The kids of the Polk Street school --

Richard looks forward to the Candy Corn contest in Ms. Rooney's class, but he can't resist sneaking just a few pieces.

The children in Ms. Rooney's room are supposed to be writing about real people, but writing is Beast's worst subject.From the Trade Paperback edition.

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?From the Trade Paperback edition.

Summer for Richard Best, nicknamed Beast, means facing the two ordeals of summer school and losing his best friend, who is moving to a distant state.

Richard looks forward to the Candy Corn contest in Ms. Rooney's class, but he can't resist sneaking just a few pieces.

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?From the Trade Paperback edition.

It's September again.What does it mean for Richard "Beast" Best to be left back? It means being teased by his old friends while he's stuck facing the same old teacher in the same old classroom. He even has to take a special reading class with "babies" like Emily Arrow and Matthew Jackson. And just like last year, he can't help getting into trouble.But with the help of Mrs. Paris, the reading teacher, Beast starts to enjoy reading and just might find a way to help the second grade win the school banner for best class.From the Trade Paperback edition.

Emily Arrow determines to get the most fish in the library's Fish for a Good Book contest, but she doesn't take into account the equal determination of Dawn Bosco.