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Ivy & Bean #6
Doomed to Dance
A Netflix Original Film Series
A New York Times Bestselling Series
Over 8 Million Copies Sold
Finally! After begging their parents for ballet lessons, Ivy and Bean finally get what they want...well, not exactly. Much to their surprise, it turns out ballet lessons do not include karate chops and roundhouse kicks to the villain's heart. The girls have no interest in learning how to dance gracefully, but they promised their parents they would finish the entire ballet course! When it comes time for Ivy and Bean to participate in the ocean-themed class recital, the girls must figure out a way to get out of it without breaking their promises.
A New York Times Bestselling Series
Over 8 Million Copies Sold
Finally! After begging their parents for ballet lessons, Ivy and Bean finally get what they want...well, not exactly. Much to their surprise, it turns out ballet lessons do not include karate chops and roundhouse kicks to the villain's heart. The girls have no interest in learning how to dance gracefully, but they promised their parents they would finish the entire ballet course! When it comes time for Ivy and Bean to participate in the ocean-themed class recital, the girls must figure out a way to get out of it without breaking their promises.
122 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2009
418 people are currently reading
1251 people want to read
About the author
Annie Barrows
81 books986 followersAnnie grew up in Northern California, and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, with a degree in Medieval History. Unable to find a job in the middle ages, she decided upon a career as an editor, eventually landing at Chronicle Books in San Francisco, where she was in charge of "all the books that nobody in their right mind would publish." After earning an M.F.A. in Creative Writing at Mills College, Annie wrote (as Ann Fiery) a number of books for grown-ups about such diverse subjects as fortune-telling (she can read palms!), urban legends (there are no alligators in the sewer!), and opera (she knows what they're singing about!). In 2003, Annie grew weary of grown-ups, and began to write for kids, which she found to be way more fun.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
April 29, 2015
Ivy and Bean are two girls who start out thinking they are opposites (in Book 1) but become best friends. Bean is the shorter, darker one. She loves practical jokes, uses "bad" (for a 7-year-old) language, loves mud, the outdoors, and playing Starving Orphans. Ivy is a soft-spoken redhead who always wears dresses and loves to read. Together they make a formidable team.
This is Book 6. It all begins when Ivy's grandmother sends her a book about ballet. Ivy and Bean quickly become fascinated with GISELLE, a kind of spooky ballet that involves suicide, ghosts, and vengeful spirits called the Wilis who dance men to death. Of course Ivy and Bean act out this ballet over and over again (although Ivy's mom won't let them dance with a knife, so they have to pretend to stab themselves with a baseball bat).
This eventually leads the girls to ask their parents for ballet lessons. Their parents are reluctant because the girls quickly tire of things and have already quit different activities. But the girls beg and beg. Their parents give in, but first make the girls promise that they have to go to every lesson, and the recital, and NO COMPLAINING. They quickly agree.
However, the soon realize that ballet is not fun and far from doing GISELLE, they are just learning the positions and "pretending to be kitties." Ivy and Bean are clumsy ballet dancers and also out of their minds with boredom. It gets even worse when they find out that for the recital they will be performing a ballet called "Wedding Beneath the Sea." They have to be squids!
Ivy and Bean need to think of a way to get out of this - and fast.
"If only we could quit," Ivy moaned.
"But we can't," said Bean.
Ivy frowned. That meant she was getting determined. "There has to be a way," she said, determinedly. "Nothing is impossible."
Bean stared at her. "It's impossible for us to be good at ballet."
"Well, THAT, sure," said Ivy. "But it's not impossible for us to break our arms."
The girls think about it and decide breaking their arms would be too painful. Perhaps just spraining them? They drag the playhouse to the trampoline and plan on jumping from the playhouse roof, to the trampoline, to the ground. However, when they attempt this, the playhouse roof caves in.
So they decide to get sick. They look for sick people at school and approach them. They ask the sick people to breathe on them and/or rub their hands on them. Unfortunately, they do not get an illness of any kind. (This chapter is amusingly titled: Germs of Hope.)
The girls are giving up hope about weaseling out of the play when they receive the news that their class is making a field trip to the aquarium. Luckily, Ivy has been reading FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER (the book isn't mentioned by title, but it's obvious what Barrows is implying). Of course reading this book gives Ivy the wonderful idea to run away and live in the aquarium.
I won't tell you what happens after that but let's just say the girls go on a lot of adventures and get a happy ending.
I really like Ivy and Bean's strong friendship. I especially love the ways they stand up for each other. Bean stands up for Ivy in a loud, aggressive way (for instance, throwing worms at Nancy when she's teasing Ivy to the verge of tears in Book 1). Ivy stands up for Bean in a subtle, clever way (for example, in this book, when they are doing art prints in art class, Bean squeezes her fish too hard and bends it out of shape. When another kid makes fun of her for "ruining" her fish, Ivy informs the kid that the fish is pregnant, therefore restoring it's awesomeness and saving Bean from embarrassment.)
