Everyone knows of the Cooool Beans. They swagger and look cool. Their sunglasses make them look even cooler.

But they weren’t always just the Cool Beans. They were part of a pod of four, but one of the beans was left behind in the coolness stakes. They just drifted apart as sometimes even good friendships do.

The fourth bean watched his pod mates and their personal cool skills. Playing the guitar. Drawing superheroes. Dunking baskets on the court. He tried to be cool, but just didn’t have it in him. In fact, he was the least cool bean in his class.

He didn’t understand it. How can some beans be cool, and some not?

Just when he thought things couldn’t be any less cool, something happens. And then again… and again!

Could it really be that being cool wasn’t all about the clothes, the sunglasses or even the skills? Could it be just a smile, or a helping hand when needed?

Maybe this uncool bean could be cool like the Cool Beans after all!

This is what good books are all about, boiled right down into the most important ingredient of stories. Empathy.

One bean can’t understand why his friends are suddenly cooler than him, and this happens on the playground all over the world. Watching his old friends become even more and more popular, he tries to emulate them in their clothes and manner.

It’s not long before he discovers why they are so cool and popular – they are also kind, helpful and having really left him behind after all. Following their lead after they help him find some much needed confidence in himself, he becomes just like them.

Author – John Jory

Illustrator – Pete Oswald

Picture Book

(2022, Harper Collins, School, Resilience, Too Cool for School, Image, Self Esteem, Friendships, Kindness, Empathy, Fitting in, Confidence, Belonging, Cool Kids, Popularity)