Sally Warner

EllRay Jakes is tired of being bullied by fellow classmate Jared Matthews. But when EllRay tries to defend himself, he winds up in trouble. Then his dad offers him a deal: If he stays out of trouble for one week, they'll go to Disneyland! EllRay says he can do it. But saying it and doing it are two very different things.

Third-grader EllRay is becoming famous for messing up, and when his little sister accidentally kills EllRay's class goldfish, and then he forgets his teacher's read-aloud book at home, it only makes matters worse.

EllRay Jakes may be the shortest kid in his class, and he may get into trouble from time to time, but he can always count on his best friends Kevin and Corey. But lately, Kevin has been skateboarding with the meanest boy in class. Could EllRay be losing one of his friends? Not giving up without a fight, EllRay asks his older neighbor to show him a few jaw-dropping skateboard moves--like ollies and kickflips. EllRay must learn as many tricks as he...

All the boys in EllRay's third-grade class have something they can brag about. Corey's on the swim team, Kevin is super tall, Jared's dad has an ATV. But EllRay's dad is a geologist - not much to brag about. After all, rocks are boring. Then EllRay sees the crystals in his dad's office, and they are really cool looking. If EllRay just "borrows" them to show his classmates, he knows they'd be impressed. And his dad will never have to know. It's a perfect...

EllRay Jakes finally grows up (a little) by playing basketball in this ninth book in the series. There's a new game in town: basketball! Or in EllRay's case, "pre"--Basketball. Coach Havens has all the third graders dribbling, passing, and shooting, and he's quick to compliment EllRay's skills. No one else seems to notice them, however, and as 'the shortest kid in the class, ' EllRay is still chosen last for teams at recess. What's a short guy gotta...

Alfie Jakes's summer was better than she expected. Even though her best friend Lulu was away on vacation, she found a new friend in her next door neighbor, Hanni. Hanni even let her take home a kitten! Now that second grade is about to start and Lulu is back in town, Alfie is worried. All she wants is for her trio to be first week friends, but what if Lulu and Hanni don't get along? Her secret first week, second grade wish is for them to become friends....

It's almost Halloween at Alfie's school and everyone is excited to dress up in costumes for the class Halloween party. Shy Bella asks Alfie if she wants to be bunny rabbits together, but then all of Alfie's other friends are going to be princesses! Alfie is so torn. Can she be both ... and not hurt anyone's feelings? Probably not!

In 1882 Hattie, a fourteen-year-old orphan, joins her cousin Sophie in attending boarding school at Miss Bulkley's Seminary for Young Ladies in Tarrytown, New York, and tries to find her place in the world.