When Jake was 3 years old at Miss Lulu's Day Care Center, what did he know about bullies? Nothing. But he learned fast. Now Jake's in 4th grade and he can look back and see that the year that made the differencewas second grade.

A bad case of hiccups in the library leads to a series of outlandish experiences and a set of rules related to library books, hippopotamuses, and little sisters.

Jake remembers the terrible days in third grade when everbody thought he was the teachers' pet.

When Peter feels he cannot put up with his baby sister Emily any longer, he puts her in his wagon and goes around the block to see if any of the neighbors want to buy her.

Jake is tired of his copycat little brother Pete, until the day when Pete's help is required in the rescuing of Jake's cat.

"Miss Bruce is the new student teacher in Jake's second-grade class, and she never smiles. Never. But when Jake cracks up during class during a spelling bee, he sees the tiniest hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth. Suddenly, Jake has a new mission in life; to be so funny that even Miss Bruce will laugh!"