I like Ivy and Bean's teacher, Mrs. Aruba-Tate. She does a good job of keeping her class under control while also being gentle with the children's feelings. This is a rare and valuable quality in a teacher. Believe me, she has her hands full, but doesn't yell at the kids or even speak harshly to them. She just guides them and encourages them to make good decisions. I liked her, and it's clear that the kids adore her and want to please her.
Like always, Barrows has accurately portrayed life through a 7-year-old's eyes.
This is Book 6. It all begins when Ivy's grandmother sends her a book about ballet. Ivy and Bean quickly become fascinated with GISELLE, a kind of spooky ballet that involves suicide, ghosts, and vengeful spirits called the Wilis who dance men to death. Of course Ivy and Bean act out this ballet over and over again (although Ivy's mom won't let them dance with a knife, so they have to pretend to stab themselves with a baseball bat).
This eventually leads the girls to ask their parents for ballet lessons. Their parents are reluctant because the girls quickly tire of things and have already quit different activities. But the girls beg and beg. Their parents give in, but first make the girls promise that they have to go to every lesson, and the recital, and NO COMPLAINING. They quickly agree.
However, the soon realize that ballet is not fun and far from doing GISELLE, they are just learning the positions and "pretending to be kitties." Ivy and Bean are clumsy ballet dancers and also out of their minds with boredom. It gets even worse when they find out that for the recital they will be performing a ballet called "Wedding Beneath the Sea." They have to be squids!
Ivy and Bean need to think of a way to get out of this - and fast.
"If only we could quit," Ivy moaned.
"But we can't," said Bean.
Ivy frowned. That meant she was getting determined. "There has to be a way," she said, determinedly. "Nothing is impossible."
Bean stared at her. "It's impossible for us to be good at ballet."
"Well, THAT, sure," said Ivy. "But it's not impossible for us to break our arms."
The girls think about it and decide breaking their arms would be too painful. Perhaps just spraining them? They drag the playhouse to the trampoline and plan on jumping from the playhouse roof, to the trampoline, to the ground. However, when they attempt this, the playhouse roof caves in.
So they decide to get sick. They look for sick people at school and approach them. They ask the sick people to breathe on them and/or rub their hands on them. Unfortunately, they do not get an illness of any kind. (This chapter is amusingly titled: Germs of Hope.)
The girls are giving up hope about weaseling out of the play when they receive the news that their class is making a field trip to the aquarium. Luckily, Ivy has been reading FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER (the book isn't mentioned by title, but it's obvious what Barrows is implying). Of course reading this book gives Ivy the wonderful idea to run away and live in the aquarium.
I won't tell you what happens after that but let's just say the girls go on a lot of adventures and get a happy ending.
I really like Ivy and Bean's strong friendship. I especially love the ways they stand up for each other. Bean stands up for Ivy in a loud, aggressive way (for instance, throwing worms at Nancy when she's teasing Ivy to the verge of tears in Book 1). Ivy stands up for Bean in a subtle, clever way (for example, in this book, when they are doing art prints in art class, Bean squeezes her fish too hard and bends it out of shape. When another kid makes fun of her for "ruining" her fish, Ivy informs the kid that the fish is pregnant, therefore restoring it's awesomeness and saving Bean from embarrassment.)
I like Ivy and Bean's teacher, Mrs. Aruba-Tate. She does a good job of keeping her class under control while also being gentle with the children's feelings. This is a rare and valuable quality in a teacher. Believe me, she has her hands full, but doesn't yell at the kids or even speak harshly to them. She just guides them and encourages them to make good decisions. I liked her, and it's clear that the kids adore her and want to please her.
Like always, Barrows has accurately portrayed life through a 7-year-old's eyes.
March 4, 2019
Best friends Ivy and Bean learn that it's best to be careful what you wish for in this sixth installment of author Annie Barrows and illustrator Sophie Blackall's series of chapter-books devoted to their (mis)adventures. Looking through a copy of The Royal Book of the Ballet one day, the two second-graders discover a series of photographs from Giselle, and, misinterpreting one of the scenes, come to the conclusion that ballet involves learning to kick people in the face, or to dance them to death (as with the wilis). Pestering their parents, who (quite naturally) feel that this new interest will soon wain, and the new hobby be abandoned - much like softball, in Bean's case, and ice-skating, in Ivy's - the girls eventually succeed in enrolling in ballet lessons. Their horror, when they discover that Madame Joy's class involves nothing so dramatic as kick-boxing, is compounded by their promise not to quit, or to complain. Matters reach a crisis level, however, when they are cast as squid in the upcoming recital, and the two are soon embroiled in a scheme to run away...
Although I found the premise of Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance quite amusing - most books about ballet, for young readers, seem to take it as a given that it is a desirable and beautiful activity - and appreciated the charming artwork just as much as in previous installments of the series, something fell a little short for me here. I wouldn't say that there was anything wrong with the story, but I just wasn't as entertained as I expected to be. That said, I did appreciate the references to E.L. Konigsburg's From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler , when Ivy and Bean are plotting their escape to the aquarium, although I would have preferred if the book had been named, in the story. All in all, a pleasant but unremarkable addition to the series - we'll have to see if subsequent titles improve!
