Get to Work!

February 1, 2021
Grades 1-3 The school career fair provides unexpected inspiration for Ivy and Bean. After wandering around the cafeteria and talking with a banker, an architect, and a plumber, the girls notice a crowd of students clustered around the table where Eliza's grandpa describes his occupation: treasure hunter. Unable to afford a metal detector, Ivy and Bean start their own search relying first on intuition, then random digging, and finally a divining rod that each girl uses to guide the other toward "discovering" loot buried in their yards. The next day at recess, all the second-grade treasure hunters compare their finds, trade put-downs, and experience disillusion with their chosen career, before starting a swapping session that leaves them feeling like winners. Grounded in everyday details of primary-grade children's experiences, Barrows' amusing narrative is just right for the audience. Blackall's expressive black-and-white illustrations brighten every double-page spread while clarifying terms such as divining rod. The twelfth volume in the dependable Ivy and Bean series delivers an engaging story for kids moving up to chapter books.

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May 1, 2021

Gr 1-4-In the latest "Ivy and Bean" tale, the principal visits the girls' classroom to announce a career fair. There, the second graders are inspired to become treasure hunters. The classmates uncover various treasures including a broken plate, a lost toy, a hoard of cans, and a bunch of change. Feeling left out, Ivy and Bean use a divining rod (and some creativity) to locate things in each others' yards-they have each hidden items for the other to find. After a show-and-tell among the classmates, an exchange ensues, and Ivy and Bean are content to return to their pre-career fair plans for their futures. As always, Barrows's concise, clever text captures a child's voice and perspective. Characters are fully realized with age-appropriate thoughts, actions, and attitudes. This accessible story will appeal to children ready for short chapter books and will work equally well read aloud. Depicting a diverse classroom of distinctive students, Blackwell's signature black-and-white illustrations break up the text and bring Barrows's characters to life. Though this is the 12th in the series, it stands on its own; however, new readers will want to discover the duo's previous adventures. Ivy and Bean are both cued as white. VERDICT This funny, engaging story is an excellent addition to all libraries, and a must for those stocking the series.-Amy Lilien-Harper, Wilton Lib., CT

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2021
The twelfth (and final) book about Ivy and Bean finds these best friends still in second grade but hurtling toward their futures by way of career day at school. Bean wants to be an arborist because of the potential for tree-climbing, but the career fair doesn't offer that. Bypassing the banker, dentist, plumber, yoga instructor, and others, the two join a crowd at the back of the room where "Herman, Treasure Hunter" is holding court with his metal detector and a few of his discoveries. ("Ms. Aruba-Tate seemed surprised that all the kids in her class wanted to be treasure hunters when they grew up.") Blackall's spot art captures the fervor and diligence of the friends as they undertake their search for treasure, making each page more entertaining as well as more convincing. New readers will find funny situations and a fast-moving plot to enjoy; and although Ivy and Bean unfortunately end up with little to show for their efforts, they find there are other ways to score treasure. The girls' infectious spirit, combined with their unique skill sets, should prepare them well for any careers they decide upon. Julie Roach

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from March 15, 2021
Iconic second graders Ivy and Bean are back for their final outing. Two little girls couldn't be much more different. Bean's mind races in remarkable (but ever so age-appropriate) circles, making it hard to stay on task, and Ivy is as quiet and contained as Bean is boisterous. But the pair are perfect together, always finding clever ways to sort out their differences and making fun out of just about any small idea. This time it's treasure hunting. After learning at a career day about what magical and valuable items could be found if they just could afford a metal detector, the girls decide to use their "special sense" of what's lost, inspiring lots of hole-digging but very little treasure-finding. It's only after they secretly hide treasured items for each other that they meet with remarkable and very satisfying success. Many of the children who read the first Ivy + Bean book as second graders in 2006 are now, unbelievably, college graduates. But the series has remained fresh and relevant, offering a perfect first dip into chapter books for a whole new generation of readers. Like the others in the series, this effort combines Barrows' nicely developed characters and her hilarious, easy-to-read take on juvenile adventures with Blackall's spot-on Chinese ink illustrations on every spread, with purely delightful results. Ivy and Bean both present White; their classmates are diverse. The final, delicious entry in a much-loved series. (Fiction. 6-9)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2021
The twelfth (and final) book about Ivy and Bean finds these best friends still in second grade but hurtling toward their futures by way of career day at school. Bean wants to be an arborist because of the potential for tree-climbing, but the career fair doesn't offer that. Bypassing the banker, dentist, plumber, yoga instructor, and others, the two join a crowd at the back of the room where "Herman, Treasure Hunter" is holding court with his metal detector and a few of his discoveries. ("Ms. Aruba-Tate seemed surprised that all the kids in her class wanted to be treasure hunters when they grew up.") Blackall's spot art captures the fervor and diligence of the friends as they undertake their search for treasure, making each page more entertaining as well as more convincing. New readers will find funny situations and a fast-moving plot to enjoy; and although Ivy and Bean unfortunately end up with little to show for their efforts, they find there are other ways to score treasure. The girls' infectious spirit, combined with their unique skill sets, should prepare them well for any careers they decide upon.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)