Otis Spofford

Description

Otis Spofford is a 1953 children's novel by Beverly Cleary. The story revolves around the antics of the title character, a precocious fourth-grader with a knack for getting into trouble. Otis lives with his mother, who is often absent from the household due to teaching classes at her dance school, and therefore Otis is required to entertain himself, by "stirring up a little excitement". His trademarks are his glow-in-the-dark shoelaces (one pink, one green), the rabbit's foot he keeps attached to his jacket zipper, and his particular fondness for irritating his classmate Ellen Tebbits although he never understands the reason for it.

First Sentence

THERE was nothing Otis Spofford liked better stirring up a little excitement.

Description

There was nothing Otis Spofford liked better than stirring up a little excitement. In fact, that was the best part about school. He could always stir up the class with a well-placed spitball. He could make a science project turn out all wrong. Without much effort, he could turn a school folk dance fiesta into a circus. But nothing gave Otis as much pleasure as teasing Ellen Tebbits—probably because Ellen was so neat and clean and well-behaved…and she never failed to get really mad! Then one day Otis’s teasing went a little too far. The whole class was watching and Otis couldn’t back down. But now Otis is worried—because Ellen Tebbets isn’t just mad…she’s planning something… —back cover

Subjects

Other Editions

• Otis SpoffordPaperbackAvon Camelot1990-09-01
• Otis SpoffordHardcoverWilliam Morrow and Company1953-01-01
• Otis Spofford.Dell Publishing1980-01-01
• Otis SpoffordYearling1980-04-15
• Otis SpoffordPerfection Learning Prebound1981-09-01
• Otis SpoffordHarperCollins Publishers1990-01-01