Although I found the premise of Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance quite amusing - most books about ballet, for young readers, seem to take it as a given that it is a desirable and beautiful activity - and appreciated the charming artwork just as much as in previous installments of the series, something fell a little short for me here. I wouldn't say that there was anything wrong with the story, but I just wasn't as entertained as I expected to be. That said, I did appreciate the references to E.L. Konigsburg's From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler , when Ivy and Bean are plotting their escape to the aquarium, although I would have preferred if the book had been named, in the story. All in all, a pleasant but unremarkable addition to the series - we'll have to see if subsequent titles improve!
March 19, 2025
My niece, Nina, was reading this book and gave it five starts, so I picked it up to read with one of my grade school students.
It tells the story of best friends Ivy and Bean and their foray into the world of ballet. They are disappointed when their local ballet group is very different from the sweeping, epic stories, like "Giselle," that they read about in a book. They're doubly disappointed when they get assigned the part of "friendly squids" for their upcoming recital. After some hijinks and a trip to the aquarium, Ivy and Bean change their attitude towards ballet.
I liked that this story featured unlikely best friends. Bean is a little unpredictable, manic, and messy. Ivy is thoughtful, considered, and self-contained. This gives young readers two different characters to connect and identify with and they are both equally important, as opposed to one being played off against the other. I also love the teacher character, Ms. Aruba-Tate (weird name, though!).
I knocked a star off for the lack of continuity throughout the book-- there's multiple chapters introducing the ballet class, the teacher, and the other girls taking ballet, but those characters are kind of "abandoned" and don't come into play again. Personally, I would have liked an adult male character in the book. I did think the ending was too quick, making this book a little "top heavy," but it leaves the conclusion a bit open for young readers who might like to imagine or guess about what the recital is finally like and whether or not Ivy and Bean continue with ballet.
Here are some of the comprehension and analysis questions I used with my student while reading this book (spoilers involved!):
What do you think is going to happen at the end of the book? Right now Ivy and Bean are runaways… do you think someone will find them? If so, who? Do you think that they’ll have to go to the ballet recital?
Have you ever thought about running away? Do you think it would be difficult or hard? Why?
Have you ever had to do something that you didn’t want to do (like Ivy and Bean’s dance recital)? What was the thing and how did you deal with it? What advice would you give someone who had to do something difficult in their own life?
Ivy and Bean are best friends but their personalities are very different. Do you think that it’s more common to get along with people who are different from us or people that are the same as us? Why?
Do you think that Ivy and Bean received appropriate punishment from Ms. Aruba-Tate and their moms for trying to run away? If yes, why do you think it is appropriate? If not, what type of punishment do you think would be better?
At the end of the story, Ivy and Bean are attracted to the part of “squid” in their ballet recital because the squid is scary and powerful. Why do you think they are attracted to a character that is scary and powerful? Would you be attracted to a similar character? Why or why not?
There are no adult men in this story. Ivy and Bean don’t tell us anything about their dads. Do you think the story is complete without adult men? If so, why? If not, how could adult men make this story more interesting?
It tells the story of best friends Ivy and Bean and their foray into the world of ballet. They are disappointed when their local ballet group is very different from the sweeping, epic stories, like "Giselle," that they read about in a book. They're doubly disappointed when they get assigned the part of "friendly squids" for their upcoming recital. After some hijinks and a trip to the aquarium, Ivy and Bean change their attitude towards ballet.
I liked that this story featured unlikely best friends. Bean is a little unpredictable, manic, and messy. Ivy is thoughtful, considered, and self-contained. This gives young readers two different characters to connect and identify with and they are both equally important, as opposed to one being played off against the other. I also love the teacher character, Ms. Aruba-Tate (weird name, though!).
I knocked a star off for the lack of continuity throughout the book-- there's multiple chapters introducing the ballet class, the teacher, and the other girls taking ballet, but those characters are kind of "abandoned" and don't come into play again. Personally, I would have liked an adult male character in the book. I did think the ending was too quick, making this book a little "top heavy," but it leaves the conclusion a bit open for young readers who might like to imagine or guess about what the recital is finally like and whether or not Ivy and Bean continue with ballet.
Here are some of the comprehension and analysis questions I used with my student while reading this book (spoilers involved!):
What do you think is going to happen at the end of the book? Right now Ivy and Bean are runaways… do you think someone will find them? If so, who? Do you think that they’ll have to go to the ballet recital?
Have you ever thought about running away? Do you think it would be difficult or hard? Why?
Have you ever had to do something that you didn’t want to do (like Ivy and Bean’s dance recital)? What was the thing and how did you deal with it? What advice would you give someone who had to do something difficult in their own life?
Ivy and Bean are best friends but their personalities are very different. Do you think that it’s more common to get along with people who are different from us or people that are the same as us? Why?
Do you think that Ivy and Bean received appropriate punishment from Ms. Aruba-Tate and their moms for trying to run away? If yes, why do you think it is appropriate? If not, what type of punishment do you think would be better?
At the end of the story, Ivy and Bean are attracted to the part of “squid” in their ballet recital because the squid is scary and powerful. Why do you think they are attracted to a character that is scary and powerful? Would you be attracted to a similar character? Why or why not?
