The illustrations in this book are great, although sometimes ugly. There is one picture where Bean looks just like a demon, and it gives me the heebie-jeebies. The artist plays up Ivy and Bean's differences by representing them physically: Ivy is taller, with long, red hair. Bean is short and dark with dark, short hair. The books feature illustrations, but are not picture books. The reading level is suitable for grades three and above. As of 2021, there are twelve books in the series. [1] Books [ edit ]

I remembered that when I was writing the first Ivy + Bean. Ivy and Bean are very different. Bean is loud and wild and goofy. She loves to be involved in games and poke her nose in other people’s business. Ivy is quiet and full of ideas. She spends most of her time learning how to be a witch. Each girl thinks the other one is weird. Each girl thinks she could never be friends with the other. Especially because their parents keep nagging them about it.

It is amazing how the girls tell the ghost story. The mark on the floor is said to be the portal through which the ghost enters from the underworld. A mist sometimes occurs right outside the bathroom, and the girls manage to convince their friends that this is the ghost. The fact that the bathroom gets very cold at times makes their story even more believable. When the teacher scolds Ivy for the ghost story, the imaginative girl comes up with another plan. She is going to make some portions and offer gifts that are sure to make the ghost disappear. A good number of the girls in school show up for the event, but the gathering attracts the fifth-grade teacher’s attention. This only spells more trouble for this duo. Poppy: Lah-Doe means that we get to have presents. When it's our birthday, I say "Lah-Doe" and then we get presents. So, when we're done eating cake, I say "Lah-Doe" that way we get presents. UNIVERSAL THEMES: The perennial theme of friendship, strong characters and mischievous antics make the books great for both boys and girls. Bean is a total wild one. She loves playing with other kids, being outdoors, getting dirty, and playing practical jokes. She uses "rough" language for a kid, calling people dorks, turkeys, etc. She assumes Ivy is a wimpy priss just because she wears dresses and reads a lot. I had heard so much about these books from kids. Last year, my son read all that he could get his hands on. My son's friends talk about them because their teacher is reading them to the class. They all say how much they love these books, how funny they are, how much they love when the teacher reads them. We were at the book store and my son wanted me to buy him one, so I did. When his older brother said: What do you want that for? It's a girls' book. My younger son turned around and said: No, it's not. It's a good book.

Dad: Eleanor, what about you? Is your favorite part today the same as your favorite part when you read it five years ago, or has it changed... Or have you changed? It's Career Day at Emerson Elementary School, and all the students have to choose what they want to be when they grow up. No problem. Ivy and Bean already have that all figured out. At least, they thought so, until they met Herman the Treasure Hunter. Now everyone in the second grade is looking for treasure—and finding it. Everyone except Ivy and Bean, that is. They need to get out their shovels and turn up some treasure on the double!Dad: So, did you like it because you're younger than nine, and you were already allowed to get your ears pierced?