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sqeeker's review
3.0
- This book was pretty funny. I love that Ivy and Bean wanted to take ballet because they read about a gruesome scene from a ballet. Ha!
- It was funny to read about Ivy and Bean trying to get locked in the aquarium too. They have some fun shenanigans.
- I can't believe Gnome and I are still reading these. I think I need a break though.
- It was funny to read about Ivy and Bean trying to get locked in the aquarium too. They have some fun shenanigans.
- I can't believe Gnome and I are still reading these. I think I need a break though.
ikuo1000's review
3.0
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.
kismetically's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
abbythompson's review
4.0
A few true laugh out loud moments and I loved the scene with the squid! Was hoping for a "Best Christmas Pageant Ever" style ending, but alas, the book ends before the final performance.
serenaac's review
3.0
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.
jmshirtz's review
4.0
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.
gracezenzen's review against another edition
5.0
I think this was a really good book because it was a great adventure and I recommend this story to lots of people. It taught me that you have to be REALLY sure you want lessons before starting them.
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