Synopses & Reviews
"Emma doesn’t mind being weird," Cynthia says."You should see her bedroom."
My bedroom. I can’t believe what I am hearing.
"It’s all covered with nature posters,"Cynthia adds."It’s just like being in a boy’s room!"
Why is Cynthia calling Emma weird? They are supposed to be friends!
Well, two can play at that game. In Emma’s opinion, Cynthia is kind of a bossy pants. Before long, Emma’s entire third grade class is swapping outrageous nicknames like Jar-head, Shrimpy, and even Porky. While it’s funny at first, Emma begins to see how much name calling can hurt. But before Emma can call for a truce, her teacher beats her to it and makes the most dreaded call of all—the one to everyone’s parents!
Fresh and funny, with a side of wisdom, this second book about eight year-old Emma is sure to entertain many young readers.
Review
Emma’s…refreshing voice rings true with the angst that third graders can feel about school, their friends and their family. Young readers will recognize Emma and her classmates and will look forward to hearing how they do in the third month of school. —Kirkus Reviews
Review
-Warner is a dead-on observer of playground politics, and has a great ear for dialogue.+ -
School Library JournalReview
"The EllRay Jakes stories are just right for his real-life peers; short enough to be read by kids getting comfortable with chapter books and also enjoyable and authentic."
Review
"Delightful first person narrative….Emma is a character complicated enough to question herself, make mistakes and triumph in the end." —Kirkus Reviews
Review
Praise for EllRay Jakes Walks the Plank by Sally Warner:
"The EllRay Jakes stories are just right for his real-life peers; short enough to be read by kids getting comfortable with chapter books and also enjoyable and authentic." —Kirkus
Review
PRAISE FOR THE ELLRAY JAKES
Synopsis
Did you know that orange cats are almost always boys? It's true. And cats that are three colors-white, black, and brown-are usually always girls? It's science. Eight-year-old Emma McGraw loves science. She also loves being an only child and living with her mother in their cozy little condo. So when four-year-old Anthony moves in for a while (into her room!), Emma isn't too happy. He may be cute, but he can't keep his hands off her stuff! And Anthony isn't only a problem at home. Now that Emma is in a new school, she'd like to make some friends, yet how can she invite anyone over when annoying Anthony is there? But Emma's in for a surprise. As the days pass, she begins to realize that having a "little brother" around is a lot more fun than she ever thought it could be.
Filled with over fifty adorable illustrations, Only Emma is sure to wriggle its way into readers' hearts.
Synopsis
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! But being good for one whole week is not so easy. . . .
This humorous and true-to-life story kicks off the EllRay series, which is just right for boys (and girls!) who are beginning to read chapter books.
Synopsis
Emma McGraw is good at many things. She?s good at science. She?s good at being a friend. But is she good enough to make her father proud? Suddenly she?s not so sure. Her father and stepmother?s niece has just won a big prize for horseback riding. How will Emma ever measure up? Before long, she has a plan. Winter Games Day is coming up at school and if Emma trains really hard, she?s sure to win her own prize?maybe even more than one! But once the games begin, Emma starts to see that being an excellent athlete isn?t the same as being an excellent daughter.
Synopsis
Hank LOVES baseball. L-O-V-E-S it! Unfortunately, though, he's not very good at the game. So everyone is surprised--including Hank himself--when Hank throws a zinger pitch at a practice for P.S. 87's annual School Olympiad baseball game. Hank knows how he pitched the "Zippity Zinger"--it must have happened because he accidentally wore his sister Emily's lucky monkey socks! Because of that stellar pitch, Hank has been chosen to pitch for P.S. 87 for the Big Game. The pressure is on--Hank's got to wear those socks again, or risk blowing the biggest ball game of his life. The only problem is, Emily wants to wear the lucky monkey socks herself since she's competing in the Brain Buster for the Olympiad. Will Hank be able to pull off another Zippity Zinger--or will he strike out?
Synopsis
Emma is already upset when her mother cancels their traditional Friday night dinner-and-ice-cream plans, but it's even worse when she finds out why: Her mom has a date! Emma's best friend, Annie Pat, thinks it's so romantic, but Emma knows better. Fortunately, she has a plan to keep her mom all to herself. But when Emma's plan backfires, she starts to realize that maybe sharing her mother with other people has its advantages.
Synopsis
Dead goldfish + bossy girls = big trouble!
