James Moody, little brother to Judy Moody and affectionately nicknamed “Stink,” is worried that he is not growing any taller. He is the shortest kid in his second grade class. Every morning, he has his sister measure his growth, but it never changes. Then one day, he appears to have shrunk a quarter inch! Poor Stink tries everything he can think of to grow bigger or at least look taller. He also has to take care of the class lizard, which does not go well, and convince his class that James Madison, the nation’s shortest president, is the coolest president of all. Like Judy Blume’s “Fudge” character, Stink will sink into the hearts of all readers.

Reviewed by Jennifer