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Ivy And Bean: What's The Big Idea? (2010)

by Annie Barrows(Favorite Author)

4.14 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0811866920 (ISBN13: 9780811866927)

languge

English

genre

Middle Grade & Children's

publisher

Chronicle Books

series

Ivy & Bean

review 1: If you like the Ivy & Bean series, you will enjoy this one as well. This was 2011 Eleanor Cameron Award (Golden Duck for middle grades) finalist. Ivy and Bean work together to come up with an idea for their school science fair. The theme for their second grade classroom is global warming. The book takes us through some of their ideas that don't work, and leads us to the fair where we finally learn what their project is and whether or not it is successful. What I like about this book is that it approaches a very sophisticated scientific idea from the perspective of a second grader. Some of their ideas seem very silly, but they make sense when you understand what they were thinking that led them to their ideas. Their final project is wonderful and makes you think very carefu... morelly about whether or not it would work in real life.This is definitely a book to read with 2nd-5th graders. It may be a little simplistic for upper elementary grades, but I think it would be a nice introduction to global warming. It could also be used as a way for older kids to explain why Ivy and Bean's initial ideas, as well as some of their friends' ideas, will not work. For example, one of the students in their class has her brothers and sisters hold their breath for a total of 15 mintues a day in order to exhale less carbon dioxide. In order for a student to explain why this isn't such a good solution for global warming, he/she would need to have a firm grasp of global warming and be able to articulate his/her thoughts.I read one review that felt this was very unsophisticated introduction to global warming for children. I think you need to consider who the audience is. If it's too difficult, the students will not be able to understand such a complicated topic. I think it's perfect for the audience.
review 2: This is from a humorous series of realistic fiction featuring a couple of precocious 2nd graders. In this volume they tackle global warming through their participation in a science fair. It is friendly and light without be inaccurate in the science. The solution the girls come up with at the end is pitch perfect and what will make want to read additional books in this series. In general, it is quirky, funny, but not a brilliant piece of literature by any stretch. less

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