Product Description

Ivy and Bean are sure they won't like each other. But a little mischief later--and suddenly they're best friends! With very real, strong girl characters, this terrific friendship story is laugh-out-loud funny and makes a charming and addictive introduction to a series packed with verve, imagination and mischief. A round of applause for Ivy and Bean: "Ivy and Bean are a little bit bad and a whole lot of funny. Whether exploding a dirt volcano or turning down the temp on global warming, these two fast friends, sneaky sisters in crime, can be counted on to dish up just the right amount of mischief and mayhem. Easy-peasy to love." (Megan McDonald, author of Judy Moody) "The deliciousness is in the details here, with both girls drawn distinctly and with flair. (Booklist, starred review) "Ivy and Bean are irresistible." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) "...illustrations deftly capture the girls' personalities and the tale's humor .... Barrows's narrative brims with sprightly dialogue." (Publishers Weekly, starred review) NY Public Library Best 100 Books for Reading and Sharing Booklist Best Books of the Year Book Links Best Books for the Classroom Ages 5-10

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51466 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-15
• Released on: 2012-01-01
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .39" h x 5.50" w x 7.25" l, .34 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 120 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 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 © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Gr. 1-3. In the tradition of Betsy and Tacy, Ginnie and Geneva, come two new friends, Ivy and Bean. Ivy has just moved in across the street from Bean, who wants no part of her. She thinks Ivy looks dull, always with her nose in a book. Bean, on the other hand, is a spark plug; she's full of tricks, especially ones that can be played on her older sister, Nancy. But the day Bean pulls a trick that goes wrong and Ivy comes to her rescue, a friendship is born. The deliciousness here is in the details, with both girls drawn distinctly and with flair. Ivy, who at first seems to be a dud, has aspirations to being a witch, which is dangerously intriguing; Bean's spunky way of talking and acting (there's a classic moment when she wiggles her butt at Nancy) will make readers giggle. Even with all the text's strong points, what takes the book to a higher level is Blackall's artwork, which captures the girls' spirit. A chapter from the second book in the series, to be published in this fall, will whet readers' appetites for more Ivy and Bean. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

BARNES & NOBLE REVIEW
\\\"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