Third-grader Zeke Meeks already has two sisters, so he is bitterly disappointed when his new neighbor proves to be a girl--can Charlie change his mind and prove to him that boys and girls can play together?

All the children in the third grade except Zeke Meeks are playing with the newest fad, Puppet Pals finger puppets--will Zeke give in to the pressure and join them, even though he would much rather play basketball?

When Zeke's birthday party falls near Grace Chang's and Owen Leech's big bashes, he decides to cancel his party. After all, even he would rather go to their over-the-top parties than his simple celebration. But Zeke and his classmates are in for a surprise. Bigger doesn't always mean better.

As a rule, school fund-raising is no fun. But Zeke Meeks is determined to become the best fund-raiser around. After all, the student who sells the most cake mixes will win four tickets to Thrillsville amusement park. There's just one problem. Zeke is a terrible salesperson. Maybe his great grandma can teach him a thing or two about selling.

Though he at first was excited for his cousin Sam to visit, Zeke quickly grows tired of his bragging and brown-nosing to grown-ups--Sam must be a phony, Zeke thinks, and so sets out to expose him.

"Third-grader Zeke's soccer experience is proving to be a disaster--all of his friends are on a different team, while his team is dominated by a bully who hogs the ball and knocks down anyone who gets in his way" --

Zeke's third grade class is putting on a play and Zeke is unhappy and annoyed with what he sees as too small a role--until his mother teaches him the meaning of the saying "there are no small parts, only small actors."