There are no adult men in this story. Ivy and Bean don’t tell us anything about their dads. Do you think the story is complete without adult men? If so, why? If not, how could adult men make this story more interesting?
June 2, 2011
I only rate a book one star if I think it was really bad. I feel bad for the book when I rate it one star. So here is the nicest summary that I can give, it is not the best book in the series. Ivy and bean are reading a book about dance moves and decide they want to go to a dance class. They get signed up and it turns out completly differenty than they expected. They thought they where going to learn the moves the book talked about and they weren't learning anything that was in the book. Then for recital the teacher picked the youngest syudent, Dulcie to play the pain role. Ivy and Bean had to be squids (under the sea theme). They decided that to get out of being squids they shound break something. They tried that and it didn't work. Then they decide that when they went on the class trip to the aquarimum they would run away from the class and sleep their until recital was over. They went into a dark room with no lights and Ivy pressed a button that made a backlight on the tanks where the fish were. Bean pressed a different button and it made a recording of a persons voice play and then they started to watch a video. In the video they saw a giant squid the size of they screen but only its eye! They screamed and ran out of the room all the way to the front enterance and that was where their teacher, Ms. Aruba-Tate was. She said she was terrified and did not know where they were. They told the class what happened and they did not believe them. Then Ms. Aruba-TAte said to Ivy and Bean "So the whole time you two where lost in the aquarimum you did not bother looking for me our the class. Why did you girls not stop and ask a guard where we were or tell them you were lost on a school trip. I am very dissapointed in you. I will also have to tell your parents about what happened." Then when they got home Beans mom told her how angry she was at Bean and that they would talk about the punnishment at dinner with her father. Then Beans mom told them that they should go upstairs and try on their squid costumes for the recital. Then Ivy and Bean began talking and said that they did boring ballet and the next time they take dance class it will be more advanced and they will learn and do everything that was in the book and they should take another class next year. Hahaha. They will end up not liking it I bet.
December 21, 2009
Normally, I don't review children's books, but I've made an exception (yes, they do happen). I remember buying a set of Ivy + Bean books for The Girl from Diary of an Eccentric because one of the books had to do with dinosaur fossils and I had read on someone's blog (not sure who) that these books were fantastic. The Girl, suffice to say, loved them and told me all about the straws up the nose and other little tidbits from her books.
In Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance, Ivy and Bean are typical second-grade girls who are willing to try just about anything, and they sometimes find themselves getting into trouble or at least over their heads. In Doomed to Dance, the girls read a book about ballet and decide that they should take ballet, so they can become ballerinas in Giselle. The only problem is that ballet is not as fun or easy as it seems.
"'She doesn't leap like a kitty. She leaps like a frog,' Bean whispered to Ivy." (Page 24)
"'We can't be squids if we break our arms,' said Ivy. 'Remember what Madame Joy said? We're supposed to wave our tentacles gently to the passing tide. No way can we do that if we've got broken arms, Right?'" (Page 40)
While Ivy and Bean get into trouble -- and what kid doesn't? -- they always manage to find the positive in their situation or make amends. Some of the funniest scenes in this book are when Ivy and Bean try to get sick on purpose, having other kids cough and sneeze all over them. Young readers will laugh out loud at the antics of these young girls, and parents will enjoy these books because of the lessons they teach about responsibility and imagination. Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance is a fun read at nearly 130 pages, and these characters will worm their way into kids hearts easily.
In Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance, Ivy and Bean are typical second-grade girls who are willing to try just about anything, and they sometimes find themselves getting into trouble or at least over their heads. In Doomed to Dance, the girls read a book about ballet and decide that they should take ballet, so they can become ballerinas in Giselle. The only problem is that ballet is not as fun or easy as it seems.
"'She doesn't leap like a kitty. She leaps like a frog,' Bean whispered to Ivy." (Page 24)
"'We can't be squids if we break our arms,' said Ivy. 'Remember what Madame Joy said? We're supposed to wave our tentacles gently to the passing tide. No way can we do that if we've got broken arms, Right?'" (Page 40)
While Ivy and Bean get into trouble -- and what kid doesn't? -- they always manage to find the positive in their situation or make amends. Some of the funniest scenes in this book are when Ivy and Bean try to get sick on purpose, having other kids cough and sneeze all over them. Young readers will laugh out loud at the antics of these young girls, and parents will enjoy these books because of the lessons they teach about responsibility and imagination. Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance is a fun read at nearly 130 pages, and these characters will worm their way into kids hearts easily.
November 26, 2012
Ooops. Ivy and Bean have made a terrible mistake. Wanting to be Wilis or Giselle in ballet class, they get stuck being friendly squids. What a bummer! Even more embarrassing! Yes, Ivy and Bean book (#4)Take Care of the Babysitter was good,but I think this is the best now.
January 21, 2020
Too strange.
August 24, 2021
My ten year old loves this series and so do I. The stories are enjoyable, the characters so well-developed, and the relationships feel authentic. We're currently reading the whole series aloud for a second time.
