Our young readers tend to enjoy books like Ivy and Bean with fun characters, descriptive illustrations throughout and relevant topics for kids.  My only criticism is the seemingly random scene mid-way through the book when a rather menacing character, Katy, ties up the main characters and threatens to cook them alive if they don’t march.  She then proceeds to tie Ivy and Bean to a railing, goes to get more ropes and says she will string them up and that they should “prepare to meet your maker!”  On the next page, the girls are back in class and Katy isn’t mentioned again.  This scene is bizarre and scary and seems completely unnecessary to the storyline.  I will have to test this book out on my elementary audience to make a final judgment.