BELLA AND BEAN

A pachyderm has sky-high ambitions.

Bella and Bean, two young hippos with pink-tinged cheeks, sit in the mud and chat about their futures. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” asks Bella. “Big, of course,” replies Bean. But Bella has different aspirations. After some hesitation (“Promise you won’t laugh?”), Bella says that she wants to turn their watering hole into a spa. Bean is gently skeptical, but Bella is determined, and the two pals build a welcoming bridge, create a waterfall, and weave a curtain of vivid pink flowers. The palette of the grasslands brightens tremendously, and the pops of color match the wide-eyed enthusiasm of the two entrepreneurs. But the pair soon encounter a hitch in their plans. “Nobody’s coming to our spa,” Bean points out. The ever-optimistic Bella corrects her friend: “Nobody’s coming yet.” With help from other watering hole pals, the spa starts to bloom. The business model looks more like a water park than a relaxing mud bath, but that’s beside the point. Though the tale is on the quiet side, little ones with big dreams of their own will be inspired by Bella’s persistence. They’ll also take heed from Bradley’s appended note encouraging them to follow their passions, no matter how far-fetched.

A reminder that with confidence and support, anything is possible.