March 2, 2013
I dare say, I have very little to complain about in this one. :P I am almost tempted to give it 4 stars, but looking at my list of 4-star books, my enjoyment of this one just doesn't match up. Certainly I would have rated it 3 1/2 stars if I could.
In this book, Ivy and Bean are convinced that they will love ballet, and they beg their parents for lessons. Not surprisingly, they hate it. Fortunately, their parents had the foresight to allow them to take lessons only under one condition: The girls can not quit. Moreover, they must participate in the recital.
To the girls' disappointment, the recital has an underwater theme, and they are cast as squids. Seriously, who wants to be a squid!? I don't blame the girls for wanting to find a way out of having to perform in the recital. They come up with some crazy ideas, and settle on running away.
Once again, the author makes reference to something in real life - in this case, the book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler (I had to Google the connection) - and I had to wonder why the book was not mentioned by name. What a great opportunity this would have been to introduce young readers to something of a children's classic. Unfortunately, most young readers probably would not make the connection, nor would they bother trying to figure it out.
What I really liked most about this book was the ending. Ms. Aruba-Tate's reaction to the girls' behavior was exactly what I hoped it would be. And in regards to the girls having to play squids in the recital - they happily found a way to make the most of an unpleasant situation.
In this book, Ivy and Bean are convinced that they will love ballet, and they beg their parents for lessons. Not surprisingly, they hate it. Fortunately, their parents had the foresight to allow them to take lessons only under one condition: The girls can not quit. Moreover, they must participate in the recital.
To the girls' disappointment, the recital has an underwater theme, and they are cast as squids. Seriously, who wants to be a squid!? I don't blame the girls for wanting to find a way out of having to perform in the recital. They come up with some crazy ideas, and settle on running away.
Once again, the author makes reference to something in real life - in this case, the book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler (I had to Google the connection) - and I had to wonder why the book was not mentioned by name. What a great opportunity this would have been to introduce young readers to something of a children's classic. Unfortunately, most young readers probably would not make the connection, nor would they bother trying to figure it out.
What I really liked most about this book was the ending. Ms. Aruba-Tate's reaction to the girls' behavior was exactly what I hoped it would be. And in regards to the girls having to play squids in the recital - they happily found a way to make the most of an unpleasant situation.
September 6, 2019
Ivy and Bean are back and ready for trouble. After a book of the ballet "Giselle," the duo come to the erroneous conclusion that ballet must be full of jumping, kicking people (preferably in the face), pretend stabbings and hauntings. After begging, pleading and making a slew of promises, Ivy and Bean find themselves enrolled at last in ballet. To their surprise, ballet is nothing at all like their imaginations and, worse yet, they are cast as the friendly squids in their school's upcoming recital. Now the friends are determined to find a way out of their commitment, no matter what it takes.
Ivy + Bean is a somewhat unusual series in that it appears girly and cute, but tends to lean slightly toward the obnoxious and macabre. With many young girls who actively or passively resist the stereotypes of "cute" and "girly," the series is a timely addition to the canon of juvenile girl reads. Parents concerned about Ivy's penchant for witchcraft will be pleased to see that it does not make an appearance in this book, and while the specifics may be unique, most children who have ever tried an extracurricular and gotten in over their heads will easily relate to this tale of childhood woe. A decent addition to a series more concerned with the reality of girlhood than the idealism.
Ivy + Bean is a somewhat unusual series in that it appears girly and cute, but tends to lean slightly toward the obnoxious and macabre. With many young girls who actively or passively resist the stereotypes of "cute" and "girly," the series is a timely addition to the canon of juvenile girl reads. Parents concerned about Ivy's penchant for witchcraft will be pleased to see that it does not make an appearance in this book, and while the specifics may be unique, most children who have ever tried an extracurricular and gotten in over their heads will easily relate to this tale of childhood woe. A decent addition to a series more concerned with the reality of girlhood than the idealism.
October 6, 2012
Don’t we all know kids who have begged, and I mean begged, for something? A puppy? a new toy? a glittering pair of shoes? Ivy and Bean, stars of the wildly popular chapter book series by Berkeley author Annie Barrows, are sure that ballet class is the perfect activity for them. They have seen amazing pictures of ballet dancers - Giselle kicks her pointed toe so fiercely toward the duke that she’s surely going to snap his head off! What kid wouldn’t want to do that?! So Ivy and Bean beg and beg and beg - with wobbly lower lips - to take ballet class. they promise that it will be different than iceskating or softball. And the promise: no quitting. And NO complaining. But that’s before they know... how ballet classes really are. Bean is completely bored, and Ivy keeps falling over. When the pair are given the roles of squids in the performance of “Wedding Beneath the Sea,” they decide that they have no choice but to run away! The Ivy and Bean series is so much fun to read aloud to children just ready to listen to chapter books. Come see how this pair of friends take to ballet class!
