Judy Moody enters third grade with a dark cloud over her head. Her T-shirt is all wrong, and she has to sit next to Frank Pearl. Never mind that she has a terrific male teacher, and that her mom and dad are loving parents to her and to her (pesky) little brother. This year seems to be off to a poor start. Judy’s mood improves only slightly as she works on the long-term assignment of a collage about herself and bumps her way through several mishaps--minor to others, but major in her estimation. Move over Ramona Quimby! Here comes another independent spirit whose chapter-book story is written at just about the easy reading level, with words set in a large typeface relieved by pen-and-ink drawings on most pages. Will Judy Moody become a favorite to generations of newly independent readers? (Ages 6-8)

A brand-new friend and a big class project put Judy in an international mood in this comical new adventure.

Judy Moody cannot believe her ears. There at the lunch table, a girl called Amy Namey is interviewing Judy's best friends, Rocky and Frank. Even worse, Amy is dressed like Nellie Bly, daredevil woman reporter, much like Judy's emulation of a certain woman doctor. Is this clipboard-carrying girl destined to be Judy's new best enemy? Or new best friend? Judy Moody finds some unexpected potholes on the path to friendship as Class 3T takes a whirlwind tour of the globe, investigating everything from tooth-brushing sticks in Yemen to an Italian "spider dance" along the way. Fans will cheer as Judy finally masters the challenge of making new friends and keeping the old — for sure and absolute positive!