Steph Bean writes children’s books centered on humor and heart through imperfect, relatable characters.
What inspired you to write “Nothing Bad Will Happen to This Balloon”?
(SB): The story was inspired by my daughter’s very real attachment to a very real red balloon. What started as a simple “please don’t let this thing pop” situation turned into me noticing how funny and relatable parental overreactions can be.
At its heart, the story is about love, anxiety, and the fact that kids are often far more resilient than we give them credit for.
How would you describe your writing style or the kinds of stories you’re drawn to tell?
(SB): I’m drawn to stories that balance humor and heart. I love imperfect characters who mean well, even when they’re making things ridiculously more complicated for themselves and everyone around them.
I tend to write stories with emotional honesty, a little chaos, and hopefully a few moments that make both kids and grown-ups laugh.
What do you hope kids and parents take away from this story?
(SB): I hope kids see themselves in Ava’s personality and shenanigans, and I hope parents recognize a little of themselves in Dad’s increasingly elaborate attempts to keep everything under control.
I’d love for the story to provide some laughs while also reminding readers that disappointments and popped balloons are part of life.
What made this pair of characters (the daughter and dad) such a fun pair to write?
(SB): I love that both characters are completely sincere, just in very different ways. Ava approaches the world with openness and optimism, while Dad approaches it like it’s a threat he needs to thwart.
Their dynamic creates a lot of humor because the calmer and more adaptable Ava is, the more Dad seems to spiral. He’s convinced he’s dealing with a high-stakes emergency, while she’s mostly just enjoying the fun.
Underneath all the chaos, they absolutely adore each other. Dad’s reactions are over-the-top, but they come from such a familiar place of wanting to protect the people we love.
How has your background at Google shaped the way you think about children’s publishing and storytelling?
(SB): Working at Google helped me appreciate how people discover and connect with books and authors. I spent years helping to improve discoverability and quality, which means I’ve always thought a lot about what makes a story resonate and stay with people.
At the same time, writing for children feels refreshingly human in the best possible way. Kids are such honest readers, sometimes brutally honest! They inherently know when something feels funny and true.
What other projects are you working on right now?
(SB): I’m working on another picture book called The Good Luck Truck, which is about a cautious moving truck and her adventurous human partner. It’s a little spooky, a little silly, and full of bad luck, black cats, and silver linings.
I’m also delving into some early chapter book projects. One story idea I’m excited about follows a young witch who needs to let go and set her feelings free for her magical powers to finally manifest.
Apparently I enjoy writing characters who are trying very hard to hold things together while the universe has other plans!
I’m also looking forward to connecting more with the writing community through critique groups, workshops, and learning from other writers. One of the things I’ve appreciated most so far is how generous and supportive everyone has been.
Before transitioning to writing, Steph Bean spent over a decade at Google, where she worked on Search and helped people discover books, authors, and other wonderful things. She’s currently developing picture books and chapter books for young readers, including Nothing Bad Will Happen to This Balloon, inspired by her daughter’s very real attachment to a special red balloon. Her stories explore connection, new beginnings, well-intended overreactions, and the perfectly imperfect ways we care for one another. Steph lives in San Francisco with her husband, two children, and a few too many balloons.
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