments. Although Frank is initially put off by Bean's rapid-fire questions and limitless restless energy that is channeled into making music, the two foods come together when Frank helps Bean overcome his loneliness and fear of the forest at night. Their friendship deepens when Frank bravely shares one of his poems with Bean. The poem works perfectly with the new song Bean has composed. At the end of the book, the two new friends decide to create a band called the Chili Dogs. Frank's dialogue is matter-of-fact and informative, while Bean's excitement and limited attention span are shown conveyed through capital letters, bold type, and numerous exclamation points. Kolar's digital art is clean and pleasing, and the book contains four short chapters. VERDICT An engaging and humorous tale of two friends whose personality differences lead to growth as well as some fun adventures. Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, CA