SLIS 5420 Ivy + Bean

Week Four Realistic Fiction: Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows + Sophie Blackall

Book Summary: 

            Ivy and Bean, short for Bernice, are constantly told by their mothers that they should play.  They live across the street from each other.  They are the same age.  They are completely different.  Bean is an outgoing, loud tomboy, while Ivy wears dresses, reads and seems shy.  When a trick on Bean’s sister backfires and she realizes she is going to be in trouble, Ivy steps in to rescue Bean with her magical powers.  The powers may not be real,  but their friendship grows rapidly as they hide from parents, cross neighborhood backyards, dig worms, and eventually do get in trouble before going home with a “see you tomorrow” from both of them.  

APA Reference:  

Barrows, A. (2006). Ivy + Bean Book 1. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC. 

My Impressions: 

            Ivy + Bean is a cute, simple story setting up a series of books about these two best friends.  It has basic language, and I felt some slightly higher-level vocabulary could have been added, even for the age group.  There is a typical opposites attract premise that may not be as familiar to the younger audience these books are written for, and thus more interesting to them.  Within the story, there are many humorous moments to keep readers engaged and wanting to read more of the series.  For example, the two girls throw worms on Bean’s older sister, Nancy, instead of casting the dancing spell on her as they had intended.  Overall this was a sweet start to a children’s series, and I can see why it would appeal to an early chapter book crowd.        

     

Professional Review: 

“Bean was sure that the new neighbor would not be any fun. She was sure the girl on the  steps next door must be a good girl and not at all like herself. Bean finds out differently when a trick on her older sister Nancy causes her to need some fast help.  Ivy shows her a thing or two about fun. For example, Ivy dresses up and creates a dancing spell for Nancy. This easy chapter book does not have a sophisticated storyline, but it would hold the interest of strong seven-year-old readers and some eight and nine year olds. It has several b&w drawings that enhance the author’s word pictures.”

Welch Mills, R. (2007, February). Ivy and Bean [Review of Ivy + Bean, by A. Barrows] Library Media Connection, 25(5), 72. 
          Retrieved from http://www.librarymediaconnection.com/

 

            “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.”

Stone, E. (2006, July). Ivy and Bean. [Review of Ivy + Bean, by A. Barrows] School Library Journal, 52(7), 68. Retrieved from
          http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

            “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.”

Ivy and Bean. [Review of Ivy + Bean, by A. Barrows]  (2006, May 1). Kirkus Reviews,74(9), 454. Retrieved from
          http://www.kirkusreviews.com/

  

Library Uses: 

Ivy + Bean could be used in a library setting as part of a book talk on books about friendships.  It seems there would be many elementary books on this topic, and the librarian could use books across a few reading levels to show students that the same topics are in books they may have read before, or want to read the next year.  Using a few levels of books would also benefit students above or below grade level while still listening to the same book talk.