Ivy and Bean Book 1

By Annie Barrows
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

5-1/2 x 7-1/4 in; 120 pp ; One-color illustrations throughout, ages 6-10
Hardcover
Published in April, 2006
ISBN 0811849031
ISBN13 9780811849036

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$14.95

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Reviews
Barrow'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 victim 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

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

Author Info
Annie Barrows started writing books when she was nine, but they never turned out the way she wanted, so she gave up on writing for twenty-five years. She's written a bunch of books for grown-ups, but Ivy and Bean is her first book for kids. Annie lives in Northern California with her husband and two daughters. One daughter is like Ivy and the other is like Bean.

Sophie Blackall is an Australian illustrator whose work has appeared in many newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two delightful, spying, scheming, spell-casting children. Her previous books include Ruby's Wish and Meet Wild Boars.

Quotes
"Readers are bound to embrace this spunky twosome and eagerly anticipate their continuing tales of mischief and mayhem." -Kirkus Reviews
"With echoes of Beverly Cleary's 'Ramona' series, this easy chapter book will appeal to children who are graduating from beginning readers . . .The characters are appealing, the friendship is well portrayed, ad the pranks and adventures are very much on grade level." -School Library Journal

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