EllRay Jakes Rocks the Holidays! (In a Winter Wonderland!)

It's December at Oak Glen Primary School and all EllRay can think about is Christmas. As far as he's concerned, Christmas is the best'no school, presents, fun parties, and lots of cookies! But before EllRay can celebrate with his family, he must lead half the school in the Winter Wonderland assembly. How tough can it be to memorize a few lines' Very tough, especially when EllRay's soon-to-be ex-friend gives him a challenge to perform onstage. If he completes the challenge, he'll save his friendship ... but he'll also ruin the assembly. EllRay is in for a not-so holly jolly time The small kid with big problems returns in the seventh book of this beloved series! It’s almost Christmas and school is going great for EllRay. He’s “blending in” just the way he likes. So when his father tells him he should be proud to be part of the African-American “community,” EllRay isn’t so sure he wants to call attention to his differences. After all, he’s only one of two boys in his class with brown skin. And then, totally by accident, he insults the other boy—one of his best friends—and all at once EllRay’s back to being the center of attention. And not exactly for good reasons. With Sally Warner’s trademark sense of humor and spot-on dialogue, EllRay confronts questions about race and how it impacts both himself and everyone around him. “Kids of all stripes will identify with EllRay and his unwittingly hilarious antics.”—Booklist A Junior Library Guild selection A Scholastic Book Club selection A Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner 2012-13 Third-grader EllRay dreads the upcoming Winter Wonderland school assembly in which he must emcee and sing "Jingle Bell Rock."