Bea’s Bad Day
Tom Percival
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

This is the latest in Tom’s Big Bright Feelings series.
Bea has been counting down the days to her birthday and now with just two left to go, she’s very excited. A party is to be held and all her family members have been invited including her Grandma, Bampi and cousins.

The following day though it starts to snow and it keeps on and on until everything is white and it’s obvious the postman won’t be able to deliver any cards or presents; moreover her dad can’t go and get any party food. At least some relations are coming tomorrow, thinks Bea.

Next day Bea wakes early but after three hours nobody has come: her Mum says it’s because all the roads are blocked. Having tried hard the previous day not to show her disappointment, Bea cannot control her emotions any longer.

She’s too upset to open the present Mum gives her, and Bampi’s phone call does nothing to lift her mood. To a tearful little girl, it feels like everything is broken.

Then her elder brother, Archie suggests the two of them go out sledging. To Bea’s surprise, as the two WHOOSH down the hill in the falling snow, Bea decides that although different, this birthday is after all, great fun. Gradually those cracks disappear and by the time they return into the warm, every single crack has vanished. In comes Dad carrying a splendiferous cake but he fails to notice there’s something in his path.

Is it possible that Bea’s special day can still end with laughs? Maybe, with the help of some spoons and that yummy cake …

Another cracking – pun deliberate – story to share with children around Bea’s age. This one sensitively portraying the emotions around disappointment, helps ensure that little ones are better equipped to cope, should they find themselves in a similar situation to Bea.
Add to family bookshelves and foundation stage collections.