Product Description

In Beany's latest adventure, the lovable worrywart gets stuck with a meany for a science-fair partner but discovers the confidence - and the smarts - to hold her own.

It starts out being a good day, as Beany and her best friend, Carol Ann, sit together on the school bus, happily planning a backyard campout. But that's before Beany learns there's a new kid in class, a fun girl with whom Carol Ann is matched up as guide and welcoming committee. And it's definitely before Ms. Babbitt announces there's going to be a science fair - and suddenly everyone's paired with a partner but Beany and Kevin Gates, the notorious class meany. How can timid Beany work with a bully who bosses her around and calls her names (even if he's surprisingly good at science)? Will she ever work up the nerve to tell him her own great idea for clinching their science project?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #967650 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-11
• Released on: 2006-04-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-Kevin is the meanest kid in class, and Beany is a little bit afraid of him. Then, her best friend picks the new girl to be her partner for the science fair, and Beany gets stuck with him. She is worried, but, with their teacher's help, she and Kevin learn to work together and produce an A+ project. Fans of the previous books will welcome this installment with its sympathetic characters and lighthearted humor. Beany is a chronic worrier, and Wojciechowski doesn't give her any easy outs. The story progresses evenly as she works through her problems and conquers her fears. Frequent black-and-white cartoon illustrations enliven the text. A good choice for beginning chapter book readers, particularly children dealing with changing relationships.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 2-4. The fifth entry in a series featuring quintessential kid Beany finds the grade-schooler with two problems: a best friend who seems to be straying to greener pastures, and meany Kevin Gates as her science-project partner. Carol Ann is appointed by teacher, Mrs. Babbit, to show the new girl, Stacy, the ropes, and when Carol Ann and Stacy pair up for the science fair, Beany is left with Kevin--who is good in science, but doesn't really want a partner. Yet, as expected, Kevin and Beany work together successfully, leaving Beany to consider the possibility that two friends might be better than one. Although the plot may sound canned, Wojciechowski does a terrific job of making typical lower-grade concerns feel fresh. Beany's Ramona Quimby-like sensibilities make her a popular heroine wrapped in an attractive package, which also includes some simple yet appealing ink drawings. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
Susan WojciechowskiI, a former children's librarian, has written numerous books for children, including THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY, recipient of the prestigious Christopher Medal. "The inspiration for BEANY AND THE MEANY came from my daughter's experience with a science fair in elementary school," she says. "On the day of the fair, she and her partner saw the other glitzy, entertaining, and showy projects and decided the best hope for their very scientific project was third place. When they didn't get called for the third place award, they were so disappointed they tuned out and didn't even hear their names called as the grand-prize winners."

Susanna Natti is the illustrator of all the Beany books. Of BEANY AND THE MEANY, she says, "I can remember laboring with great concentration over a hand-drawn map for a class assignment, but alas, my map looked nothing like the map in the atlas. I completely relate to Beany's high expectations for herself and to her fears that her science project won't pass muster. I don't remember how my teacher eventually graded my map, but I sure do remember making it."


From the Hardcover edition.