May 1, 2012
ivy and bean is a really humorous and funny book. it all started when these girls read a book about a ballet called gissele. they started to like it and they joined ballet classes. the day when they went it was a torture flips, balancing etc. there was one girl who they were jealous of. she did every single of her move smoothly and steady. one their teacher told them that they are going to do a play the bad girl turned out to be the princess and the girls were squids. one they they got an idea. they thought they could hide in the aquarium where they were going for a field trip. they explored and explored and also got lost but the teachers found them. finally when they went home they said ballet isn't bad after all. i really like these books i recommend them to everybody.
(mehaar)
I also enjoy the Ivy and Bean books. They are quite humorous and it always seems like situations that could happen to anyone. Make sure you edit your work as this is a public document. (Ms. Tammy)
(mehaar)
I also enjoy the Ivy and Bean books. They are quite humorous and it always seems like situations that could happen to anyone. Make sure you edit your work as this is a public document. (Ms. Tammy)
September 28, 2012
Ivy and Bean join "Just Grace" and Clementine as the new fun characters in chapter books for kids in grades 2 to 4. They have big ideas that are just a little bit wrong much of the time. In this book, the girls decide to take ballet so they can be fierce warrior dancers--and beg until their moms agree. Ballet class is not what they imagined--it is boring beyond belief, and when they are cast as dancing squids in an underwater wedding ballet, they decide they need to get out. Should they run away during a class trip to the aquarium? Touch sick kids? Hide out? Desperate measures lead to some funny outcomes. Sure to be a hit.
January 26, 2011
This book had a lot of humor in it. i just finished it. From this book you can learn that running away is more scary than you think as fun. it reminds me of a graphic novel i read last year. There was a lot of dancing in it. i just love it. I bet you'll love it too. The good part about this book is that if you don' get something just keep reading it then it will make more sence. Easy. The good part about it is that it only took me two days to read it, and I'm not a good reader. That is why I'm recamending this book to you.
December 23, 2009
What happens when you are in second grade and your read a book about ballet where Giselle dances the prince to death. If you are Ivy and Bean you beg for dance lessons.
Of course, reality is boring, but they promised they wouldn't quit. Then they find out that for the recital they have to be really boring squids. It's time to run away from home. A class trip to the aquarium intervenes.
Ivy & Bean are the new Ramona Quimblys.
Of course, reality is boring, but they promised they wouldn't quit. Then they find out that for the recital they have to be really boring squids. It's time to run away from home. A class trip to the aquarium intervenes.
Ivy & Bean are the new Ramona Quimblys.
May 31, 2010
I love Ivy & Bean...they're usually up to no good, but they're so cute doing it. Annie Barrows has definitely captured the "common sense" that 7 yr olds make of the world. For an adult many times that age, it's greatly refreshing to get a sense of the sheer imagination that children have.
June 18, 2011
These girls are hellions. The best part is definitely when they try to get sick by rubbing other kids rashes and asking people to cough and sneeze on them. Was a teensy bit concerned when they tried to break their arms. Fortunately, they didn't succeed.
May 26, 2016
"I liked this book. There was a part where they were reading in a book that if yon't clip your toenails when you are doing ballet, and you don't have bandaids, your feet will bleed through your ballet shoes!" -Bella, 7 years
June 11, 2024
Pretty great! This was the book I always meant to get to, because both of my older girls were dancers, but we petered out in this series before we made it. Now Orel, my new tiny dancer, was super excited to read about Ivy and Bean going to dance class. Worth the wait, and has aged well! I read these with the girls a decade ago and a lot has changed since then, in children's lit and elsewhere. The characters remain very realistic and relatable (which does not always happen as a series matures), and the author is able to be funny in a way that appeals to kids and adults at the same time--no mean feat! This book wasn't necessarily super dancey and I would have liked a tiny bit more of a conclusion, but the non-dance scenes at the aquarium made the book, so I forgave the author for those minor things. I could tell I had both of the kids on the end of a live wire, wondering what was going to happen. Fun read, and they're begging for more.
January 26, 2021
Bean and Ivy thought they loved Ballet. Their mother said, only on one condition are they allowed to do Ballet, they COULDNT complain! Now that they dont like it, how will they ever get out? Read to find out!
May 7, 2022
Such a fun addition to the series!
Loved the dance classes and the silly ways they try to get out of them.
The aquarium field trip was exciting and a bit scary when they see the squid video.
Love the pictures. Love the clever ending. We love Ivy and Bean!
Loved the dance classes and the silly ways they try to get out of them.
The aquarium field trip was exciting and a bit scary when they see the squid video.
Love the pictures. Love the clever ending. We love Ivy and Bean!
