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.

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 plan . . . until things go awry.

“Kids of all stripes will identify with EllRay and his unwittingly hilarious antics.”—BooklistEight-year-old EllRay is down to one-and-a-half best friends, and his little sister points out the obvious: he needs more! So EllRay decides to audition other boys for the part, the way his sister is auditioning for the lead role in her day care’s spring play. Now, EllRay has to come up with fun things to do at recess, because when he’s the Recess King, everyone w...

Small kid. Big Stage.Does EllRay have a talent to put on show for the entire school?When EllRay and his friends hear about the school talent show, they’re not impressed. They’re too old for that stuff. But their teacher, Mrs. Sanchez, isn’t so quick to let her students off the hook. Five students absolutely must try-out, and EllRay somehow ends up being one of them. Now he has to figure out something he’s talented at….like, maybe magic?But now the p...

Things are going just swimmingly for EllRay. He's finally getting along with most of the kids at school. He's even getting along with his family. But then everything comes screeching to a halt when his younger sister accidently overfeeds the classroom goldfish EllRay was supposed to be taking care of over Spring vacation. What is EllRay going to tell his teacher and the kids in his third-grade class? Fortunately, most of them are sympathetic. But not bossy Cynthia. She sees this as an oppo...

Publisher Marketing: When EllRay and his friends hear about the school talent show, they're not impressed. They're too old for that stuff. But Mrs. Sanchez their teacher isn't so quick to let her students off the hook. Five students MUST try-out, and EllRay somehow ends up being one of them. Now he must figure out something he's talented at....like, maybe magic? With some unexpected help from his dad, a scientist, EllRay begins to realize that he does have talent and brains, after all. And...

Sally spent five years over a ten year period volunteering in Mother Teresa’s homes especially in India. She met and chatted with hundreds of volunteers, locals, nuns and inmates. Now that adoptions from Mother’s homes have been stopped, 13 homes have been shut down yet Mother Teresa will become a saint on September 4 2016. This book describes a day in the life of a volunteer with in these homes as well as what life in India entails.

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 do to get no...

Emma is already upset when her mother cancels their traditional Friday night dinner-and-ice-cream plans, but it's even worse when she finds out why: Her mom has a date! Emma's best friend, Annie Pat, thinks it's so romantic, but Emma knows better. Fortunately, she has a plan to keep her mom all to herself. But when Emma's plan backfires, she starts to realize that maybe sharing her mother with other people has its advantages.

Seven-year-old Alfie Jakes has a kitten-sized secret in her debut chapter book—perfect for fans of the Judy Moody books!Seven-year-old Alfie Jakes isn't thrilled when her mom organizes end-of-summer playdates with her soon-to-be classmate, Hanni. Hanni is kind of bossy. So Alfie is relieved when Hanni is more fun to play with then she thought. Even better, she shows Alfie her cat--who has kittens! Alfie immediately falls in love with a little gray kitten and wants ...

The small kid with big problems returns in the seventh book of this beloved series!It’s almost Christmas and school is going great for EllRay. He’s “blending in” just the way he likes. So when his father tells him he should be proud to be part of the African-American “community,” EllRay isn’t so sure he wants to call attention to his differences. After all, he’s only one of two boys in his class with brown skin. And then, totally by accident, he insults the other b...