Richard can't wait to show off his flat-ground Ollies at a friend's birthday party at the skate park, but a note home from his teacher threatens to ruin his plans. He really meant to finish his assignment on howler monkeys, but he just got . . . distracted. If only he could focus on his schoolwork, he wouldn't get into this kind of trouble! Can Richard manage to put off getting the note signed (and facing the consequences) until after the party, or will the deception make things even worse?Nikki and Deja fans and their male peers are sure to recognize themselves and their classmates in this humorous school story.

Karen English is a?former elementary school teacher?who lives in Los Angeles, California.Laura Freeman has illustrated several books for children. She lives?near Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two young sons.