Ivy and Bean Take the Case

Gr 1–3—After watching an example of film noir with her mother, Bean immediately identifies with the hard-boiled detective star. She dons a hat, sets up a P.I. office and tries to talk without moving her lips, determined to solve a mystery on Pancake Court. Unfortunately, mysteries are hard to come by in her suburban neighborhood. so Bean practices on simple mysteries like "The Mystery of What's Under the Cement Rectangle" and "The Mystery of the Sleeping Mailman." Most of Bean's friends ridicule her newfound career, but not Ivy. Once again, in spite of their differences, Ivy and Bean join forces. They will most definitely solve the neighborhood's biggest mystery to date: "The Mystery of the Yellow Rope." Barrows provides a good introduction to mysteries for children who are beginning to read chapter books. In this 10th book (Chronicle, 2013) in the series, Barrows's knack for appreciating the young child's way of looking at the world is evident in her descriptive details. The story's humor will appeal to intergenerational listeners. Cassandra Morris's narration is flawless with perfect pacing for the early reader. With multiple prediction points that could be used in the classroom, this audiobook deserves a listen by your early reader.—Terri Perper, Middletown Public Library, MD