Ivy + Bean
Annie Barrows
Ivy + Bean
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
One Big Happy Family
by Annie Barrows
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
What if having a baby sister was the secret to not being spoiled? Ivy has read all about only children who never share or listen, and she’s determined not to be like that. But how do you get a baby sister fast? Ivy and Bean have a plan, and it’s about to get hilariously complicated!
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade book follows Ivy and Bean as they navigate friendship and family dynamics with humor and heart. It explores themes of sibling relationships, sharing, and growing up, making it suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. The story is lighthearted with no intense content, perfect for encouraging reluctant readers.
Why we rated Ivy + Bean 9C
Ivy + Bean is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 124 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Ivy + Bean works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Ivy + Bean as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Ivy + Bean explores friendship, humor, family, and girls & women — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, humor, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781452164007
- Pages
- 124
- Publisher
- Chronicle Books
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction