Andy Shane Series

When a new girl comes to Andy’s school, a jealous Dolores thinks he’s in love — but Andy’s thoughts are on a companion of the four-legged kind.

On the day Ms. Janice introduces Lark Alice Bell to the class, Dolores is proud to be the new girl’s helper at recess. But Dolores is not so glad to see her friend Andy scribbling LAB inside a heart in his notebook, and she’s downright mad to find out that Lark has visited Andy at home. Luckily, when they all go back to Lark’s house — and take a peek at the squirming puppies in her basement — Dolores figures out what has really been on Andy’s mind all along. In his fourth engaging adventure, Andy Shane learns about the delicate balance of old friends and new, and the special joy of bringing home a dog of his own.

When pranksters ruin Dolores Starbuckle’s pumpkins, Andy puts his trickiest plan to the test in this humorous tale filled with Halloween fun.

Andy Shane does not want to go to Dolores Starbuckle’s birthday party. It’s on the same day as Halloween! Plus, Dolores is always ordering Andy around or squealing over his marble collection. But when Dolores tells Andy that someone is smashing pumpkins in front of her house, the thought of tricking the tricksters is too appealing to resist. Maybe he could scare off the vandals and give Dolores a really great present, all at the same time! Andy Shane returns in a second upbeat tale for early chapter-book readers.

With insight and humor, Jennifer Richard Jacobson explores a common childhood anxiety and finds a quiet way to boost self-esteem, aided by Abby Carter’s expressive illustrations.

Andy Shane did not want to be in school. He did not want to be at morning meeting. He did not want to sit up straight on the rug. Andy Shane would much rather be home catching bugs with Granny Webb than sitting in class with the likes of know-it-all Dolores Starbuckle. Any minute, Dolores is likely to shout out, ‘Ms. Janice, someone’s not sitting properly!” or “Ms. Janice, someone’s misusing the math materials!” (meaning him, of course). At rhyme time, the words bug and rug get stuck in Andy’s throat while Dolores yells out of turn, “Hullabaloo and Kalamazoo!” 

“I hate school,” he blurts out at the end of the day to Granny Webb, who is sympathetic but firm. But when Granny makes a surprise visit to school with a monarch caterpillar, everyone is mesmerized and Andy remembers how much he knows about insects himself. Even Dolores Starbuckle can’t help but be impressed!