Ivy and Bean (Book 8): Ivy and Bean No News Is Good News

By Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall

Ivy and Bean need some money. Ten dollars, to be exact. Never mind what for. Okay, it's for low-fat Belldeloon cheese in a special just-for-you serving size. Don't ask why. How are Ivy and Bean going to make ten dollars? Hey, maybe they should write a newspaper about Pancake Court and sell it. Great idea! And easy, too. All they have to do is snoop around the neighborhood. Wow. It's very interesting what you can find out. It's even more interesting when the neighbors read about it in the newspaper.

Includes bonus material!
- Sneak peek chapter from the next book in the Ivy + Bean series Ivy and Bean Make the Rules by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
- Our second ever Ivy + Bean Quiz!
- Other fun games

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chronicle Books Digital
• Release date: Oct 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452110417

Annie Barrows

Annie Barrows is a middle-aged lady who doesn’t talk very much, which is why none of the kids who hang out in her house noticed that she was writing down everything they said. She’s like a ninja, except she’s never killed anyone. Okay, okay, she’s also the author of the Ivy + Bean books—remember them? They were fun!—and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. All of which were New York Times bestsellers, if you care about that kind of thing. www.anniebarrows.com

Book preview

SQUISH, SQUISH, SQUISH

Bean looked around the lunch table. Vanessa had it. She got it every day. Zuzu had it. Emma had it. Marga-Lee had it. Dusit and Eric had it. Even MacAdam had it. Everyone had it except Bean and Ivy.

While Bean watched, Vanessa opened her lunchbox and took out a small red ball. It was a ball of cheese, but nobody cared about the cheese. The cheese was totally unimportant. The important thing was the coating around the cheese. It was wax.

The wax was red. It was smooth. If you pulled on the secret string inside it, the wax split into two halves. You unfolded them and took the cheese out. Sometimes you took a bite of cheese. Mostly, you didn’t. You rolled the wax between your hands until it was warm. Once it was warm, you could squish it. You could squish it and squish it. You could make it into a shape. You could put it on your face. You could hold it for the rest of the day, and it would get dirtier and dirtier, until finally it was a small brown lump. Then you could stick it in the middle of your table and say it was a booger.

Lookit, said Vanessa, rolling her wax. I’m making a soccer ball.

Maybe Mom surprised me, Bean thought. Maybe she sneaked a cheese ball in my lunch for a special surprise. She peeked in her lunchbox. Nope.

Lookit, said Zuzu. She had made a little wax horn. I’m a unicorn. She stuck it in the middle of her forehead.

Bean could grab the horn. She could grab it and run away with it and move to another country where she wouldn’t get in trouble. She sighed.

Ivy poked her with an elbow. Pretend you don’t care, she whispered.

Check this out, said Dusit. He stuck his wax underneath his nose so it looked like blood was dripping out. Ms. Aruba-Tate’s going to freak.

Bean turned to Eric, who was squishing his wax flat. Trade you my granola bar for your wax, she said. She waved the bar at him. Mmm! Granola!

He glanced at it. Yuck. Lookit. He stuck the wax over his eye. Do I look like a one-eye?

Why don’t you put it in your ear? said Bean. Your mom will think your brains are dropping out. That’s what Bean would do.

No, said Eric. I’m a one-eye.

They’re called Cyclops, said Ivy.

Bean turned to MacAdam. How about a nice granola bar, MacAdam old buddy? I’ll trade for your wax.

MacAdam shook his head. He held his red ball of cheese in front of his face and looked at it. Then he bit it. Bean watched him chew wax and cheese. When he swallowed, she had to look away. What a waste of wax.

Lookit, said Marga-Lee. She had made a mustache out of her wax.

Bean took a sad bite of granola bar. It was going to be a long lunch.

After school, Ivy and Bean slumped home. What a day, said Ivy.

Another day, another dollar, said Bean.

What does that mean? asked Ivy.

I don’t know, Bean admitted. My mom says it sometimes. We don’t have a dollar, Ivy pointed out.

I know. Wish we did.

If we had a dollar, we could buy our own cheese balls.

Bean shook her head. "No, we couldn’t. They

Reviews for Ivy and Bean (Book 8)

[stahl2ricco · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My first chapter book that I've read with my almost five year old girl! She loves it! I'm not particularly thrilled with Bean's behavior, and some of the things she says, but I do love the reactions in my daughter! Her eyes light up and she smiles from ear to ear! I guess we'll read book #2!

[empress8411 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a delightful book! Bean is a rowdy, active, wild child, while Ivy is thoughtful, imaginative and gentle. I adored the contrast! I enjoyed how the two meet, the adventure that ensued and their friendship. I laughed out loud at least twice - always a good thing. I highly recommend this book for the 5-7 crowd.

[jenj5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Bean's mother has been trying to get her to make friends with new girl Ivy, but Ivy just seems so....nice. Bean knows of course that nice is just a nice way of saying boring and she's totally uninterested in Ivy. Until the afternoon that Ivy helps Bean escape her older sister Nancy and it turns out Ivy isn't one bit boring.

[sskatherine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I chose to read this because I've seen a lot of my 3rd grade girls reading it. I really enjoy the quirkiness of both Ivy and Bean's personalities, and liked their (inevitable) path to becoming friends. The story is fun, and easy to follow, with cute illustrations interspersed throughout. Though, it does rotate around two suburban girls, they are interesting and non-traditional. I can definitely see why this is so appealing to my students.

