Ivy and Bean
Authors: Annie Barrows
IVY
+
BEAN
BOOK 1
written by annie barrows + illustrated by sophie blackall
For Clio, of course, but also for Claire, Keith, Maddy, Sam, Vincenzo, Melissa, Quinn, Chephren (and Jennifer Ennifer), Noah, Jonathan, Raejean, Dominic, Tanisha, Veronica, Christopher, Gabi, Xenia, Paul, and Amber —A. B.
For Olive and Eggy —S. B.
First paperback edition published in 2007 by Chronicle Books LLC.
Text © 2006 by Annie Barrows.
Illustrations © 2006 by Sophie Blackall.
All rights reserved.
The illustrations in this book were rendered in Chinese ink.
eISBN: 978-0-8118-7651-3
The Library of Congress has catalogued the hardcover edition as follows:
Barrows, Annie.
Ivy and Bean / by Annie Barrows ; illustrated by Sophie Blackall.
p. cm.
Summary: When seven-year-old Bean plays a mean trick on her sister, she finds unexpected support for her antics from Ivy, the new neighbor, who is less boring than Bean first suspected.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8118-4903-6
ISBN-10: 0-8118-4903-1
[1. Friendship—Fiction. 2. Neighbors—Fiction.] I. Blackall, Sophie, ill. II. Title. PZ7.B27576Ivy 2006
[E]—dc22
2005023944
Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street, San Francisco, California 94107
Before Bean met Ivy, she didn’t like her. Bean’s mother was always saying that Bean should try playing with the new girl across the street. But Bean didn’t want to.
“She’s seven years old, just like you,” said her mother. “And she seems like such a nice girl. You could be friends.”
“I already have friends,” said Bean. And that was true. Bean did have a lot of friends. But, really, she didn’t want to play with Ivy because her mother was right—Ivy did seem like such a nice girl. Even from across the street she looked nice. But nice, Bean knew, is another word for boring.
Ivy sat nicely on her front steps. Bean zipped around her yard and yelled. Ivy had long, curly red hair pushed back with a sparkly headband. Bean’s hair was black, and it only came to her chin because it got tangled if it was any
longer. When Bean put on a headband, it fell off. Ivy wore a dress every day. Bean wore a dress when her mother made her. Ivy was always reading a big book. Bean never read big books. Reading made her jumpy.
Bean was sure that Ivy never stomped in puddles. She was sure that Ivy never smashed rocks to find gold. She was sure that Ivy had never once in her whole life climbed a tree and fallen out. Bean got bored just looking at her.
So when her mother said she should play with Ivy, Bean just shook her head. “No thanks,” she said.
“You could give it a try. You might like her,” said Bean’s mom.
“All aboard! Next train for Boring is leaving now!” yelled Bean.
Her mother frowned. “That’s not very nice, Bean.”
“I was nice. I said no thanks,” said Bean. “I just don’t want to. Okay?”
“Okay, okay.” Her mother sighed. “Have it your way.”
So for weeks and weeks, Bean didn’t play with Ivy. But one day something happened that changed her mind.
It all began because Bean was playing a trick on her older sister.
Bean’s older sister was named Nancy. She was eleven. Nancy thought Bean was a pain and a pest. Bean thought Nancy was a booger-head. Ever since she turned eleven, Nancy had been acting like she was Bean’s mother. She ordered Bean around in a grown-up voice: “Comb your hair.” “No more pretzels.” “Brush your teeth.” “Say please.”
Bean’s mother said that Nancy was going through a stage. Bean knew what that meant. That meant Nancy was bossy. Bean also knew that nobody likes bossy kids, so she was trying to help Nancy be done with her stage. Here’s how she helped: She bugged Nancy until Nancy freaked out. Bean thought this was pretty helpful.
The afternoon that Bean got her great idea, she was shopping with her mom and Nancy.
Actually, Bean was being dragged along by her mom and Nancy. Bean hated shopping. Nancy loved, loved, loved it.
Nancy was trying on skirts. Lots of skirts. She put on a purple skirt. She looked at her front in the mirror. Then she turned to the side. Then she turned around and tried to look at her behind.
“Looks good,” said Bean. “Let’s go.”
“Be patient just a little longer, Bean,” said Bean’s mother. “I think it’s cute, honey,” she said to Nancy.
Nancy looked in the mirror some more. “Do you think the pockets are dumb?”
“I like the pockets,” said Bean’s mom.
