New York Times bestselling series of books for children - Ivy + Bean. Meet Ivy and Bean, two friends who never meant to like each other: This boxed set, Ivy + Bean Boxed Set (Books 7-9) is a delightful introduction to these spunky characters. It includes the third of three books in the Ivy and Bean series. Author Annie Barrows talks about her award-winning Ivy + Bean series: One of the big problems of being a kid is that your parents often try to make you play with people you don't really like. My parents were forever trying to get me to like the kids of their friends. These kids were often weird. I didn't want to play with them. It was a problem.