[bieberlove18 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

a good book. read it. its a realy good book youll see if you read it

[jdieder104 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good book about a new friendship. Ivy and Bean live across the street from each other. One day they have to talk to each other, they find out they have a lot in common. The story is about new friendship and stepping over the line in becoming friends. The book could introduce children to making new friends and the adventures of having a new friendship.

[johnlobe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The indomitable characters of Ivy and Bean are the key to this very engaging book. Young girl (and boy) readers are bound to feel a connection to the tomboyish Bean or the imaginative Ivy. Annie Barrows allows the reader a window into Bean's twisted logic to great effect. Sophie Blackall's illustrations help to enrich the understated humour.

[gayldashersmith · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Anatomy of the start of a wonderful friendship. A nice lesson in first appearances being misleading.

[sunnyburke · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an adorable story of two friends who may appear to be very different but end up finding out that they have a lot in common. Bean is a rambunctious 7 year old who is always pestering her older sister. Ivy is a new girl who lives across the street and is a big bookworm. Although Bean's mother tries to encourage her to become friends with Ivy, Bean doesn't want to becasue she thinks Ivy is boring. When Bean pulls a nasty trick on her older sister, it is Ivy who comes to the rescue! Through all kinds of hilarious adventures, Ivy and Bean become the best of friends and learn to apprecite their differences. Thyis book will keep the reader engaged all the way through and the little drawings are the perfect touch to this cute book. It is a great book for beginning readers and teaches children that they should not judge a book by its cover!

[danusia_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

cute! i'm a dork, i kept reading the book to see how it ends. the simple, pretty, pencil drawings add just the right dimension to the story to keep the reader interested and informed. nice story about friendship. Bean is careful not to hurt Ivy's feelings. This makes a good basis for a lasting friendship. Nice lesson for children. language is modern and accessible, perfect for third grade.

[bookman928 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's a great easy read

[guamgirl99 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Meet Ivy and Bean. Ivy is one of those girls who likes to read big books. Bean is those "jumping bean" girls. She thinks Ivy is boring. One day, all of that changes...find out how they make friends in IVY AND BEAN!!!

[hjyamamoto · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

friends; good for kids who like Junie B. Jones

[fionaanne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cute and charming.

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ok, 3.5 stars. Sure to be a hit with lots of six or seven year-olds girls. Surprisingly complex characters - for example neither girl, not even the one who wears dresses, is squeamish of worms.

[atroesch-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This a great book and series for readers that are just beginning to read alone. I think the topic is relatable and so are the characters. This would be a good book for 1st or 2nd grade levels.

[avanders_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really a great little kid's book -- the main characters are 7 and Bean's older sister is a horrible 11 ;) I honestly wasn't expecting to be impressed at all, but I think this is a wonderful first book for a new reader. There are great pictures throughout to bring some life to the story, and the story actually moves and surprises a little. Happy that these books are available for young readers!

[hatease · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ivy and Bean are best friends. They are fun characters and are mischiefs. These series of books tell the crazy stories of Ivy and Bean.
Friendship

2-4

[katiecarella · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a super cute book for 6-8 yr olds. And I'm considering this format for my pizza series!! :)

[agrudzien_5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Bean doesn't think Ivy would be a very interesting friend. In fact, she looks incredibly BORING...until one day she is in trouble with her sister and the last place anyone would look was at Ivy's, so there she is, and Ivy is for more fun than she imagined!

Cute story about an unlikely friendship...girls will love thinking about the adventures they have with their best friends, or consider making a new friend, too!

[mmesullivan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ivy and Bean series is a story about friendship and what can happen when you work together. I enjoyed the characters in this book and found the writing to be humours. Bean sometimes crosses the line when she is unkind with friends and family in contrast to Ivy who always appears to maintain her morals. I would recommend this book to children ages 6-10.

[sguzick_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When Ivy moves into the house across the street from Bean, Bean does NOT want to play with her. Ivy seems so quiet and boring. That is until Bean tries to play a trick on her sister Nancy, gets caught, and runs away. Ivy helps Bean “escape” and the two go on a mission to sneak back to Bean’s house and play an even bigger trick on her sister. How much trouble will these two new best friends find themselves in? This transitional chapter book is the first in a series about these two friends. Not only do they learn that people with opposite personalities can be friends, they learn about self-acceptance and being unapologetically who you are. Very few pages are without pictures, some bigger than others. The pictures are black and white and drawn using Chinese ink. They look as though they were drawn in pencil. Young children, especially girls, ready to make the step into chapter books will love this exciting story. The fact that they are reading a book with a table of contents may boost their confidence in their advancing literacy skills. This book is recommended for children from age six through age ten.

[bellathebookgirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Summary:
Ivy and Bean where not friends at first but then they became friends because of a little ghostly trick.

My Thoughts:
I love the book Ivy + Bean. Bean must have been a naughty little girl to run away from home. I would have never ran away from home like her! I can't wait to read more about Ivy and Bean and their friendship.

[abbylibrarian_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Bean is constantly being told to play with her new next-door neighbor Ivy, but Ivy is so BORING that Bean just rolls her eyes. One day, Bean inadvertently starts talking with Ivy and discovers that she is actually quite entertaining and a potential partner in crime. The result is an adventure-filled day that only Ivy & Bean could have.

Meh... I think this book could appeal to young readers looking for more books in the Ramona ilk, but it didn't really do it for me.