Blanche Sims

Summertime. It's hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk. Richard "Beast" Best and Matthew Jackson can't wait to dive into Emily Arrow's cool blue pool. But when they get there, Mrs. Arrow tells them that Emily has gone off to summer school. Summer school! How could they forget? That's exactly where they should be right now. Sitting in class, Beast still thinks summertime is the best time, and he and Matthew can always go swimming in the afternoon. But then Matthew gives Beast some bad news. It's up to Beast to think of a way to help Matthew fast--before the summer is ruined.

It's the first day back to school after winter vacation, and Richard Best is off to a bad start. Who ever heard of a January without any snow? And as usual, he has already forgotten something--the ruler Ms. Rooney had told him to bring for dinosaur day. Luckily Richard finds a ruler in his desk--with a dinosaur's initials--and he's sure the ruler is special. And then he finds out it has magic powers.



All his wishes begin to come true: Snow stars falling, he remembers to do his homework, and the bully Drake Evans gets sick. But now with Drake sick in bed, Richard begins to worry. His only hope is the magic ruler--but it's gone.



What will help him?

--- Added from Google Books ---

It's the first day back to school after winter vacation, and Richard Best is off to a bad start. Who ever heard of a January without any snow? And as usual, he has already forgotten something--the ruler Ms. Rooney had told him to bring for dinosaur day. Luckily Richard finds a ruler in his desk--with a dinosaur's initials--and he's sure the ruler is special. And then he finds out it has magic powers. All his wishes begin to come true: Snow stars falling, he remembers to do his homework, and the bully Drake Evans gets sick. But now with Drake sick in bed, Richard begins to worry. His only hope is the magic ruler--but it's gone. What will help him?

--- Added from Hardcover ---

It's the first day back to school after winter vacation, and Richard Best is off to a bad start. Who ever heard of a January without any snow? And as usual, he has already forgotten something--the ruler Ms. Rooney had told him to bring for dinosaur day. Luckily Richard finds a ruler in his desk--with a dinosaur's initials--and he's sure the ruler is special. And then he finds out it has magic powers. All his wishes begin to come Snow stars falling, he remembers to do his homework, and the bully Drake Evans gets sick. But now with Drake sick in bed, Richard begins to worry. His only hope is the magic ruler--but it's gone.

Emily Arrow may be a poor reader, but she's terrific in math and is also the fastest runner in her class. In October school gets even better when a newcomer from Florida, Dawn Tiffanie Bosco, joins the class and sits next to her. When Emily sees that Dawn's a better reader and a faster runner, she tries to accept it with grace. Emily is still sure it will be fun to have a new friend to show her "fish face" to and share secrets with. But then Emily discovers something awful--- Dawn's a thief! And to make matters worse, no one will believe Emily.

Emily Arrow's blue ring is missing. What could have happened to it? Dawn Bosco knows the whole class thinks she stole it, just because she borrowed Emily's unicorn once. But that was weeks ago. With the detective kit her grandmother has given her -- a polka-dot hat and fake glasses with furry eyebrows -- Dawn rushes out to track down the crook. Can she find the thief -- and clear her name?

Fans of The Kids of the Polk Street School will enjoy following Matthew to his new neighborhood when he and his family move away from New York to Ohio. The kid next door seems okay, but he warns Matthew about the Wall. You don't want to walk into him, he says, but Matthew is on a collision course.

--- Added from Google Books ---

Matthew's family move from New York to Ohio is difficult enough as they leave behind good frinds and memories, but the disappearance of their cat and a neighbor boy so tough he's called the "Wall" add to Matthew's anxieties.

--- Added from Hardcover ---

Matthew's family's move from New York to Ohio is difficult enough as they leave behind good friends and memories, but the disappearance of their cat and a neighbor boy so tough he's called the "Wall" add to Matthew's anxieties.

April is invention month. "We're going to  make our own inventions," says Ms. Rooney, "and  work together in  groups."



Though Emily Arrow knows it's important for each  group to think, listen, and share, she still wishes  she were the leader of her invention group. Linda  Lorca, the bossy leader, can't get anyone to  cooperate. "Snaggle doodles," Emily says. If  the group doesn't come up with an idea soon,  they'll be the worst group in the  class.



