Bean Thirteen    by Matthew McElligott Order:  USA  Can Putnam, 2007 (2007) Hardcover      Reviewed by Michelle York There are at 13 reasons why your little one will love this book from Putnam's Young Readers. 1. The book, Bean Thirteen by Matthew McElligott, features an adorable pair of bugs, Ralph and Flora who set out to pick beans for dinner. 2. Ralph is terrified when Flora picks the thirteenth bean, a number he considers unlucky. 3. The two divide up the beans, but Ralph freaks at the extra bean. 4. Flora invites some friends over for dinner to take care of 'the bean problem.' 5. The two keep adding friends and dividing the piles. 6. No matter how many piles they make, someone is always left with an odd bean. 7. The book teaches a math concept without ever making it obvious to the little readers. 8. Flora is wonderfully patient with Ralph's neurosis. 9. Somehow, the dinner party is a great success anyway. 10. No one knows who ended up with Bean Thirteen. 11. Flora can't help but poke a little fun at Ralph that he might have eaten the bean after all. 12. McElligott has bright, vivid illustrations that are as attractive as the story. 13. Besides division, young readers also learn a little bit about triskaidekophobia, the fear of number 13. No matter how you divide it up, Bean Thirteen is a delight to read. Any young reader is lucky to have it on his or her shelves. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews