Ivy and Bean: What's the Big Idea? Read Free

eyeballs almost popped out. “There’s recycling, I guess,” she said. “We could show how it’s good for the earth.”

    â€œBut everyone already knows about recycling,” said Ivy. “We’re supposed to have a
new
idea.”
    They thought some more.
    Bean’s dad came into the kitchen. He looked at their thinking faces and sat down at the table next to Bean. “What’s happening, kidalunks?”
    â€œWe need an idea to stop global warming,” said Bean.
    â€œEasy,” he said. “Get rid of cars.”

    â€œDad, we’re seven. We don’t have cars. We need something we can do for a science fair.”
    â€œOh,” said her dad. He leaned against the back of his chair and frowned. For several moments it was quiet.
    Suddenly, he snapped his fingers. “Okay! Got one! You guys can make posters that remind people to turn out the lights! You know, to save electricity. You could have a slogan, like ‘Lights Out When You’re Out!’” He smiled at them proudly. “Isn’t that good?”
    Bean and Ivy exchanged looks. “Yeah, Dad,” said Bean. “Great. Thanks.”
    â€œWell!” he said. “I’m going to go clean out the drains.”
    â€œOkay,” said Bean. Ivy and Bean watched as he left the room. Then they looked at each other and shook their heads. “That has got to be the most boring idea ever,” said Bean.
    â€œYou know grown-ups,” said Ivy. “They don’t have very good imaginations.”
    Ivy and Bean began thinking again.
    â€œWhat if . . .” began Ivy and stopped. She stared at the refrigerator. “Ice cubes!”

    Bean looked at the refrigerator, too. “What about them?”
    â€œThink—how do you cool down a hot thing?” asked Ivy, “Ice cubes! If we could put ice cubes up in the sky, the air would get colder, right?”
    â€œRight,” said Bean. “But how are we going to put ice cubes in the sky?” asked Ivy.
    â€œWell, in real life, they’d probably have to drop them out of airplanes, but for the science fair, we could just throw them up in the air to show what we mean.”
    Bean slapped her hand on the table. “Great idea! And easy, too!”
    A minute later, they were running out Bean’s back door with all the ice cubes theycould find in the freezer. The next minute, they were running back inside to get a thermometer from the bathroom closet. And the minute after that, they both stood on Bean’s trampoline, holding bowls full of ice cubes.
    â€œThe higher we can throw them, the more they’ll cool down the weather,” Ivy said, looking at the sky.
    â€œOn your mark,” said Bean. “Get set. Go!” Together, they began to bounce, higher and higher, higher than they had ever been before.
    â€œI can see my house,” yelled Ivy.
    â€œI can see the North Pole!” shouted Bean. But that reminded her of what they were supposed to be doing. “You ready?”
    â€œYup.” Ivy scooped up a handful of ice. “We have to do it quick.”
    Together, they boinged as high as they could get and hurled the ice up into the air. “Quick, quick, get the thermometer!” yelled Bean. Flinging her bowl to the ground, Ivy snatched the thermometer and bounced up again, waving it in the air.

    â€œIt’s definitely cooler up there,” said Bean, collapsing onto the trampoline. “What’s it say?”
    Ivy slowed down and peered at the thermometer. “I don’t know,” she said. “It looks like 37.”
    â€œThat’s cold,” said Bean. “I can feel it. Lookit—I’m shivering.” Ivy looked.
    Bean’s backyard gate swung open. Nancy and her friend Mischa came in, giggling. They stopped when they saw Ivy and Bean. Nancy looked at the lawn. “Why is there ice all over the backyard?” she asked.
    Bean would never have