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Series Title:  Ivy + Bean

Author: Annie Barrows

Illustrator: Sophie Blackall

Publisher:  Chronicle Books

Main Characters: The title characters, Ivy and Bean, are seven-year-old girls who meet when Ivy moves into Bean’s neighborhood. While the focus of the books is on the second graders' friendship and activities, there are several secondary characters, particularly the girls' second grade teacher and Bean's 11-year-old sister, who feature prominently in some of the books.

Story: When Ivy moves into Bean's neighborhood, Bean is reluctant to meet her because she thinks she'll be "boring."  However, the girls become fast friends and embark on all kinds of adventures. Since each book focuses on a different theme and the books don't have to be read in sequence, there is no need to read them in order. However, many kids prefer to do so.

Bean tends to be the one who initiates the activities that often lead to trouble, but it is Ivy who often saves the day when things go awry. Bean is rambunctious while Ivy is quiet, yet despite their differences, the girls learn how to get along and enjoy all kinds of adventures, from preparing for the Science Fair in book 7 to Bean's deciding to be a private eye, with Ivy as her assistant, in book 10.

What I Like: The author carefully defines the very different personalities of the two girls, as well as what they look like, and their actions clearly reflect who they are.  Readers quickly learn how Ivy and Bean react in various situations, and that's part of the fun.

Sophie Blackall's color covers and black and white illustrations on each double-page spread are full of life and humor, adding greatly to the books' appeal.

The Ivy + Bean series provides high-quality and enjoyable recreational reading that engages young readers.  Although boys tend to be reluctant to read books in which the main characters are girls, these girls and their humorous activities should have a general appeal, if boys will give them a chance.

Awards: Individual books in the series have received considerable recognition. Some of it includes:

• 2007 ALA Notable Children's Book
• Booklist, Editor's Choice, Best Books of 2007
• Book Links, Best New Books for the Classroom, 2006
• New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2006

Source: Annie Barrows' website

Categories: Friendship, chapter books, series

Length of Books: Range from 117 to 137 pages

Recommended for: First to fourth grade independent readers (The series has attracted a huge audience of 6 to 9 year-old readers, particularly girls.)

Available Formats: (as of 10/13) Hardcover, library binding, large print hardcover, paperback (except for book 10), audiobook on CD, audio for download and e-Book

Books in the Ivy + Bean Series

Title:  Ivy + Bean (Book 1)
Length: 120 pages
Copyright: 2006, 2007 (paperback edition)
ISBN: 9780811849098 (paperback)
Cost: .

Title:  Ivy + Bean and the Ghost That Had to Go (Book 2)
Length: 125 pages
Copyright: 2006, 2007 (paperback edition)
ISBN: 9780811849104 (paperback)
Cost: .

Title:  Ivy + Bean Break the Fossil Record (Book 3)
Length: 117 pages
Copyright: 2007, 2008 (paperback edition)
ISBN: 9780811862509 (paperback)
Cost: .

Title:  Ivy + Bean Take Care of the Babysitter (Book 4)
Length: 123 pages
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 9780811865845 (paperback)
Cost: .

Title:  Ivy + Bean Bound to Be Bad (Book 5)
Length: 121 pages, plus a 5-page Ivy & Bean Quiz
Copyright: 2008, 2009 (paperback edition)
ISBN: 9780811868570 (paperback)
Cost: .

Title:  Ivy + Bean Doomed to Dance (Book 6)
Overview:
Length: 129 pages
Copyright: 2009, 2010 (paperback edition)
ISBN: 9780811876667 (paperback)
Cost: .

Title:  Ivy + Bean What’s the Big Idea? (Book 7)
Length: 120 pages, plus a 9-page question and answer section on global warming
Copyright: 2010, 2011 (paperback edition)
ISBN: 9781452102368 (paperback)
Cost: .

Title:  Ivy + Bean No News Is Good News (Book 8)
Length: 137 pages, plus 4 pages of activities: Ivy + Bean Quiz, Word Find and Crossword Puzzle
Copyright:  2011, 2012 (paperback)
ISBN: 9781452107813 (paperback edition)
Cost: .

Title:  Ivy + Bean Make the Rules (Book 9)
Length: 125 pages
Copyright:  2012
ISBN: 9781452102955 (paperback)
Cost: .

Title:  Ivy + Bean Take the Case (Book 10)
Length:  128 pages
Copyright:  2013 (hardbound edition)
ISBN: 9781452106991
Cost: .

More Recommended Books

Some of the other series that your kids may enjoy are the Magic Tree House series, Books 1-28, and the Magic Tree House series, Merlin Missions, by Mary Pope Osbourne, as well as the companion Magic Tree House Fact Trackers.  Kids who like baseball and/or mysteries will enjoy the Ballpark Mysteries by by David A. Kelly. Kids who enjoy mysteries tend to like the Encyclopedia Brown series.

Some other series kids who enjoy the Ivy + Bean series may also enjoy are the Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker, the Encyclopedia Brown series by Donald J. Sobol, the Gooney Bird Greene series by Lois Lowry, Paula Danziger’s Amber Brown series and the Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald.