Ivy and Bean

Annie Barrows is the author of the chapter book for young readers, Ivy and Bean (2006). The book is often stylized at Ivy + Bean, and it’s part of a series that chronicles the adventures of the two titular idiosyncratic seven-year-olds. There are 12 books in the series, and the first installment details how Bean and Ivy go from dismissing each other to forming a close friendship. The book addresses themes like Judging a Person Versus Knowing Them, The Drama of Preparation, and The Benefits of Cooperation. All of the books feature illustrations by Sophie Blackall, and Netflix has turned some of the titles into hour-long movies. Barrows has published many other books and series for young readers, including the Iggy series, though the books in the Ivy and Bean series remain her most popular.

The page numbers refer to the 2007 Chronicle Books paperback edition.

Plot Summary

Bernice Blue (Bean) is a seven-year-old girl who lives on a cul-de-sac called Pancake Court in an unnamed town. Another seven-year-old girl, Ivy, just moved into another house on Pancake Court. Bean’s mother thinks Ivy is a “nice girl,” and encourages Bean to play with her, but Bean thinks Ivy looks boring. Based on appearances, Bean and Ivy are opposites. Bean has shorter hair and never wears dresses or reads. Ivy has longer hair, constantly wears dresses, and reads “big books.” More so, Bean plays with all the kids in the neighborhood, and Ivy keeps to herself.

Bean has an older sister, Nancy, who’s 11. Nancy and Bean are opposites. Nancy loves to shop, while Bean prefers to crush rocks and stomp in puddles. One day, Bean’s mother forces Bean to accompany her and Nancy on a shopping trip, and Bean thinks Nancy deliberately prolongs the outing to antagonize Bean. Bean considers kicking her in the shins but chooses to implement a complex form of revenge. She hides in a bush and attaches a $20 bill that she stole from Nancy’s purse to a string. When Nancy shows up, she’ll reach down, and Bean will pull the money away.

Nancy doesn’t appear, and Bean sees Ivy on her front porch and pretends to be the ghost of the man who used to live in Ivy’s house. As Bean tries to scare Ivy, Nancy appears. She realizes Bean stole the $20 from her purse, and she gets angry, but Ivy helps Bean escape Nancy by hiding Bean in her backyard.

Bean thinks about the number of transgressions she’s committed and the trouble she’ll be in when she faces her parents. To turn her parents’ anger into worry, Bean decides to stay away from home until nightfall. When Bean returns, her parents will be relieved that she’s safe, so they won’t punish her; they’ll pamper her instead.

As Bean and Ivy get to know one another, Bean discovers that Ivy isn’t a “wimp,” and both girls conclude that neither one is “nice.” Ivy is studying to become a witch, and her aunt gave her a large spell book. Ivy wants to cast an invisible spell but lacks the mandatory dead frog. She’s also interested in the dancing spell, which makes a person dance forever and requires a handful of worms.

After Bean tells Ivy about her conflicts with Nancy, the girls agree to cast the dancing spell on Nancy. Before they do, they sneak into Ivy’s house, and Bean gives Ivy a makeover so she looks more like a witch. They decorate her wand and robe and paint her face white.

To get the worms for the dancing spell, Bean and Ivy sneak into Bean’s backyard. They pass through other backyards with minimal damage, but when they enter the backyard of Mrs. Trantz, the unfriendly older woman threatens to call Bean’s mother. By pretending like she has to throw up, Ivy gets the girls out of the predicament.

In Bean’s backyard, the girls use shovels and a bucket to dig up and collect the worms. The girls notice Nancy crying in the kitchen, and Bean thinks Nancy is upset about her disappearance. Bean remembers the warm moments with Nancy, but then she realizes Nancy is distraught because their mom won’t let her get her ears pierced.

Outraged, Bean bangs on the window and insults Nancy. Nancy chases the girls. They hide in a playhouse, and Nancy runs into the pit of worms. She tries to balance herself so that she doesn’t fall, and the girls think the dancing spell worked. Nancy loses her balance and falls. Bean’s parents punish her, but she can still play with Ivy tomorrow, and the day after that.