Meet the Beans: Who's Who in Hollybridge

If you're new to Hollybridge, here's your proper introduction to the friends you'll be spending time with.

Morton

Morton was the last Bean to pop from the pod — he stayed tucked away for two whole weeks, and only came out when the new moon finally arrived. Maybe that's why he's still figuring out exactly where he fits in. He's good at almost everything, but not quite the best at any one thing in particular. He often ends up doing the jobs nobody else wants — but you can always, always rely on Morton to show up and help.

Jess

One of the kindest Beans in the whole village, and a firm favourite with the baby Beans down at the nursery. Jess is curious, inquisitive, and usually the voice of reason among her friends — though she does have a habit of leaping into things before she's quite thought them through.

Jim

Best friends with Jess and Morton, and — let's be honest — usually the one behind whatever idea gets them all into trouble in the first place. Jim's more thoughtful than he lets on, though. He likes to properly think things through, and more often than not, comes up with the clever idea that gets everyone out of the trouble he got them into.

Fern

The same age as Jim, Jess, and Morton, but Fern's path led her somewhere quieter: she's the village's young scroll keeper, apprenticed to Winnie. She has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of the ancient scrolls in the library, and there's rarely a problem in Hollybridge she can't find some answer to, buried in the archives.

Blossom

Hollybridge's beekeeper. Blossom organises the bees to ferry Beans here and there across the village, helps everyone find each season's best new flower patch, and makes sure there's always fresh honey to go round.

Basil

Part doctor, part potion-maker. If a Bean's feeling under the weather, Basil's the one they turn to — with a remedy made from whatever's growing in his garden, or wherever he's foraged around the village that week. He's always experimenting with new mixes, and Morton, for better or worse, tends to be his willing (or unwitting) test subject.

Fred

The village farmer, responsible for growing all the fruit and veg the Beans love to eat. Fred can come across as a little grumpy — mostly because he's fiercely protective of his crops. But it's really because he wants to grow the very best of everything, especially for what happens to it next.

Frieda

The village baker, who turns Fred's harvest into the most delicious pies and cakes in Hollybridge. Fred, unsurprisingly, is usually first in line to taste them.

Winnie

The oldest Bean in the whole village. Barely anyone can remember Winnie as young. Now she's the Grand Master Scroll Keeper, tending to every scroll in the library — with Fern at her side, learning the ropes.

Which Bean do you think you're most like? Let us know — and if you'd like to see them in action, [find out more about our books →]