Jamie Harper – illustratör

All the boys in EllRay''s third-grade class have something they can brag about. Corey''s on the swim team, Kevin is super tall, Jared''s dad has an ATV. But EllRay''s dad is a geologist - not much to brag about. After all, rocks are boring. Then EllRay sees the crystals in his dad''s office, and they are really cool looking. If EllRay just "borrows" them to show his classmates, he knows they''d be impressed. And his dad will never have to know. It''s a perfect plan . . . until things go awry.

Emma McGraw''s third-grade class is getting ready for Winter Games Day, and Emma wants to win a prize more than anything. It would be the perfect way to make her father proud. But the rest of the class has mixed feelings about Winter Games Day. Jared is desperate to be the fastest runner and the farthest jumper, Fiona is worried about her weak ankles, and Annie Pat doesn''t seem to care at all. When the big day arrives, nothing goes exactly as planned, but Emma is still determined to be as excellent as she can be.

EllRay Jakes is tired of being bullied by fellow classmate Jared Matthews. But when EllRay tries to defend himself, he winds up in trouble. Then his dad offers him a deal: If he stays out of trouble for one week, they''ll go to Disneyland! EllRay says he can do it. But saying it and doing it are two very different things.

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.

Things are going just swimmingly for EllRay. He''s finally 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 the classroom goldfish EllRay was supposed to be taking care of over Spring vacation. What is EllRay going to tell his teacher and 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 EllRay for her own mess-ups. Must EllRay now walk the plank for stuff that he didn''t do?

As soon as Emma McGraw sees Krysten Rodriguez, she knows that Krysten would make a great best friend. There’s just one problem. Emma already has a best friend—Annie Pat! But Emma is sure she wouldn’t 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 they’ve 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.

Eight-year-old Emma McGraw is an only child who lives with her mom in their "cozy" condo. When four-year-old Anthony Scarpetto moves in for a week while his parents are away, Emma is not happy. He''s loud, he smells, and he touches her stuff. And that''s only half of it! Emma has started at a new school, and has finally begun to make friends. But how can she invite anyone over when annoying Anthony is there? Emma is in for a surprise, though. As the week goes by, she starts to realize that having a "little brother" may not be as bad as she thought.

Emma McGraw just can?t sit back and watch someone being teased?especially one of her friends. So when class bully Jared Matthews chooses EllRay Jakes as his next target, Emma can?t hold back. But unfortunately for Emma, her good deed is not appreciated. Instead of helping EllRay, Emma just embarrassed him. What boy wants to be ?saved? by a girl?! Now everyone is calling her Super Emma, and Jared has set his sights on her. Who will rescue Emma now that Jared is tossing around threats? Her superhero may be someone she would never have thought of.