Jake Drake, Teacher's Pet #3 (Jake Drake Ready for Chapters)

From Publishers Weekly In Jake Drake: Teacher's Pet by Andrew Clements, the third title in this series about an earnest and likable third-grader, Jake's attempts to turn his goody-two-shoes reputation around are aided by the least likely suspects. B&w illustrations by Dolores Avendano liven up the proceedings. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal Grades 2-4--Jake Drake looks back on the most terrible experience of his third-grade life-the week he was teacher's pet. Readers familiar with the fourth grader will recognize his unintentional progression into the jam. In this case, his helpful suggestion to his computer-illiterate teacher makes him her new star. Within a few hours, he is praised-and worse yet, patted on the head-by his coach, his art teacher, the principal, and even the bus driver. The boy feels the scorn of his schoolmates, and knows he can't survive much longer in the role. He implements a plan to be bad, but it doesn't work; to his credit, he finds it is more difficult than it looks. His second plan-to be direct-is more successful. Jake embodies the average boy who seldom draws attention to himself, but who is quietly observing and tries to do the right thing. He thinks through his dilemmas, and often finds support from his parents and teachers. Avenda-o's expressive pen-and-ink illustrations capture the flavor of the text. With the character building that adults approve of and Jake's realistic voice, this novel is made-to-order for the beginning chapter-book crowd.