Parents' Guide to

Ivy + Bean One Big Happy Family: Ivy + Bean, Book 11

By Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Ivy tries to prove she's not "spoiled" in funny, warm tale.

Book Annie Barrows For Beginning Readers 2018
Ivy + Bean One Big Happy Family: Ivy + Bean, Book 11 Poster Image

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What's the Story?

IVY + BEAN ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY begins when the two girlfriends are helping their teacher clean and decorate their second grade classroom for Open House. After the bell rings and the kids go outside, an exhausted Ivy says, "I've never cleaned that hard in my whole life." Her classmate Vanessa says, "That's because you're an only child. ... Only children never do any work. That's why they're usually spoiled." This gets to Ivy, and throughout the story she comes up with various ways to get "unspoiled," including asking "the gods" to send her a baby sister -- after she sees gods floating in the clouds on a pickle jar with the slogan, "Barney's Extra Sour Dills, Pickles of the Gods." Bean comes up with equally kooky ways to solve Ivy's problem, all the while being supportive of her best friend.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
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Kids say (1 ):

This funny, lighthearted story shows Ivy and Bean supporting each other as they try to prove that Ivy is not "spoiled" just because she's an only child. Rock-solid elements of grade school drama -- a kid making another kid feel bad because she's different in some way -- combine with wacky, inventive, kid-devised schemes to make Ivy + Bean One Big Happy Family a lively, entertaining read with heart.

Like real kids, the two best friends come up with (and abandon) creative ideas and imaginative plans one after the other, and nothing gets too serious. Yet the underlying message is sweet: You don't have to accept some name someone calls you out of ignorance and stereotyping. It's especially nice to see Bean stand up for Ivy and vouch for her good, generous character to the other kids, amid all their harebrained schemes. As always, Sophie Blackwell's abundant illustrations help move the story along with wit and charm.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the issue of being a "spoiled child" is treated in Ivy + Bean One Big Happy Family. Is it mean to call a kid spoiled? How does it affect Ivy to be called that? How does Bean stand up for her?

  • Is it fair to assume that it's better for kids to have brothers and sisters than to be an only child? Why do kids sometimes put down only children?

  • How much time do you spend making up games and activities on your own rather than playing video games or watching shows and movies on screens? Are there ways you could try to have more free play and spend more time outside?

Book Details

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