Not Really Buddies - (Buddy and Bea) by Jan Carr

About the Book

It is the first day of second grade and already Buddy is disappointed because his class has a new teacher, not the one he wanted, and there is a new student, Bea, who is boisterous and much too pushy for the reserved Buddy--and who insists that they are friends.

Book Synopsis

A laugh-out-loud illustrated chapter book series celebrating the roller coaster highs and lows of life in a second grade classroom.

Buddy has a good feeling about second grade. He knows where to go, his best friend is in his class, and he's ready for a great year. And then Bea shows up--new, tardy, and showing off brand new stitches. Buddy was not expecting Bea.

Bea's fast talking and upside-down thinking leave Buddy feeling buzzy--and with his hair full of mayonnaise. How will he and Bea ever figure out how to get along in the same classroom community?

This funny and fast-paced series stars a hilariously unlikely buddy duo, making it irresistible to chapter book readers.

Review Quotes

"Nicely pitched to the audience, this chapter book is full of the singular, buzzy energy and earnestness of second graders along with appealingly broad but not chaotic humor. . . . Cheerfully fun and lighthearted, with a relatable protagonist."--Kirkus Reviews

"Carr (Star of the Party) employs cheerful wordplay, situational comedy, and classic personality clashes in this bustling story which offers glimpses of Buddy's and Bea's inner lives and lays the groundwork for future installments."--Publishers Weekly

"Mukai's boisterous cartoon illustrations are full of action and complement the energetic text. A funny and likable unlikely buddy comedy for independent readers."--Booklist

About the Author

Jan Carr is the author of more than fifty books, including picture books and books in popular series. She has worked as a Head Start teacher, a book editor, and a magazine editor at Sesame Workshop. She lives in New York City, where she bikes, goes to theater and ballet, and carts her compost to the farmers market. Visit her at JanCarr.net.

Kris Mukai is a cartoonist and writer who lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. She has drawn illustrations for The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Bloomberg Businessweek. Her self-published comic Commuter won the Medal of Excellence from the Society of Illustrators. She currently works as a writer at Cartoon Network and has written on Adventure Time, Craig of the Creek, We Bare Bears, and the WBB spin-off We Baby Bears. In her spare time she monitors hawk nests in her neighborhood.