The Janitor's Boy
When Jack Rankin gets busted for defacing a school desk with a huge wad of disgusting, watermelon bubble gum, the principal sentences him to three weeks of after-school gum cleanup for the chief custodian. The problem is, Jack's anger at the chief custodian was the reason for his gum project in the first place. The chief custodian happens to be Jack's dad. But doing time in the school basement after hours reveals some pretty surprising things: about the school, about Jack's father, and about Jack himself.
Jake Drake Class Clown
Miss Bruce is the new student teacher in Jake's second-grade class, and she never smiles. Never. But when Jake cracks up the class during a spelling bee, he sees the tiniest hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth. Suddenly, Jake has a new mission in life: to be so funny that even Miss Bruce will laugh! Jake Drake books are a series of chapter books that also include Bully Buster, Know-it-all, and Teachers Pet.
The School Story
Twelve-year-old Natalie Nelson has written a powerful school story. It's a short novel called "The Cheater," and her best friend Zoe is certain it should be published. All Natalie has to do is give the manuscript to her mom, an editor at a big publishing house. However Natalie doesn't want any favors from her mom. Still, Zoe won't drop the idea.
Things Not Seen
When fifteen-year-old Bobby wakes up and finds himself invisible, he and his parents and his new blind friend Alicia try to find out what caused his condition and how to reverse it.
Ringo Saves the Day
Carol and Ray are very sick. One day, their cat Ringo leads Carol outside. "Meow! Meow!" he says. Ringo digs in some rocks. Why is Ringo digging? What will he find? Ringo is about to save Carol's life!
The Handiest Things in the World
Eight fingers. Two thumbs. Two flat palms. And all those knuckles. But our hands are so much more than that. They were once the first pair of earmuffs, a primitive visor, and a convenient set of chopsticks. The work done by hands centuries and centuries ago paved the way for many of our favorite and most useful tools. The always-clever Andrew Clements reminds us all that the mother of much invention is right at our fingertips.
Naptime for Slippers
Slippers is a curious puppy. He is also a helpful puppy. But he is not a sleepy puppy, so Slippers does not like lifetime. He yawns. He curls up. He closes one eye. Then he closes his other eye. But he can't sleep. There are too many interesting smells and sounds for him to investigate. One by one, Slippers collects things he needs to feel cozy-Edward's shoe, Laura's cap, and Daddy's work glove, all of which smell just like them-and puts them in his little house. When Mommy calls him for a nice long walk, Slippers doesn't come. Finally, Slippers is ready for naptime.
The Landry News
Fifth-grader Cara Landry has not had a smooth school experience since her parents divorced, and now she has the worst teacher in school. (Mr. Larson hands out worksheets each morning and then sits back to read the paper.) Cara is a contained, bright, creative loner whose goal is to be a journalist. When she publishes her own newspaper, The Landry News, and editorializes on the absence of teaching in her classroom, her days of anonymity are over.