Callie Barkley

When she wins the lead role in a school play, second-grader Ellie neglects her friends in the Critter Club and their new animal shelter.

When a broken ankle forces Marion to withdraw from the horse show, she finds a way to stay active by helping her friends at the Critter Club animal shelter find homes for a litter of kittens.

Valentine's Day is near, and to raise money for a charity called Puppy Love, Ellie persuades the other Critter Club girls to join her in selling and delivering singing telegrams.

While her friends in the Critter Club babysit frogs, second-grader Marion enters a fashion design contest.

Members of the Critter Club are all excited about their summer plans until Liz learns that, instead of taking an art class, she will have to be in summer school to improve her math skills, but a fun teacher, a classroom pet, support from her friends, and advice from her brother might get her through.

"Liz has been assigned a class project that's perfect for her. She has to create a diorama of an animal habitat! Art plus animals? What could be better? Well, things could be better if Liz's new neighbor and classmate was a little nicer to her ... and a little less nosy!"--Back cover.

When Ellie and her friends plan a Halloween party for the Critter Club, they realize a bat has gotten trapped inside the barn, so with the help of a wildlife vet the girls help return the bat to its home.

Marion volunteers at the Santa Vista Arboretum butterfly release and helps her younger sister Gabby overcome her fear of bugs so she can also attend the event.

Taking a turn caring for the class pet hamster, Marion is devastated when the hamster goes missing and she receives an anonymous letter in her locker with clues leading to a mysterious scavenger hunt.

"Liz is determined to create the perfect painting for an upcoming art show, but the ferret she's pet-sitting has other plans!"-- Provided by publisher.