The story about eleven-year old Harriet, who is a spy, plans to be a writer, and keeps a secret notebook filled with thoughts and notes on her school mates and people she observes on her after-school "spy route." However, when her classmates find and read her notebook, their anger and retaliation, and Harriet's unexpected responses, explode in a hilarious and often touching manner.

Unhappy at school, Marilyn fantasizes about how much better life will be next year when she is in the second grade.

Mrs. Toggle and her class prepare for the arrival of a new student whom they expect to be a dinosaur.

Derek thinks he'd prefer to be a dog until he starts school and finds out it's even more fun being a boy.

Sent to pirate school against her will, Maisy Pickles organizes a mutiny among the students.

Morris the moose has an exciting day in school learning the alphabet, counting, singing, spelling, and doing other things that make him a unique moose.

Tired of being pushed around by the class bully, Earl and two friends devise the perfect revenge.

Tracy's long friendship with unconventional Kelly is strained when Tracy's new friends put pressure on her to choose between them.

Sister Bear, nervous about entering kindergarten, overcomes her fears when she discovers that school is really fun.

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, but when he asks her to wait a while before showing the class her new purse, she does something for which she is very sorry later.