When I was visiting China, I had the idea for the children’s story of The Two Red Beans.

This is an iteration on that story, eventually there will be illustrations, where I’m specifically looking for reader feedback. If you have kids, I’d be very grateful if you read it to them and sent me quotes of what they said. And if not, I’d still love to hear your thoughts, here’s my email: beelielizabeth@gmail.com.

Once upon a time, there were two little beans.

They were the same color—red.

The only difference was that one grew in China, and the other in the USA.

The little beans had many dreams and wondered what they would be when they grew up.

Oh, to be a little red bean! The world is full of possibilities!

In China, the little red bean dreamed of becoming…

A heavenly mooncake filled with red beans.

Or perhaps a crispy red bean pancake!

Or a luxurious scoop of red bean ice cream!

Or red bean double skim milk!

Across the world, the little red bean in America was having its own dreams.

The little red bean dreamed of becoming a succulent stew!

Or a baked bean adorned with bacon and brown sugar.

Even a mouthwatering burrito!

Or a seven layer bean dip!

But alas, none of these possibilities excited either of the little red beans. “I still don’t know what I want to be,” they cried!

To learn of other possibilities for little red beans, each set off on an adventure.

The little red bean in China visited America, and the little red bean in America visited China.

In America, the little red bean from China learned all about new possibilities of becoming stew, baked beans, a burrito, or a bean dip!

In China, the little red bean from America learned about new possibilities of becoming a mooncake, a pancake, ice cream, or double skim milk!

These were new exciting possibilities!

Each little red bean returned home very happy.

Someday, they would decide what they wanted to be.

But today, they were happy to keep learning about what could be.

“Oh, to be a little red bean! The world is full of possibilities!”

Questions I’d like to pose to the reader:

• I’m not sure if I should call America, America or the USA, considering south America is also America.
• What do you think of the storyline? Is there anything you’d change?
• Is it annoying that every time the beans are referred to it is called “little”?