There is an elegant substitute teacher in class today, but Katie's attempts to impress her keep going wrong.

Ravi has just moved to the United States from India and has always been at the top of his class; Joe has lived in the same town his whole life and has learning problems--but when their lives intersect in the first week of fifth grade they are brought together by a common enemy (the biggest bully in their class) and the need to take control of their lives.

After going to a magic show, Molly decides that she wants to be a real magician, and she hopes that her father's old magic kit may help her master some real magic in time to put on a show for Sharing Time at school--aiming big, she would really like to be able to saw her best friend in half (and of course put her back together).

The class is putting on a play about George Washington Carver, and Missy is mad because she does not have an important part, but when the lead actor freezes, Missy saves the play.

Retired scientist Miss Tracy comes to Ella Mentry School to teach about the planets and the solar system and casts A.J. as Uranus in the school play.

Clyde is a hyperactive kid, and his twin sister, Claudia, does her best to keep him out of trouble--but after a class field trip to the science museum, and a zapped banana, he suddenly finds that excitement transforms him into a real monkey, which may help him catch the thief who took the golden monkey.

Eugene McGillicudy stands up for Sally Williams, the new student at Sunnyview Elementary, and then discovers that they both like an orange cat named Mr. Whiskersworth and the comic book super hero, Super Dude. Reading level: Ages 5-7.

Alexander is used to finding monsters everywhere in Stermont, but now the school is being turned into an icebox by giant meat-eating vegetables--and his friend Rip has gone missing.

It's Thanksgiving, but the kids at Ella Mentry School aren't feeling very thankful because Dr. Carbles is grumpier than ever and wants to fire Mr. Klutz. It is up to A.J. and his friends to save their principal's job.

Molly's class is going on a field trip to the Space Science Center, and, despite what everyone tells her, Molly is convinced that they will find a real rocket there and blast off into outer space--but when she sneaks away from the class and tries to take off in the "spaceship" she finds herself totally grounded.