Book 1

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!

Book 2

Andy Shane, with help from Grandma Webb and some marbles, tricks the people who keep stealing his friend Dolores Starbuckle's Halloween pumpkin.

Book 3

Andy Shane selects Egypt as the topic of his first-ever Culture Fair project, but the very bossy Dolores Starbuckle declares that she is the Queen of Egypt and does not give him a moment's peace until he agrees to let her work with him.

Book 4

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.

Book 5

After Andy hosts a barn sale to raise money for a case for Granny Webb's binoculars, he realizes that they accidentally were sold, so with Dolores's help they try to track down the missing binoculars.

Book 6

A bicycle-decorating contest provides Andy with a humorous and highly appreciated opportunity to save the hometown parade.

There are two things Andy Shane wants more than anything — to win the contest for best-decorated bike in the parade, and . . . to be a hero. He has a great idea for the bike part, although high-strung Dolores is upping the ante with her paper-daisy-covered helmets for her and her cat. But the second goal has Andy stumped, until the parade is in motion and his eagle eyes catch the reason why the drum corps has suddenly thrown the marchers out of whack. Pass the baton to a lovably low-key hero as he saves the day in another adventure for early chapter-book readers.

Andy Shane and his (know-it-all) friend Dolores Starbuckle have plenty to disagree over — and laugh about — in this four-in-one collection of tales.

From insects in the classroom to Halloween pranksters, from the school Culture Fair to the new girl with a basement full of puppies, Andy Shane and his friend Dolores are never lacking for something exciting in these early chapter book stories.

This bind-up includes:

Andy Shane and the Very Bossy Dolores Starbuckle
Andy Shane and the Pumpkin Trick
Andy Shane and the Queen of Egypt
Andy Shane Is NOT in Love