Ivy + Bean - Book 1


Author/Illustrator: Annie Barrows/Sophie Blackall

Plot Summary: At first Bean thinks her new neighbor Ivy is boring. However, when it comes to torturing Bean's sister, Ivy proves to be a great assistant and the two become fast friends.

Comments: Although this book is about girls, the humor, personalities, and sibling interactions will appeal to both genders. It is ideally suited to second and third graders.

Extensions:
1. During a read aloud with second grade, discuss the personalities of the two girls. Write a list of their various character traits. Students will then write a response to literature explaining how they are more like Ivy or more like Bean.

2. After a read aloud of several of the books in this series, students will write some story ideas for future Ivy and Bean books or stories.

Themes/keywords: friendship, neighbors

Age/Reading Level: K-3;

Standards:
ELA2R2 The student demonstrates the ability to read orally with speed, accuracy, and expression.
ELA2R4 The student uses a variety of strategies to gain meaning from grade-level text.
ELA2W1 The student begins to demonstrate competency in the writing process.
ELA2W2 The student writes in a variety of genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive, and response to literature.
ELA3R3 The student uses a variety of strategies to gain meaning from grade-level text.
ELA3W1 The student demonstrates competency in the writing process.
ELA3W2 The student writes in a variety of genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive, and response to literature.

Publisher's Info: Chronicle Books, SanFrancisco 2006

ISBN-13: 978-0-8118-4909-8
ISBN-10: 0-8118-4909-0

Awards/Review Sources:
Wilson's Children 10/01/06
Notable/Best Books (A.L.A.) 01/01/07
Book Links (A.L.A.) 09/01/06
Booklist starred 04/01/06
Publishers Weekly starred 05/15/06
Horn Book 10/01/06 Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 06/01/06
Kirkus Review 05/01/06


Genre/Dewey: Fiction

Websites:
Author's website
Click here to see a preview of Book #6 on Youtube.
Click here to see how Ivy and Bean has been used in the classroom.

Notes for Booktalk: Similar to Nikki and Deja.
Additonal books in the series:
Book 2: Ivy and Bean and the Ghost that Had to Go; Book 3: Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record; Book 4: Ivy and Bean Take Care of the Babysitter; Book 5: Ivy and Bean: Bound to Be Bad; and Book 6: Ivy and Bean: Doomed to Dance

Vocabulary:

Comments

Unknown said…
Having students write suggestions for future adventures of Ivy and Bean is a great idea. The sky's the limit on what could happen to these two.