"Buk, buk, book," Jared whispers, but loud enough for everyone to hear. Eight-year-old EllRay Jakes is sick of getting picked on. But every time he tries to defend himself against class bully Jared Matthews, EllRay is the one who winds up in trouble. It's just not fair Then his dad offers him a deal: If EllRay can stay out of trouble for a week, they'll go to Disneyland So now EllRay has a lot to prove - he's not a troublemaker, and he's not a chicken.
This humorous and true-to-life story kicks off the EllRay Jakes series, which is just right for boys (and girls ) who are beginning to read chapter books.

Can EllRay master the moves in time to win his friend back?
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 can before the secret boys-only third grade skate-off. But will it be enough?

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 pressure's on. It's up to EllRay to take the stage and show his classmates and the whole school that he's not only talented but magic.

Eight-year-old Emma McGraw loves being an only child living with her mother in their cozy condo. When four-year-old Anthony moves in for a while, Emma is not happy, but she soon learns that having a "little brother" is more fun than she thought it would be. Illustrations.

Everyone has something to brag about in EllRay's third-grade class. Corey's on the swim team, Kevin is super tall, Jared's dad has an ATV (with flames ). But what about EllRay? He isn't about to gloat about how his geologist dad collects rocks. Boring Or is it? The crystals in his dad's office are really cool looking. And if EllRay just "borrows" them to show his classmates, he knows they be impressed. He'll be a rock star-literally And his dad will never have to know. It's a fail-safe plan . . . until everything doesn't go according to plan.