Ivy and Bean (Ivy and Bean Series #1)

by Annie Barrows, Sophie Blackall (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Hilarious to the point of cackling, the contagious chapter book series begins right here. Join the misadventures of two unintentional best friends that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside, all while thinking about the differences that unite not just Ivy and Bean, but all of us.

The moment they saw each other, Bean and Ivy knew they wouldn't be friends. But when Bean plays a joke on her sister, Nancy, and has to hide quickIvy comes to the rescue, proving that sometimes the best of friends are people never meant to like each other. Vibrant characters and lots of humor make this a charmingand addictiveintroduction to Ivy and Bean.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811849036
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	04/20/2006
Series:	Ivy and Bean Series , #1
Pages:	120
Sales rank:	228,634
Product dimensions:	5.75(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.62(d)
Lexile:	580L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Annie Barrows has written a bunch of books for grown-ups, but Ivy and Bean is her first series for kids. Annie lives in Northern California with her husband and two daughters.

Sophie Blackall is an illustrator whose work has appeared in many newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times . She lives in New York, with her husband and two children. Her previous books include Ruby's Wish and Meet Wild Boars.

Hometown:

Berkeley, CA

Date of Birth:

August 24, 1962

Place of Birth:

San Diego, CA

Education:

University of California at Berkeley, B.A. in Medieval History; Mills College, M.F.A. in Creative Writing

Editorial Reviews

"Annie Barrows accomplishes the almost impossible task of reflecting the world of second grader, creating the tension and drama of family and friendships in language that can be read easily by child who recently graduated from easy readers to early chapter books. " - Lisa Von Drasek, Children's Librarian, Bank Street College of Education

From the Publisher

Barrows's debut children's book energetically kicks off a series about two seemingly unlikely pals, just right for kids moving on from beginning readers. Bean's mother suggests that she play with Ivy, the new girl across the street, "She seems like such a nice girl." Seven-year-old Bean says she already has plenty of friends ("Nice, Bean knew, is another word for boring"). After all, Ivy's long, curly red hair is neatly pushed back with a sparkly headband, and she always wears dresses and reads books; headband-, dress- and book-shunning tomboy Bean muses that Ivy "had never once in her whole life climbed a tree and fallen out." But when Ivy offers to get Bean out of a jam with her older sister, Nancy, Bean takes Ivy up on it. Bean discovers that the not-so-boring, wand-toting Ivy is in training to become a witch, and working on a spell that keeps its victim dancing for lifewhich sets Bean thinking about the ideal fate for bossy Nancy. Blackall's (Ruby's Wish) half-tone spot art and full-spread illustrations deftly capture the girls' personalities and the tale's humor, while also filling out fun details about Ivy's room and the neighbors' backyards. Barrows's narrative brims with sprightly dialogue and tidily ties everything togetherboth Bean and Ivy find a fast friend and set the stage for Ivy and Bean and the Ghost that Had to Go, scheduled for the fall. Ages 6-10. (June) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Gr 1-4-Seven-year-old Bean likes stomping in puddles, climbing fences into neighbors' backyards, and playing tricks on her older sister, Nancy. She wears dresses as seldom as possible and avoids big books. Her new neighbor appears to be a quiet, orderly girl who sits on her front step day after day reading tomes. The two seem to have nothing in common, and Bean is not interested in getting to know Ivy, despite her mother's prodding to make friends with the nice girl next door. Then Bean gets into trouble, and Ivy helps her out. She discovers that Ivy is practicing to be a witch, and when they decide to cast a spell on Nancy, their friendship is sealed. With echoes of Beverly Cleary's "Ramona" series, this easy chapter book will appeal to children who are graduating from beginning readers. The occasional black-and-white illustrations highlight the text and provide visual clues. The characters are appealing, the friendship is well portrayed, and the pranks and adventures are very much on grade level.-Eve Ottenberg Stone, Cooper Lane Elementary, Landover Hills, MD Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

A charismatic duo makes their debut in this new chapter-book series. Barrows provides a fresh take on the standard odd-couple tale of friendship, with a caveat to readers of not judging a book by its cover-or the new girl by her seemingly goody image. Bean, an energetic girl with an inclination for mischief, just doesn't see the appeal of her new neighbor Ivy, whom her mother extols as such a "nice girl," which Bean readily translates to mean dull. However, when she needs to escape the wrath of her bossy sister Nancy, Bean discovers a whole new dimension to the quiet girl next door. Together Ivy and Bean concoct a plan to cast Ivy's fledgling dancing spell on Nancy, with unexpected and hilarious results. With a hearty helping of younger sibling angst, a sprinkling of spells and potions and a dash of nosy neighbors, Barrows has the perfect recipe for solidifying a newfound friendship. Blackall's saucy illustrations detailing the girls' hijinks and their calamitous outcomes are liberally featured throughout the text. Readers are bound to embrace this spunky twosome and eagerly anticipate their continuing tales of mischief and mayhem. (Fiction. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews

Ivy and Bean discover that friendship can come from the most unexpected places. The two girls couldn’t appear to be more different until the day that bookish girly-girl Ivy rescues spunky tomboy Bean from a sticky situation. The two girls find they have much in common and form an instant attachment. Cassandra Morris delivers memorable characters—from the two busy 7-year-olds to the exasperated older sister and the peace-making mom. Cassandra Morris infuses Ivy and Bean with personality and captures the wonder of two friends trying to make sense of their world. Listeners will be eager to join Ivy and Bean on their next adventure. J.K.R. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

OCT/NOV 07 - AudioFile