My 8yo and I are listening to all the Ivy Bean books AGAIN. This one made us laugh so much AGAIN. I thought it was worth a review. My daughter's been shaking her head and saying, "We've lost a few campers in nature study," in her "cowboy" voice all weekend. ("Nature study was one of the most important parts of camp. It was also the most dangerous.")

There is now an Ivy Bean show on Netflix, which doesn't quite capture the hilarity of the books. Ivy and Bean are both weird little kids who are funny because they're so random and creative. Obviously, a tv show can feel very scripted, staged, and stiff. A true Ivy and Bean vibe would feel like improvised chaos. ( )

I really enjoy this little series about two best friends looking for fun. ( )

Bean is jealous that her older sister Nancy gets to go to Girl Power 4 Ever camp, so Bean and Ivy make their own camp - Camp Flaming Arrow - in Monkey Park. Crafts (making friendship bracelets turns into escaping from knots, Houdini-style), nature study (hunting for Komodo dragons), and more attract other kids to Ivy and Bean's camp - and they get to make the rules. ( )

My favorite so far! Ivy and Bean start their own summer camp and they are a success! With their fertile imaginations, the "traditional" aspects of other camps turn in to something much more fun! My daughter and I both loved the twist at the end, when the girls take down their tent! :-)
We have our fingers crossed for a #10! ( )

Young Reader Reaction: Ivy and Bean are always welcome at our house, and our daughter loves reading - and laughing - about their adventures and perspectives on life.

Adult Reader Reaction: “Camp Flaming Arrow” is such an apropos camp name for Bean and Ivy … plenty of visual, plenty of irony. This is a book for the nonconformist conformists. The kids who, as a class, rebel against the dress code and all wear black! The story is funny, with laugh-out-loud moments, but also poignant. I loved the part at the end with Nancy visiting Camp Flaming Arrow. [No, I'm not giving away the ending!]

Pros: Whether you've never met Ivy and Bean or you are a long-time friend, there is plenty to enjoy in this summer camp saga.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.