January 18, 2020
This is the first Ivy and Bean book I’ve read and it was fun! I loved that the story had a real problem to solve, but that it included enough silliness to make me laugh. Those squid costumes. 😂
July 9, 2012
i liked this book becuase it starts off in the middle of the story then tells the begging.Also this book shows what Ivy and Bean went through when they went to ballet.For example on page 1 Ivy states that its grandmas fault for sending her the book of ballet.Another example is that Ivy and Bean kept tripping in ballet class and they had to watch Dulce do all the moves (pg 26-27).also Ivy and Bean got stuck with being the squids (pg 34-35). If you love a funny book about two girls who love to try new things then this is the book for you.I say this because when Ivy and Bean find out that they are the friendly squids in the play they decided to brake their arms,get sick,and to runaway until the play was over. none of these plans worked out for them.When Ivy and Bean tried to brake their arms they broke the dollhouse instead.Also when Ivy and Bean tried to get sick they didnt even caugh once.Finally when Ivy and Bean tried to runaway the saw a squid staring at them ready to squish their guts out.This book is very funny with many adventures in it.There is also concequences in this book from Ivy and Beans behavior. What was challenging of this book was understanding the characters actions and emotions.I say this because Ivy and Bean never told how they felt about being in ballet or about being squids.Instead they decided to runaway,try to break their arms, and try to get sick.Also i do not understand why they dont look at how the class goes before actually trying it. A lesson that i learned is to see what the class is about before particapating in the class.for example,when the girls find out that they are not going to do the play Giselle, a girl that dances people to death (pg 9).Also when the girls promised their mothers that they would not quit or complain about ballet.Thats when they got stuck with being the two freindly squids.they could not complain to their parents at all.So they came up with a plan of running away when the class went on a trip to the aquarium.I learned my lesson from this book.I hope you learned your lesson from this series.
November 4, 2013
Ivy and Bean is bet friend. If you just look for title, you might think it is about math story, or weird story. Even me, I was thinking about strange story. But that was all wrong. Ivy has brown hair, and she always carefully (Only at first). Bean has black short hair, and she is so active girl. Now, they are best friend. Ivy was active, but she tried to hide that, or only Bean thought Ivy is quiet.
This story is about ballet, like the book cover shows. after read this book, I thought they are so unpredictable.
Ivy and Bean read magazine, that is about ballet. They saw the ballerina that has beautiful dance. Then they decided to do ballet. Only the first lesson, they give up. They said bellet is horrible. Though they want to stop the lesson, their mom already send the money, so they couldn't stop lesson. I don't know how feel is that, but they planned about escape from ballet lesson to use their trip in school. They heard from kids that they will go trip to aquarium. They thought they can hide in there for 30 days for do not get ballet lesson. In this part, I thought they are so silly. I hope them for success on their plan, but they didn't. they just get punish from teacher.
I recommend this book for second grade. I think this book is not match for fifth or sixth grade. Because this story show absurd escape story.
This story is about ballet, like the book cover shows. after read this book, I thought they are so unpredictable.
Ivy and Bean read magazine, that is about ballet. They saw the ballerina that has beautiful dance. Then they decided to do ballet. Only the first lesson, they give up. They said bellet is horrible. Though they want to stop the lesson, their mom already send the money, so they couldn't stop lesson. I don't know how feel is that, but they planned about escape from ballet lesson to use their trip in school. They heard from kids that they will go trip to aquarium. They thought they can hide in there for 30 days for do not get ballet lesson. In this part, I thought they are so silly. I hope them for success on their plan, but they didn't. they just get punish from teacher.
I recommend this book for second grade. I think this book is not match for fifth or sixth grade. Because this story show absurd escape story.
October 31, 2018
Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance, would have been more interesting if their grandmother had been allowed to come back into the picture periodically, other than at the very beginning to take the blame for getting the two interested in the ballet. The plot was not interesting, and the two characters were not developed at all, except what might be gleaned from the dialogue. And the illustrations were not very well inspired, just good enough for children, I'm guessing the illustrator thought.
Ive and Bean are two 2nd grade girls, but I'm not sure about their ages, the author did not make this entirely clear. They get the idea from a book their grandmother sent them about ballet. Their mother's remind them about the other activities they quickly lost interest in, but they would not be deterred, until they actually find out what it means to learn dance, and they become disenchanted with the whole scene, and their ballet teacher, and one show-offy student. But they promised no complaining, so they're stuck with it until the recital, which they also are not crazy about because they are supposed to be two squids in the sea. The ending is kind of chaotic and silly. I don't really recommend the book but children, 6-8, might still be interested in getting through it.
Ive and Bean are two 2nd grade girls, but I'm not sure about their ages, the author did not make this entirely clear. They get the idea from a book their grandmother sent them about ballet. Their mother's remind them about the other activities they quickly lost interest in, but they would not be deterred, until they actually find out what it means to learn dance, and they become disenchanted with the whole scene, and their ballet teacher, and one show-offy student. But they promised no complaining, so they're stuck with it until the recital, which they also are not crazy about because they are supposed to be two squids in the sea. The ending is kind of chaotic and silly. I don't really recommend the book but children, 6-8, might still be interested in getting through it.
October 7, 2015
Annie Barrowsin "Isa + Bea : Tuomittu tanssimaan" (Twinsy, 2014) on kahdesta kaveruksesta kertovan kirjasarjan kuudes osa. Pisteet muuten siitä, että näitä voi lukea ihan itsenäisinä tarinoina.
