From the publisher
Susan WojciechowskiI, a former children's librarian, has written numerous books for children, including THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY, recipient of the prestigious Christopher Medal. "The inspiration for BEANY AND THE MEANY came from my daughter's experience with a science fair in elementary school," she says. "On the day of the fair, she and her partner saw the other glitzy, entertaining, and showy projects and decided the best hope for their very scientific project was third place. When they didn't get called for the third place award, they were so disappointed they tuned out and didn't even hear their names called as the grand-prize winners."
Susanna Natti is the illustrator of all the Beany books. Of BEANY AND THE MEANY, she says, "I can remember laboring with great concentration over a hand-drawn map for a class assignment, but alas, my map looked nothing like the map in the atlas. I completely relate to Beany's high expectations for herself and to her fears that her science project won't pass muster. I don't remember how my teacher eventually graded my map, but I sure do remember making it."
Excerpt
I was excited that a new girl would be in our class. I hoped she'd have short hair like me that maybe would stick out, like mine does when I sleep funny. I hoped she’d have freckles. I have lots of freckles—twenty-three to be exact. If Stacy had freckles, I wouldn’t be the only one mean Kevin Gates calls dalmatian.
Just then, Mr. Shanner, the principal, walked in with Stacy and introduced her. Stacy didn't look scared, the way I would if I was walking into a new classroom. She smiled and said hi to the class. She didn't have freckles. She had long brown hair in a ponytail that went way down her back. And she had lots of friendship bracelets tied around one wrist. Once Carol Ann and I made friendship bracelets for each other, but mine fell off in one day. I guess I didn't tie it right. When mine fell off, Carol Ann took hers off.
Ms. Babbitt showed Stacy where to sit and gave her all the books she would need. Then she said, "Carol Ann, since you're this week's special helper, I'd like you to be Stacy's guide and official welcoming committee." Carol Ann gave a big smile. I wished I was the special helper that week.
In the afternoon, as soon as we got back from recess, Kevin Gates yelled out, "What's the other earring for?" Ms. Babbitt made him raise his hand and ask again.
Then she said, "Boys and girls, let's go to the reading rug for my science announcement." The reading rug is a blue shaggy rug in the corner of the room where we sit when Ms. Babbitt wants us up close in order to show us stuff or read to us. She sits in a rocking chair and we sit on the rug. When we were settled on the rug, she said, "We're going to have a science fair."
Boomer Fenton's hand shot up. "What's a science fair?" he asked.
"It's an event at which students present science projects, and everyone who comes learns new and interesting science facts," Ms. Babbitt explained. Everyone groaned.
"I should be hearing yays, not groans, because the fair is going to be lots of fun. Each of you will pick a partner and find a science project to do. In two weeks, you'll present your projects. I won't grade them. Two judges will do that. One is Mr. Shanner and the other is Ms. Kowalski, who teaches science at the middle school. Awards will be given for the three best projects. But the grade isn't the important thing. The important thing is that all of you will be learning science."
Carol Ann was sitting cross-legged behind Stacy, braiding Stacy's long ponytail the whole time Ms. Babbitt explained. When Ms. Babbitt stopped talking, Carol Ann raised her hand. "I don't know any projects," she said.
"I have books here to help you," answered Ms. Babbitt. She had a stack of books on her lap. "These books are full of ideas for proving different science facts." She opened one of the books and held it up for us to see. "This page has a project to show that plants need light to grow." She flipped to the next page. "And see, here's a project showing that grass can prevent erosion."
Ms. Babbitt sounded excited, but I wasn't. I hate science. Once we had to learn about the planets, and I didn't study for the planet test because I was away at a wedding for the whole weekend. On Monday Ms. Babbitt told us to name the planets and write two facts about each one. I forgot about Jupiter. After the test Carol Ann said, "How could you forget Jupiter, Beany? It's only the very biggest planet in the whole world."
After she explained about the science fair, Ms. Babbitt told us to pick a partner. "Do it quickly because the bell is about to ring," she said. I got up and was heading toward Carol Ann when I saw her hugging Stacy like she had just picked her and was the happiest person on earth. I looked around at the rest of the kids. Elaine was good at science, so I went toward her, but before I got there, she had picked Linda. I thought of Kathie. She was fun. I headed in her direction, but before I could get to her, I saw that she was arm in arm with Gloria. I looked around. Everyone had a partner! I almost started to cry.
That's when a day that started out good got very, very, very bad. Ms. Babbitt had us go back to our seats. Then she asked if anyone was without a partner. Slowly I raised my hand. I saw one other hand go up at the front of the room. The hand was at the first desk in the first row, the desk where Kevin Gates sat so Ms. Babbitt could keep an eye on him. I quickly put my hand down. Maybe I could do a project alone or go threesies with Carol Ann and Stacy. But it was too late. Ms. Babbitt told Kevin and me that we would be partners.
"Tomorrow you'll meet with your partners to start planning your projects. Now it's time to line up for dismissal," said Ms. Babbitt.
I got in line. Kevin came up behind me and pulled on my backpack strap. It hurt.
_____________________
BEANY AND THE MEANY by Susan Wojciechowski. Copyright (c) 2005 by Susan Wojciechowski. Published by Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA.
