Jerry Spinelli

The schoolyard rules are changing, and surviving means getting tough. According to the classic playground rhyme, first graders are babies, second graders are cats, third graders are angels, and fourth graders are rats. Now that Suds is officially in fourth grade, his best friend Joey insists it is time to stop being a nice kid. Fourth grade rats are supposed to be fearless. They say no to their mothers, push little kids off the swings, and absolutely never cry. Suds desperately wants to fit in and play the part, but every time he tries to act mean, something feels terribly wrong. Will Suds learn to toughen up and embrace the rat life, or will he discover that you do not have to be a bully to grow up? Enjoy a fast-paced, funny story about peer pressure, friendship, and staying true to yourself.

Earning your wings is much harder than it looks. According to the famous schoolyard rhyme, third graders are supposed to be perfect little angels. To prove it, George's teacher, Mrs. Simms, kicks off an intense monthly competition to award a special halo to the kindest, best-behaved student in the class. George, also known as Suds, is absolutely determined to be the very first kid to win the ultimate prize. He starts holding doors, rescuing stray animals, and even trying to be polite to his incredibly annoying younger sister. But being perfectly good all the time is exhausting, and the pressure is making Suds completely miserable. Does he have to be nice when the teacher is not looking? Will a single mistake ruin his chances forever? Enjoy this warm, hilarious chapter book that perfectly captures the stressful, competitive, and highly entertaining world of elementary school.