About This Book
A parent should reach for this book when their child is facing the pressure of a school project or needs a laugh-out-loud reminder that there are many ways to solve a problem. This installment of the beloved Ivy and Bean series finds the duo navigating the Emerson School Science Fair, where the high-stakes prompt is to find a way to cool down the earth. While their classmates build elaborate robots or attempt extreme physical feats, Ivy and Bean struggle to find an idea that feels big enough. The story beautifully captures the anxiety of wanting to stand out and the pure, messy joy of childhood creativity. It is an excellent choice for children ages 6 to 10 who appreciate humor, realistic friendship dynamics, and the trial-and-error process of scientific thinking. Parents will appreciate how it validates a child's unique perspective while providing a gentle, funny entry point into discussions about environmental awareness and teamwork.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
While the tone is lighthearted and age-appropriate, the book introduces the topic of global warming/climate change. This may require a brief conversation or cause mild concern for sensitive children experiencing eco-anxiety.
Ideal Reader
A second or third grader who enjoys spirited, slightly mischievous protagonists and is currently experiencing the excitement or stress of school-wide events and projects.
Parent Prep
Be ready to explain that global warming is the earth getting warmer and that while the kids' solutions in the book are funny or artistic, there are real things people do to help. This helps bridge the gap between the book's simple terms and real-world science. A child expressing that they aren't 'smart enough' or 'creative enough' for a school assignment because their ideas look different from their peers' ideas.
Age Experience
Younger readers (6-7) will focus on the slapstick humor and the funny things the other students do. Older readers (8-10) will appreciate the social dynamics of the classroom and the cleverness of Ivy and Bean's eventual solution.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many science-themed books that focus on successful experiments, this story celebrates the messy, 'failed' brainstorming process and the value of thinking outside the traditional scientific box.
Read plot summary
The second-grade class at Emerson School is tasked with creating science fair projects to combat global warming. Ivy and Bean are initially stumped, watching their classmates come up with complex (and often ridiculous) inventions. After several failed attempts at brainstorming, they decide on a unique, artistic approach involving a global 'stand still' movement to reduce heat. The book follows their creative process, the pressure of competition, and the final presentation at the fair.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Ivy and Bean felt frustrated when they couldn't think of a big idea right away. What do you do when you feel stuck on a project?
2
Many kids in the class had ideas that were impossible, like holding their breath forever. Why do you think they chose those ideas instead of something simpler?
3
At the end of the book, Ivy and Bean decide to 'cool the earth' by having everyone stay still. How did their project make the other people at the science fair feel?
4
If you had to invent something to help the planet, what is the first crazy idea you would think of?
