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Quick answer: If you loved Ivy and Bean, read Judy Moody, Junie B. Jones, Clementine and Ramona Quimby. All feature funny, spirited girls who get into trouble and learn from it.
Annie Barrows's Ivy and Bean series, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, follows two very different girls who become best friends and have small adventures in their neighbourhood. The books are funny, short and perfect for early chapter-book readers. The books below share the same mischief and heart, for girls aged six to nine.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judy Moody Was in a Mood | Megan McDonald | Ages 6-9 | moody and funny |
| Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus | Barbara Park | Ages 5-8 | kindergarten comedy |
| Clementine | Sara Pennypacker | Ages 6-9 | lively third grader |
| Ramona Quimby, Age 8 | Beverly Cleary | Ages 6-10 | classic realism |
| Dory Fantasmagory | Abby Hanlon | Ages 5-8 | imagination |
| Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret | Wanda Coven | Ages 6-9 | magic school |
| Isadora Moon Goes to School | Harriet Muncaster | Ages 5-8 | half fairy |
| The Princess in Black | Shannon Hale and Dean Hale | Ages 5-8 | secret hero |
| Mercy Watson to the Rescue | Kate DiCamillo | Ages 5-8 | a pig and toast |
| Stella Diaz Has Something to Say | Angela Dominguez | Ages 7-10 | shy girl |
| Betsy-Tacy | Maud Hart Lovelace | Ages 7-10 | classic friendship |
| Amelia Bedelia | Peggy Parish | Ages 4-8 | literal humour |
| Pippi Longstocking | Astrid Lindgren | Ages 6-10 | strong girl |
| Anna Hibiscus | Atinuke | Ages 5-8 | family warmth |
| Dinosaurs Before Dark | Mary Pope Osborne | Ages 6-9 | time-travel adventure |
1. Judy Moody Was in a Mood by Megan McDonald
Judy has a bad first day of school and a lot of attitude. Fast, funny and very relatable.
Best for: moody and funny.
2. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park
Junie B. is nervous about riding the bus. Silly and sweet.
Best for: kindergarten comedy.
3. Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Clementine tries to fix a bad haircut and keeps getting into trouble. Illustrated by Marla Frazee, and very funny.
Best for: lively third grader.
4. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
Ramona starts third grade and discovers her own mistakes. Warm and funny, a standard for school stories.
Best for: classic realism.
5. Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon
Dory invents monsters to get attention from her siblings. Lively and silly.
Best for: imagination.
6. Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret by Wanda Coven
Heidi discovers she is a witch. Short and magical.
Best for: magic school.
7. Isadora Moon Goes to School by Harriet Muncaster
A girl who is half fairy and half vampire starts school. Sweet and pretty.
Best for: half fairy.
8. The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
A princess fights monsters in secret. Funny and fast.
Best for: secret hero.
9. Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
A pig loves buttered toast and saves the day. Gentle humour.
Best for: a pig and toast.
10. Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez
Stella is nervous about speaking up. A warm story about friendship and confidence.
Best for: shy girl.
11. Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
Two girls become best friends in a Minnesota town. Gentle and nostalgic.
Best for: classic friendship.
12. Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
A housekeeper takes every instruction literally. Silly and loved for generations.
Best for: literal humour.
13. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
The strongest girl in the world lives alone with her horse. A classic of mischief.
Best for: strong girl.
14. Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke
Anna lives with her large family in Africa. Cheerful and gentle.
Best for: family warmth.
15. Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne
Jack and Annie travel back to the age of dinosaurs. The first Magic Tree House book.
Best for: time-travel adventure.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Ivy and Bean: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For funny school stories pick Judy Moody, Clementine or Ramona. For imagination and fantasy choose Dory Fantasmagory, Isadora Moon or The Princess in Black. For classic friendships read Betsy-Tacy or Pippi Longstocking. For first chapter books try Mercy Watson and Magic Tree House. Short chapters and large print make most of these suitable for reading aloud. Because Ivy and Bean are short chapter books, they are ideal for children moving from picture books to longer stories. Read one chapter aloud, then let your child read the next. Many libraries have the whole series, so you can try a few titles from this list before buying. Series like Judy Moody and Junie B. Jones are good for readers who love humour.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ivy and Bean about?
Two very different girls become friends and have small adventures.
Who wrote it?
Annie Barrows, with illustrations by Sophie Blackall.
What age is it for?
Usually ages 6 to 9.
How many books are in the series?
Twelve.
Where should I start?
With the first book, Ivy and Bean.
Is it good for reluctant readers?
Yes, the chapters are short and the humour is strong.
Are boys welcome to read it?
Of course. The humour appeals to any child.
What should I read next?
Try Judy Moody or Clementine.
Are the books suitable for second graders?
Yes, they are aimed at roughly ages 6 to 9.
Are there other books with two best friends?
Yes, such as Betsy-Tacy and Frog and Toad.