Not a Bean
Charlesbridge · Paperback · June 17, 2025
A Mexican jumping bean isn't a bean at all.
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- Who it’s for
- A familiar curiosity opens onto the surprising life inside a Mexican jumping bean.
- Themes
- Seedpod life cycle, Caterpillar-to-moth transformation
- Genres
- Butterflies & Caterpillars, Insects & Spiders, Plants & Flowers
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Start with this bookAbout this book
A Mexican jumping bean isn't a bean at all. It's a fascinating home and food source for a special kind of caterpillar! Now in paperback! A fun and engaging nonfiction picture book for kids ages 3-7 that includes Spanish vocabulary, a counting concept, and life cycle of a yerba de la flecha seedpod. The Mexican jumping bean has intrigued and fascinated kids for generations. However, the Mexican jumping bean isn't a bean at all.
Continue reading
It's actually a seedpod from a shrub called yerba de la flecha, into which a caterpillar burrows, living inside the pod until it builds a cocoon and breaks out as a moth. Perfect for preschoolers and pre-readers, this charming and informative read-aloud introduces curious kids to one unique seedpod that is NOT a bean!
Small Natural Surprise
A familiar curiosity opens onto the surprising life inside a Mexican jumping bean.
Come here for
- A read-aloud about a seedpod that isn’t a bean
- Caterpillar, cocoon, and moth life-cycle details
Expect
- Accessible nonfiction for preschoolers and pre-readers
- Spanish vocabulary and a counting concept
Where it sits
| Plants & Flowers | 66% |
|---|---|
| Butterflies & Caterpillars | 56% |
| Insects & Spiders | 50% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Insects & Spiders
- Plants & Flowers
- Mexico for Kids
- Authors
- Claudia Guadalupe Martínez
- Publisher
- Charlesbridge
- Published
- June 17, 2025
- Format
- Paperback
- Theme
- Seedpod life cycle · Caterpillar-to-moth transformation
- Reading lane
- Insects & Spiders