Tiny Tornadoes

Buddy and Bea

by Jan Carr, Kris Mukai (Illustrator)

A laugh-out-loud new illustrated chapter book series celebrating the roller coaster highs and lows of life in a second grade classroom.

It's the second week of school, and Buddy is wondering if the other second grade class might be more fun. They've even chosen a cool class name. How will his class ever compete? Especially when Ms. Maple says they shouldn't be competing at all?

In the second installment of this new chapter book series, Buddy and Bea are still sorting out how to coexist--and making plenty of hilarious missteps along the way.

Genres: Childrens, School

80 pages, Hardcover

Published July 11, 2023

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

These kids are chaotic! I love the lively illustrations and the fun characters!

The bookish talk and the way kids banter are the highlights here.

Have a fun time reading this book together!

[Raven Black · Rating 1 out of 5]

The character of Buddy has a lot going on. And he has survived his first week of school (almost). Still there are issues going on, problems, and even understandings of the grass might seem greener in the other classroom, but that does not mean it is. While book two is better than the first, as this time there is actually a story and not just an introduction as book one was, it still was too modern for my tastes.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I liked this one as much as the first, but again, it's a cute and sweet and lovely story that continues the tale of our friends Buddy and Bea and their adventures in second grade.

Thank you to Peachtree, the American Bookseller's Association, and Penguin Random House for the free ARC

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the second book in this series for young readers, Buddy Finn-Lee has survived the first week of second grade relatively unscathed. He's still trying to stay one step ahead of Bea, a new classmate who has decided that he's her buddy. Plus, the other second class with their teacher, Jabari, just seems so much better than his own. But Ms. Maple has possibilities. She piles all the books in the middle of the room, and then she asks the students to sort them into the appropriate baskets in order to familiarize themselves with their contents and subjects. And then there's the class name. The other class has decided to call themselves the Stellar Js, and Buddy's class struggles to come up with a clever name, finally landing on the perfect one for all the tumultuous actions that have occurred so far. Buddy's realizations that Cosmo from the other class isn't someone he wants to spend much time around and that he and his classmates have plenty in common but also some important differences that need to be honored might be the start of enormous growth. As with the previous title in the series, the digital artwork complements the storyline and characters perfectly, and there is enough gentle tension and intrigue to keep readers invested.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second Buddy 'n' Bea second-grade adventure, the title says it all. The classroom library, the science lessons, and the process of finding a cool moniker for Ms. Maple's class are all about to be hit with Tornado Bea. . .with a little help from her reluctant accomplice, Buddy, & friends. What a joyride to (re)visit the headspace of such creative, endearing, and comical young souls!

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Readers learn more about these two characters in book two but they still feel one dimensional. Each child in the class seems to have one role to fill and they don't change. I liked the idea behind sorting books and learning what books were available.