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Dad: Eleanor, what about you? Is your favorite part today the same as your favorite part when you read it five years ago, or has it changed... Or have you changed? And I don't find any of the exploits funny except maybe Ivy pretending to be a witch, and that's been done better in earlier books. At least they only killed some worms and not the frog they wanted to catch! This is a cute children’s story characterized by humor, vibrant colors, and an intriguing storyline. The girls’ characters are done so well, and you cannot help but marvel at their creativity. Bean is the wild and restless one, while Ivy has an overactive mind. The girls easily build their worlds and enjoy getting their hands dirty like other children their age. Their silly pranks will land them in trouble but leave you with a smile on your face. The illustrations are well distributed throughout the book and add a lot to the story. You will love interacting with Bean with her wild nature and all the mischief. Ivy is also such a joy with her big dreams and all kinds of imaginations. Are you looking your next feel-good friendship book series? Are you six years old (or older)? Do you LOVE adventure? Then let us introduce you to the dynamic (and ultra naughty) duo, Ivy and Bean!
This is my first experience reading about this duo. It might not be the last. The story was cute enough, and I thought the girls' characters were done pretty well. The illustrations in this book are great, although sometimes ugly. There is one picture where Bean looks just like a demon, and it gives me the heebie-jeebies. The artist plays up Ivy and Bean's differences by representing them physically: Ivy is taller, with long, red hair. Bean is short and dark with dark, short hair. In the stories, Ivy, a quiet intellectual girl, and Bean, a rambunctious wild girl, become fast friends despite their differences and initial reluctance to like each other. The series tagline sums up the series as "two friends who never meant to like each other." They are both seven year old girls who live on the cul-de-sac of Pancake Court which is set in an unmentioned town. In each book, they get into considerable mischief and have wild adventures with the other characters in the neighborhood. Kids will be kids, and that certainly involves their fair share of mischief. But unlike protagonists in other children's books (think Beverly Cleary's Ramona or Judy Blume's Fudge), Ivy and Bean revel in their misdeeds and are never called to account for them. Bean's mom even found it mildly funny that the girls threw worms in the face of her older sister.
An updated list with all the Ivy and Bean books in order
This story is as intriguing as the first one. The girls will be getting into more mischief at home and in school. While the girls get in trouble a few times, this story remains entertaining to the end. Ivy and Beans teacher is such a great person. She was kind to her students yet firm with the naughty ones, just like any teacher should do. As Ivy misuses her imaginative mind, Bean will be causing mayhem at home. The naughty girl cuts her sister’s hair, and you cannot help but wonder how far this sibling rivalry will go. Fortunately, the adults are always there to stop the mischief before things get too far.
Eleanor: I don't know. Maybe if you want to do the dancing spell, you stand on the edge of the pit and wave your arms and do the dancing spell. I remembered that when I was writing the first Ivy + Bean. Ivy and Bean are very different. Bean is loud and wild and goofy. She loves to be involved in games and poke her nose in other people’s business. Ivy is quiet and full of ideas. She spends most of her time learning how to be a witch. Each girl thinks the other one is weird. Each girl thinks she could never be friends with the other. Especially because their parents keep nagging them about it.
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UNIVERSAL THEMES: The perennial theme of friendship, strong characters and mischievous antics make the books great for both boys and girls. Dad: So, did you like it because you're younger than nine, and you were already allowed to get your ears pierced? Eleanor: ...I think I've changed some. And, I think that my. favorite. part. *thinking* is when Nancy danced on the worm pit. I didn't understand the dancing spell when I was younger. Five years ago, I thought that you put on a costume and the vest made you dance around. Ivy and Bean is a cute story that many children will find intriguing. In the story, you get to meet two seven-year-old girls who are as different as day and night and see how their daily lives look like. At the heart of the story is an important lesson, there is more to friendship than being the same. If you give people a chance, you will realize that they are a better company than you had assumed. Incredibly, a beautiful friendship is born out of these two girls’ interactions. While there is some mischief involved, it is also notable that the girls get appropriate punishment for their actions. Bean is a total wild one. She loves playing with other kids, being outdoors, getting dirty, and playing practical jokes. She uses "rough" language for a kid, calling people dorks, turkeys, etc. She assumes Ivy is a wimpy priss just because she wears dresses and reads a lot.
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