ALA Notable Children's Book
Booklist, Editor's Choice, Best Books of 2007
Kirkus Reviews, The Best Children's Book of 2006, Best Early Chapter
Books
Publishers Weekly, starred review
Booklist, starred review
Book Links, Best New Books for the Classroom, 2006
New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading
and Sharing 2006
People Magazine's Summer Reading
Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record
“Best friends Ivy and Bean return for a very welcome third outing. When Bean’s
desperate boredom forces her to the pages of The Amazing Book of World Records,
she determines to break one herself, no matter what. But after her attempt
to stuff 257 straws her mouth falls short by some 217 straws, and her loudest
scream fails to shatter sister’s glass octopus, she combines her newfound interest
in one-of-a-kind stunts with Ivy’s fascination with paleontology to pursue
dreams of fame in her backyard. Barrows balances the two girls’ personalities
perfectly, Ivy’s quiet studiousness the steady counterpoint to Bean’s restless
ebullience. The odd happy bit of information—“It took [Mary Anning] a year
to get the whole [ichthyosaur] out . . . Chip, chip, chip, a tiny bit at a
time”—is conveyed effortlessly without impinging on the terrifically childlike
voice—“Lookit! I got one.” Blackall’s black and white spot illustrations share
equal billing with the text, punctuating the written narrative with wry, spiky
visuals that capture the kids’ personalities beautifully. The resolution deflates Ivy and
Bean’s ambitions, but leaves both dignity and enthusiasm intact—other record
attempts can wait till tomorrow. Just right.” --Kirkus Reviews,
July 1, 2007
“When
Bean’s teacher introduces The Amazing Book of World Records, everyone in
the second grade vows to set new records. Bean tries stuffing her mouth full
of
straws, speed-washing dishes, and screaming (with predictably disastrous
results); finally, Ivy involves her friend in digging for dinosaur bones to
they can
become the world’s youngest paleontologists. Barrows’s dynamic duo is as
appealing here as in the first two books, and emergent readers will identify
with their
outrageous antics. Also intriguing are Bean’s sister Nancy (who never misses
an opportunity to put down her sibling) and her ever-supportive dad, whose
banana bread fixes almost any problem.” --Booklist,
July, 2007
Ivy and Bean and the Ghost That Had to Go
“This story defies expectations of what an early chapter book can be. When
the normally quiet Ivy tells her classmates that there's a ghost in the
second-grade bathroom, reactions vary from fascination to fear. When a
girl refuses to use the bathroom, though, Ms. Aruba-Tate's gentle reprimand
sends Ivy reeling, and she and her friend Bean decide to make the problem
go away by performing an exorcism. Barrows keeps the language simple and
clear without sacrificing wit and subtlety. While Ivy steadfastly insists
that the ghost is real, sensitive readers will see her diversionary tactic
for what it is. (She doesn't want anyone to know she can't do a cartwheel.)
The author even makes the occasional vocabulary lesson palatable ("Cody had lit two garbage cans on fire and wasn't allowed to come back to school
anymore. He was expelled"). The slightly wider than normal format with large print, lots of white space,
fun detailing, and Blackall's expressive illustrations make an attractive
package that will be welcome in most collections.” --School Library Journal, February 1, 2007.
“Best mates Ivy and Bean reunite for some schoolyard hijinks in this sophomore collaboration from Barrows and Blackall. The normally reserved Ivy discovers the persuasive powers of an overactive imagination when she tries to avoid doing cartwheels during recess. While Ivy’s impromptu mention of the ghost in the girl’s bathroom may have diverted everyone’s attention from her lack of gymnastic skills, her story soon spirals into schoolyard mayhem. Barrows displays a keen sense of what constitutes second-grade humor; readers will be snickering in glee over Ivy and Bean’s antics. Hilarity ensues when the duo perform an elaborate ceremony, complete with a special potion they concocted, to expel the ghost. Barrows provides the humorous banter while Blackall’s pencil sketches do a fine job of capturing the comical overtones of the girls’ activities. This strong follow-up to Ivy and Bean is bound to please fans.” --Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2006.
Ivy and Bean
"Barrows's debut children's book energetically kicks off a series about two seemingly unlikely pals, just right for kids moving on from beginning readers. Bean's mother suggests that she play with Ivy, the new girl across the street, "She seems like such a nice girl." Seven-year-old Bean says she already has plenty of friends ("Nice, Bean knew, is another word for boring"). After all, Ivy's long, curly red hair is neatly pushed back with a sparkly headband, and she always wears dresses and reads books; headband-, dress-, and book-shunning tomboy Bean muses that Ivy "had never once in her whole life climbed a tree and fallen out." But when Ivy offers to get Bean out of a jam with her older sister, Nancy, Bean
takes Ivy up on it. Bean discovers that the not-so-boring, wand-toting Ivy
is in training to become a witch, and working on a spell that keeps its victims
dancing for life--which sets Bean thinking about the ideal fate for bossy Nancy.
Blackall's (Ruby's Wish) half-tone spot art and full-spread illustrations deftly capture the girls' personalities and the tale's humor, while also filling out fun details about Ivy's room and the neighbors' backyards. Barrows's narrative brims with sprightly dialogue and tidily ties everything together--both Bean and Ivy find a fast friend and set the stage for Ivy and Bean and the Ghost that Had to Go, scheduled for the fall."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) May 15, 2006.
"In the tradition of Betsy and Tacy, Ginnie and Geneva comes two new friends,
Ivy and Bean. Ivy has just moved in across the street from Bean, who wants no
part of her. She looks dull, always with a book in her hand. Bean, on the other
hand, is a sparkplug, full of tricks, especially when they can be pulled 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 is in the details here,
with both girls drawn distinctly and with flair. Ivy, who at first seems a dud
has aspirations to be a witch and put charms on people, which is dangerously
intriguing to Bean's spunky way of talking and acting (there's a classic moment
when she wiggles her fanny at Nancy) and 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 Fall of 2006 will whet readers' appetites for more Ivy and Bean." --Booklist, starred review (March, 2006)
