Ivy and Bean

bibliophile - I think this story is very ironic to be honest. I doubt this was a good sentence to open with... but trust me... you'll see what I mean once you read this story. Also this is NOT a negative review... I just thought this would the perfect senses to describe my raw emotions after reading this book... in fact I have conflicted emotions... Crazy.. huh?? So once Ivy and Bean met... they thought they were the complete opposite... but in fact they were quite analogous to each other... wanting to be a witch or a ghost... they have sort of quite similar factors... Of course the illustrations brought a smile to my face and I did laugh at some parts when they were a bit naughty... okay fine... really naughty... but I was confused... When I was their age I don't remember saying these words or playing jokes XD... but I do remember my lively imagination.... Also this book is for a younger age... so it makes sense for what I'm saying.. but I'm not stopping you to read this book... because if it brought a smile to my face.. you'll probably grin as well. Enjoy!

Starred review from May 15, 2006
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 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. Ages 6-10.