The Mean, Green Lima Bean is a story about a lima bean named Dean. Dean is a bully. Dean says or does mean things to his classmates, throughout the school day. When Dean realizes no one wants to be friends with him, he is not happy. Dean decides to stop being mean and begins to change his ways. He develops empathy for others. The universal theme of kindness is weaved through the story with rhyming words to ensure some giggles while reading. The story begins and ends with a brief dream sequence to transform the reader's experience. As a boy's dream unfolds, the author uses personification to give human traits to the story's main character, a lima bean named Dean. In addition, the story provides real-life examples of being mean vs. being kind to further instill self-awareness.