Do the Hokey Pokey

Book excerpt: What could be more embarrassing for an 11-year-old than watching his mother dance the Hokey Pokey in front of his entire class? Not much, according to Brendan Breen. Having recently moved from New York City to a small town in Pennsylvania, Brendan wants to fit in at his new school. The only obstacle is his mother. Loud and outgoing, Jean Breen is the opposite of her son. When Jean offers to emcee the Walter F. Harley Elementary School Music and Munchies Night, Brendan panics and plots to keep her as far away as possible. But one by one, his well-laid plans backfire. To avoid getting a reputation as an oddball, Brendan must steer a clear path through a dangerous landscape that includes not only his wacky mother but his chatty little sister, his curious classmates, and a giant orange-feathered baseball mascot called the Goofer. Clever narration, charming characters, and humorous black-and-white illustrations mark this novel of a boy's desperate quest to avoid humiliation.