Isa ja Bea ihastuvat balettiin, koska näyttää ihan siltä, että siinä potkittaisiin kunnolla. Vanhemmat suostuvatkin viemään tytöt balettitunnille, mikäli nämä lupaavat olla jättämättä harrastusta kesken ja olemaan nurisematta. Valitettavasti baletti ei olekaan niin hauskaa kuin Isa ja Bea olisivat ajatelleet sen olevan, ja pahaksi tilanne muuttuu siinä vaiheessa kun heidät komennetaan esittämään lähestyvässä "Häät merenpohjassa" -näytöksessä kalmareita. Voisiko meriakvaariossa vierailemisesta olla apua...?
Annie Barrowsin pienet sankarittaret ovat anarkistisia velmuja, eikä kirjassa ole suoranaista opetusta, mikä Goodreads-arvioiden mukaan tuntuu hieman ärsyttävän joitakin amerikkalaisia lukijoita.
No joo. Veikkaan, että kohderyhmä saa kirjasta enemmän irti kuin minä, mutta lukihan tämän ihan kivutta.
Isa ja Bea ihastuvat balettiin, koska näyttää ihan siltä, että siinä potkittaisiin kunnolla. Vanhemmat suostuvatkin viemään tytöt balettitunnille, mikäli nämä lupaavat olla jättämättä harrastusta kesken ja olemaan nurisematta. Valitettavasti baletti ei olekaan niin hauskaa kuin Isa ja Bea olisivat ajatelleet sen olevan, ja pahaksi tilanne muuttuu siinä vaiheessa kun heidät komennetaan esittämään lähestyvässä "Häät merenpohjassa" -näytöksessä kalmareita. Voisiko meriakvaariossa vierailemisesta olla apua...?
Annie Barrowsin pienet sankarittaret ovat anarkistisia velmuja, eikä kirjassa ole suoranaista opetusta, mikä Goodreads-arvioiden mukaan tuntuu hieman ärsyttävän joitakin amerikkalaisia lukijoita.
No joo. Veikkaan, että kohderyhmä saa kirjasta enemmän irti kuin minä, mutta lukihan tämän ihan kivutta.
April 9, 2019
Ivey and bean were best friends and begged their parents to let them join a ballet class. Their parents knew that they would start ballet and then hate it and want to quit. That's exactly what happened. They learned that ballet was graceful and didn't have karate in it, but they both promised they would finish the course. They were then told that they would be the squids in the performance and they did not like that idea. Bean came up with the idea of running away from the class during their field trip to an aquarium so they wouldn't have to perform. When they ran away then went into a dark room but then a light came on and a squid was coming at them at a fast pace. They then screamed and their teacher found them, so they had to perform and almost broke their promise to their parents.
I gave this book 4 stars, I thought this book was very engaged and kept me on my toes. Along with the great plot, the illustrations really helped push the story forward. Overall I think that this would be a great story for younger students to read.
I gave this book 4 stars, I thought this book was very engaged and kept me on my toes. Along with the great plot, the illustrations really helped push the story forward. Overall I think that this would be a great story for younger students to read.
November 13, 2019
After months of begging, the girls' parents have finally decided to let them take ballet lessons. But when Ivy and Bean find out what ballet class is really like (i.e. they're not going to immediately jump into Giselle and instead must impersonate kittens) they're ready to quit. Except they promised their parents they would finish the class with NO complaining. But that won't stop the two friends from trying to find a way out.
Review questions for this book are available in the Nothing But Kids Books store on TpT!
TpT | Pinterest | Similar Titles | Series Review
Review questions for this book are available in the Nothing But Kids Books store on TpT!
TpT | Pinterest | Similar Titles | Series Review
November 4, 2018
Makayla’s Reviews (under 10 years):
"Ivy and Bean: Doomed to Dance" was fun to read and it sucked me in right away!
It was about how Ivy & Bean felt inspired to take a ballet class after reading a book. When they took the ballet class, they did not like it. They were not good at dancing. So, they tried different ways to get out of dance class. They tried to injure themselves and they tried to get sick. In the end, these tactics did not work.
I like this book because I liked the ideas they came up with to ditch ballet class. I kept laughing out loud at their antics. I remember not liking ballet class and I also tried to ditch the class. It did not work. Like Ivy and Bean, I learned running away does not work. I recommend this book to other kids.
"Ivy and Bean: Doomed to Dance" was fun to read and it sucked me in right away!
It was about how Ivy & Bean felt inspired to take a ballet class after reading a book. When they took the ballet class, they did not like it. They were not good at dancing. So, they tried different ways to get out of dance class. They tried to injure themselves and they tried to get sick. In the end, these tactics did not work.
I like this book because I liked the ideas they came up with to ditch ballet class. I kept laughing out loud at their antics. I remember not liking ballet class and I also tried to ditch the class. It did not work. Like Ivy and Bean, I learned running away does not work. I recommend this book to other kids.
May 7, 2018
Ivy and Bean are off on another adventure, this time on the ballet floor. They become interested in ballet after reading a book Ivy's grandma gave her called The Royal Book of the Ballet. The book was about a girl named Giselle who used ballet to take off the head of the duke, which inspired Ivy and Bean to beg their mothers to sign them up for ballet. After several lessons, they decide they do not like ballet, so they come up with a plan that will surely omit them from being squids in the upcoming ballet recital.
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