Leon and the Spitting Image by Allen KurzweilGreenwillow Books (HarperCollins), 2003

If the first day of school is any indication of things to come, fourth grade is not going to be a good year for Leon Zeisel. The class bully is as mean as ever, and, what’s worse, the fourth grade teacher is a scary woman with a penchant for sewing. For Leon, who’s still clumsy with his shoelaces, learning to use a needle and thread is more than daunting. But, as Coach Kasperitis, the PE teacher, wrote on Leon’s third grade report card, “Leon Zeisel is the kind of kid who could make magic.” And with a little magic, any school year can be made better. This is a fun and funny story &#8212 a food-fight involving teachers is especially excellent — and if its “people and things are not always as they appear” message is predictable, it’s still a satisfying read.