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 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.

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.

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?

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 EllRay Jakes Is Not A Chicken!, EllRay Jakes is a Rock Star!, and EllRay Jakes Walks the Plank!

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?

When EllRay and his friends hear about the school talent show, they’re not impressed. They’re too old for that stuff. But Mrs. Sanchez their teacher isn’t so quick to let her students off the hook. Five students MUST try-out, and EllRay somehow ends up being one of them. Now he must figure out something he’s talented at….like, maybe magic? With some unexpected help from his dad, a scientist, EllRay begins to realize that he does have talent and brains, after all. And, most of all, that he has more in common with his dad than he thought. But now the pressure’s on to show his classmates and the whole school that EllRay IS magic

Audiobook is narrated by Corey Allen. The small kid with big problems returns in the seventh book of this beloved series! It's almost Christmas and school is going great for EllRay. He's "blending in" just the way he likes. So when his father tells him he should be proud to be part of the African-American "community," EllRay isn't so sure he wants to call attention to his differences. After all, he's only one of two boys in his class with brown skin. And then, totally by accident, he insults the other boy—one of his best friends—and all at once EllRay's back to being the center of attention. And not exactly for good reasons. With Sally Warner's trademark sense of humor and spot-on dialogue, EllRay confronts questions about race and how it impacts both himself and everyone around him. "Kids of all stripes will identify with EllRay and his unwittingly hilarious antics."—Booklist A Junior Library Guild selection A Scholastic Book Club selection A Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner 2012-13

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. EllRay’s class is brimming with possibilities, but no one seems to share his exact interests. What’s so great about car parts? And why would anyone think boring instruction manuals are fun to read? But EllRay isn’t worried—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 he’s the Recess King, everyone will want to be his friend!

EllRay Jakes finally grows up (a little) by playing basketball in this ninth book in the series. There's a new game in town—basketball! Or in Ellray's case, pre-basketball. Coach Havens has all the third graders dribbling, passing, and shooting, and he's quick to compliment EllRay's skills. No one else seems to notice them, however, and as 'the shortest kid in the class,' EllRay is still chosen last for teams at recess. What's a short guy gotta do to get noticed?? When EllRay comes up with a plan that involves the off-limits teacher's lounge, everyone does a double take!