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Some of the second graders in Mrs. Zookey’s class have a new interest: chess. Vice principal Mr. E (and he is something of a mystery) has started a chess club, and Richard, Ben, Ophelia, and Patrick are all members. As usual, Patrick is a nuisance, and so Richard isn’t at all happy when Mr. E tells him that he and Patrick are alike. It’s true that to become better chess players, both of them need to learn to concentrate and to plan ahead. And Richard is determined to get better at chess, even if it means putting up with Patrick’s shenanigans. With on-target themes like competition, teamwork, and loyalty, plus a dash of magic and a generous helping of chess facts, this new Table Two adventure is the kind of lively, funny school story that only Jamie Gilson can tell. ...
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Hobie Hanson knows that the sounds coming from across the hall can mean only one thing: 4A has a substitute teacher. And she's sinking fast. Hobie's certain 4B will never be so lucky. Their regular fourth grade teacher, Mr. Star, is as healthy as a horse. The very next day, though, Mr. Star rushes out of the room -- "indisposed," the principal says -- and Hobie and his classmates hear "s-u-b". They are prepared. No stranger could possibly withstand the volley from their vast arsenal of sub sinkers. Except, perhaps, Miss Ivanovitch. It soon becomes clear that it might not be the sub who sinks -- this time, it might just be the students....
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Richard's day gets off to a bad start when he has to wear too-big purple corduroy pants to school. Although it's Richard's turn to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and to hand out the mealworms that Mrs. Zookey's class is going to study, those purple pants keep getting in his way. Richard tells his classmates that the pants are a gift from his aunt and uncle, who are space aliens from the purple planet Pluto. After he names one of his mealworms Uncle Ken, the real Uncle Ken shows up in Mrs. Zookey's classroom-knock-knock jokes, too-loud laugh, and all. Richard has some explaining to do, but a plan for Silly Clothes Day and a surprising rapport with his uncle make it a good day after all....
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