The author of the beloved Kids of the Polk Street School series introduces a new generation of readers to a multicultural group of kids who enjoy all the activities of an after-school center. I'M #1! That’s what Mitchell McCabe’s favorite T-shirt says. He'd like to be Number One at the Zigzag Afternoon Center, where there are lots of fun activities to choose from: swimming, nature walks, field trips, art, even homework help. And YAY—there's snack time! But Mitchell is worried. What if he's the only kid who doesn’t get a prize on Prize Day? Luckily, Mitchell realizes he's a winner at something terrific. In this delightful new series, award-winning author Patricia Reilly Giff introduces readers to a quirky, lovable group of kids, capturing all the excitement and surprises of new friends and after-school fun. Gr 2-4–This series kicks off with a spunky introduction to the students at Zelda A. Zigzag School. Mitchell and his sister, Angel, are the new kids. He's not too sure about some of his schoolmates or the Afternoon Center that they attend, but he's sure about one thing: he wants to win a medal on prize day. Mitchell goes on nature walks, swims, paints, and gets homework help at the center, and worries that he may not be Number One at any activity. On prize day, however, he gets a big surprise. In Big Whopper, the Afternoon Center kids set out to list all of their discoveries. Everyone can think of at least something with the exception of Destiny, who, in desperation, makes up a “discovery” about a famous ancestor. Soon, she is in over her head, trying to find her way out of her big whopper of a lie. When Destiny comes clean, she finds out that she is good at making discoveries after all. Readers new to chapter books will love these quick-paced, fun stories. Spot illustrations and a generous font size add to their approachability. It won't take long for the kids of Zelda A. Zigzag School to become favorites. Amanda Moss Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, WI © Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Patricia Reilly Giff is the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen ; All the Way Home ; Water Street ; Nory Ryan's Song , a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books Lily’s Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods . Lily’s Crossing was also chosen as a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Book. Her most recent books are Big Whopper , Eleven , Wild Girl , and Storyteller . Patricia Reilly Giff lives in Connecticut. Chapter 1 FRIDAY Mitchell McCabe looked up at the classroom clock. Were the hands moving? Maybe not. School would never be over. This was only the first week in his new school. A million weeks until next summer! His teacher, Ms. Katz, was giving out permission slips. "We are lucky to have an Afternoon Center at the Zelda A. Zigzag School," she said. "Take these slips home. Get them signed." Afternoon Center? What was that? "We'll have swimming and art and ballroom dancing." Ms. Katz poked at her glasses. "Trampoline, kickball. Lots of things, even homework help." In the next seat, a girl was drawing something. It looked like a pony, Mitchell thought. It had a fat stomach and four legs. The girl raised her hand. "How about trips? Maybe like the Bermuda Triangle. Or Hawaii." Mitchell leaned forward. Ms. Katz closed her eyes. "I don't think so, Yolanda." Mitchell put his slip in his desk. No good. He wasn't going to the Center. It would be filled with kids he'd never seen before. Even sixth graders. At last, the bell rang. Mitchell sped down the hall. He slid down the banister-- And landed on the floor. Bonk! "Careful," the principal called after him. Mitchell leaped out the door. Free. He looked back. The Zelda A. Zigzag School was long and low. The bricks were as yellow as a stick of butter. It wasn't one bit like his old school. That one was tall, like a cereal box. It was red. And friendly. Too bad they'd had to move. Too bad his father had a new job. A window opened on the second floor. Ms. Katz leaned out. One room down, another window opened. Was that his sister Angel's room? Yes. Her head, her skinny neck, and even her shoulders hung out. Mitchell hoped she wouldn't fall. She'd land on her mouse-tail hair. He opened his mouth. "Be care--" Behind him, the doors banged open. Kindergarten kids came out. And some huge sixth graders. "Hey, loser," a sixth grader called. Upstairs, Ms. Katz snapped her fingers. "That's enough, Peter Petway." Mitchell took a quick look at Peter Petway