Things are going just swimmingly for EllRay. He's getting along with most of the kids at school. He's even getting along with his family. But then everything comes screeching to a halt when his younger sister accidently overfeeds Zippy, the classroom goldfish that EllRay was taking care of over spring vacation. Zippy is a goner. What is EllRay going to tell the kids in his third-grade class? Fortunately, most of them are sympathetic. But not bossy Cynthia. She sees this as an opportunity to blame Ell- Ray for her own mess-ups. Must EllRay now walk the plank for stuff that he didn't do?
Synopsis
Emma McGraw may be a bit shy, but when someone's being teased, she's the first one to defend them. So when Jared Mathews keeps picking on Ellray Jakes, Emma can't hold back. "Quit it, you big bully," she yells. But the results aren't exactly what she hoped for. Ellray is embarrassed to be rescued by a girl, kids are calling her "Super Emma," and now Jared is picking on her! He's even threatening to "trash her"—whatever that means. Who's going to get poor Emma out of this fix? Her mother? Her teacher? Or maybe Emma will have to live up to her new name, after all.
"A natural for fans of the Amber Brown and Judy Moody books." —Booklist, review for Only Emma
Synopsis
As soon as Emma McGraw sees Krysten Rodriguez, she knows that Krysten would make a great best friend. Theres just one problem. Emma already has a best friendAnnie Pat! But Emma is sure she wouldnt mind if Emma made a new friend for both of them. And she has to do it fast, before Krysten is taken! Annie Pat should appreciate that, right? Actually, no. Not when Emma is forgetting important plans theyve made together. Suddenly Emma is faced with the prospect of no friends at all!
At once charming, funny, and thoughtful, this fourth book about eightyear- old Emma is sure to find new fans.
Synopsis
EllRay Jakes is a small kid with big problems! EllRay Jakes may be the smallest kid in his class at Oak Glen Primary School, but he’s also his sister Alfie’s big brother. So when it looks like Alfie is being bossed around by a dragon-like girl at her school, EllRay feels responsible. As her older (and wiser!) brother, shouldn’t he show her that she should stand up for herself? But little sisters and four year old dragons are a bit more complicated than he thought. . . .
Check out the other books in the EllRay Jakes series: EllRay Jakes Is Not A Chicken!, EllRay Jakes is a Rock Star!, and EllRay Jakes Walks the Plank!
Synopsis
EllRay Jakes is a small kidand#160;with big problems! EllRay Jakes may be the smallest kid in his class at Oak Glen Primary School, but heandrsquo;s also his sister Alfieandrsquo;s big brother. So when it looks like Alfie is being bossed around by a dragon-like girl at her school, EllRay feels responsible. As her older (and wiser!) brother, shouldnandrsquo;t he show her that she should stand up for herself?and#160;But little sisters and four year old dragons are a bit more complicated than he thought. . . .and#160;
Check out the other books in the EllRay Jakes series: EllRay Jakes Is Not A Chicken!, EllRay Jakes is a Rock Star!, and EllRay Jakes Walks the Plank!
Synopsis
Eight-year-old EllRay is down to one-and-a-half best friends, which leads his little sister to point out the obvious: he needs new friends. A spare, at least. For emergencies. So EllRay decides to audition other boys for the role of Spare Best Friend.
EllRayand#8217;s class is brimming with possibilities, but no one seems to share his exact interests. Whatand#8217;s so great about car parts? And why would anyone think boring instruction manuals are fun to read? But EllRay isnand#8217;t worriedand#151;he can fix any problems once he gets to know each kid. And the only way to get to know them is to come up with fun things to do at recess. When heand#8217;s the Recess King, everyone will want to be his friend!
About the Author
Henry Winkler is an acomplished actor, producer and director. In 2003, Henry added author to his list of acheivements as he co-authored a series of children's books. Inspired by the true life experiences of Henry Winkler, whose undiagnosed dyslexia made him a classic childhood underachiever, the Hank Zipzer series is about the high-spirited and funny adventures of a boy with learning differences.
Henry is married to Stacey Weitzman and they have three children.
Lin Oliver is a writer and producer of movies, books, and television series for children and families. She has created over one hundred episodes of television, four movies, and seven books. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alan. They have three sons named Theo, Ollie, and Cole, one fluffy dog named Annie, and no iguanas.