Meanwhile, Emily is also busy thinking of a  wedding present for Ms. Vincent, the student teacher.  The wedding is only a few days away. Emily has a lot  to do. Can she and her group learn to work  together in time?

--- Added from Google Books ---

April is invention month. "We're going to make our own inventions," says Ms. Rooney, "and work together in groups." Though Emily Arrow knows it's important for each group to think, listen, and share, she still wishes she were the leader of her invention group. Linda Lorca, the bossy leader, can't get anyone to cooperate. "Snaggle doodles," Emily says. If the group doesn't come up with an idea soon, they'll be the worst group in the class. Meanwhile, Emily is also busy thinking of a wedding present for Ms. Vincent, the student teacher. The wedding is only a few days away. Emily has a lot to do. Can she and her group learn to work together in time?

--- Added from Hardcover ---

Emily Arrow has two problems, trying to work in her invention group with bossy Linda Lorca in charge and thinking of a wedding present for Ms. Vincent, the student teacher.

It's springtime and it's almost Richard "Beast" Best's birthday. His sister, Holly, is even giving him a surprise party. Or so he thinks. But what will she do when she finds out that Beast has squashed her egg-carton jewelry box?

Meanwhile, Beast has a bigger problem. He and his best friend, Matthew Jackson, had to move the huge rabbit on wheels onto the stage for the spring assembly. When they started to push it, the monster rabbit ran amuck and rolled right off the stage. How will Beast and Matthew get the thing back together before Thursday's assembly?

--- Added from Google Books ---

While preparing for the spring play, Beast and Matthew move a huge rabbit on wheels, which rolls off the stage.

--- Added from Hardcover ---

It's springtime and it's almost Richard "Beast" Best's birthday. His sister, Holly, is even giving him a surprise party. Or so he thinks. But what will she do when she finds out that Beast has squashed her egg-carton jewelry box? Meanwhile, Beast has a bigger problem. He and his best friend, Matthew Jackson, had to move the huge rabbit on wheels onto the stage for the spring assembly. When they started to push it, the monster rabbit ran amuck and rolled right off the stage. How will Beast and Matthew get the thing back together before Thursday's assembly?

When Jiwon tells Stacy that she never helps anyone, Stacy agrees and tries to be more helpful, but the more she tries, the less everyone notices.

--- Added from Hardcover ---

"You never help people," Jiwon says. Her friend is right. Stacy can't remember the last time she'd helped anyone! Now Mrs. Zachary wants her class to be people-helpers and prepare a Spectacular Stone Soup together. Stacy works hard to be helpful, but no one seems to notice. Can quick thinking and a bunch of onions turn her into a spectacular people-helper?

It's August, and Emily has big plans at the library. She's going to read lots of books and tack a paper fish next to her name for each one. Then Dawn Bosco says she can read more books than Emily. Not only that, both Emily and Dawn want to keep Pickle Puss, a stray cat thay found. They decide that whoever reads the most books can keep cat.



When Emily adds a fish for a book she read along time ago, she has one more fish than Dawn. She knows she's cheating, but she wants to keep the cat. What a pickle she's in.

--- Added from Google Books ---

It's August, and Emily has big plans at the library. She's going to read lots of books and tack a paper fish next to her name for each one. Then Dawn Bosco says she can read more books than Emily. Not only that, both Emily and Dawn want to keep Pickle Puss, a stray cat thay found. They decide that whoever reads the most books can keep cat. When Emily adds a fish for a book she read along time ago, she has one more fish than Dawn. She knows she's cheating, but she wants to keep the cat. What a pickle she's in.

--- Added from Hardcover ---

It's August, and Emily has big plans at the library. She's going to read lots of books and tack a paper fish next to her name for each one. Then Dawn Bosco says she can read more books than Emily. Not only that, both Emily and Dawn want to keep Pickle Puss, a stray cat thay found. They decide that whoever reads the most books can keep cat. When Emily adds a fish for a book she read along time ago, she has one more fish than Dawn. She knows she's cheating, but she wants to keep the cat. What a pickle she's in.