Beany and the Meany [Hardcover]

Susan Wojciechowski (Author), Susanna Natti (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Beany

In a brand-new Beany episode, the lovable worrywart gets stuck with a meany for a science-fair partner, but discovers the confidence — and the smarts — to hold her own.

It starts out being a good day, as Beany and her best friend, Carol Ann, sit together on the school bus, happily planning a backyard campout. But that's before Beany learns there's a new kid in class, a fun girl with whom Carol Ann is matched up as guide and welcoming committee. And it's definitely before Ms. Babbitt announces there's going to be a science fair — and suddenly everyone's paired with a partner but Beany and Kevin Gates, the notorious class meany. How can timid Beany work with a bully who bosses her around and calls her names (even if he's surprisingly good at science)? Will she ever work up the nerve to tell him her own great idea for clinching their science project?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-Kevin is the meanest kid in class, and Beany is a little bit afraid of him. Then, her best friend picks the new girl to be her partner for the science fair, and Beany gets stuck with him. She is worried, but, with their teacher's help, she and Kevin learn to work together and produce an A+ project. Fans of the previous books will welcome this installment with its sympathetic characters and lighthearted humor. Beany is a chronic worrier, and Wojciechowski doesn't give her any easy outs. The story progresses evenly as she works through her problems and conquers her fears. Frequent black-and-white cartoon illustrations enliven the text. A good choice for beginning chapter book readers, particularly children dealing with changing relationships.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4. The fifth entry in a series featuring quintessential kid Beany finds the grade-schooler with two problems: a best friend who seems to be straying to greener pastures, and meany Kevin Gates as her science-project partner. Carol Ann is appointed by teacher, Mrs. Babbit, to show the new girl, Stacy, the ropes, and when Carol Ann and Stacy pair up for the science fair, Beany is left with Kevin--who is good in science, but doesn't really want a partner. Yet, as expected, Kevin and Beany work together successfully, leaving Beany to consider the possibility that two friends might be better than one. Although the plot may sound canned, Wojciechowski does a terrific job of making typical lower-grade concerns feel fresh. Beany's Ramona Quimby-like sensibilities make her a popular heroine wrapped in an attractive package, which also includes some simple yet appealing ink drawings. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (May 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763626309
• ISBN-13: 978-0763626303
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,382,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beany Means Well, June 17, 2006

By 

Little Willow (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beany and the Meany (Paperback)

Two big things happen in Beany's classroom on the same day: a new girl named Stacy joins the class, and everyone teams up to do science projects. Beany's best friend, Carol Ann, pairs up with the new girl; Beany gets stuck with Kevin.

Beany knows what she likes: her family, her teacher, her best friend Carol Ann, and her stuffed moose Jingle Bell, campouts, and her big brother, sometimes. She knows what she doesn't like: Kevin. She think he's a bully and he thinks she's a nuisance. When they finally start working on the experiment, Beany learns that Kevin is smarter than she thought he was, and that he really likes science. Beany and the Meany is a simple, cute story about getting along and working together.

This story could have been heavy on jealousy and misjudging new classmates, but it wasn't, and that was nice to see. Instead of ditching her best friend for the new girl, it is made apparent from the beginning that Carol Ann was the "special helper" in the classroom that week, so she was assigned to help Stacy out. The two naturally became fast friends, as kids that age are so likely to do, and they spend a lot of time working on their own project together, but Carol Ann never outright ignores Beany nor vice-versa. Beany feels left out, but she is more sad than she is jealous. Of course, by the book's close, Beany has two new friends in addition to her best friend, and all is well.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beany and the Meany, August 11, 2008

By 

Mary A. Moore - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beany and the Meany (Paperback)

My grandaughter and I recently read this book together. She is seven and loved the book; both the story and the character of Beany. Beany is a great kid who faces a typical school dilemma with thoughtfulness, patience, courage and a sense of humor. When her best friend "deserts" her, she does not become whiny or grouchy and doesn't complain to her parents. When Beany is forced to do a school project with a classmate who she is not comfortable with, she does her very best to succeed and she does! The ending is a happy surprise. We are looking forward to reading all the Beany stories.

5.0 out of 5 stars A nice book with many helpful messages for young readers, June 22, 2008

By 

Jonathan Lupton (Little Rock , AR USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beany and the Meany (Paperback)

As the parent of a 7-year-old girl, I recently discovered Beany when my school teacher wife brought one of the books home. Since then I have read several with my daughter, and plan to purchase all books in the series. There are many similar books available to kids in this age group (my daughter calls them "chapter books"), but the Beany series are the best for our family at present. They can be read by good readers ages 7 and up, but are also short enough an adult can read them to a child.

Beany's problems are timeless - reading this title will bring back memories from childhood. The story conveys Beany's experience of being paired up with a difficult kid for a science fair project. Watching her friends Carol Ann and Stacy enjoying their project together, Beany feels understandably left out. My daughter had just experienced a similar problem with kids down the street, and I think reading the book helped put the issue in perspective.

The character Beany has pathos, a quality enhanced by the author's skill as well as by illustrations that seamlessly convey parts of the story. The book also subtly conveys a decent science lesson within an entertaining story line - bravo! Ms. Wojciechowski has an eye for a child's experiences, something I could feel as I talked the book over with my daughter. As a parent, I am grateful to the author for providing such a morally centered and meaningful read for my child.