There was nothing Otis Spofford liked better than stirring up a little excitement, particularly at school. A less resourceful teacher than Mrs. Git...
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Feb 19, 2012
Judy
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Otis Spofford is the "bad boy" in the neighborhood. His mother is a single parent, the ballet teacher of the town, and is not home much. He first appeared in Ellen Tebbits, where he was fond of tormenting Ellen.
In this volume he gets his own story and is introduced like this: "There was nothing Otis Spofford liked better than stirring up a little excitement." He proceeds to stir up trouble at school and in the neighborhood but always weasels his way out. He clearly More...
In this volume he gets his own story and is introduced like this: "There was nothing Otis Spofford liked better than stirring up a little excitement." He proceeds to stir up trouble at school and in the neighborhood but always weasels his way out. He clearly More...
Dec 01, 2011
Mary Beth
rated it: 
The delightful tale of a rowdy, imaginative little boy who loves to stir up trouble... and how he gets his comeuppance. I simply adore the characters Beverly Cleary creates. They are a little bit of sugar, a little bit of spice, just a touch of vinegar, and positively bursting with personality.
This was so much fun to read aloud to my own little boy, who I have a feeling is going to be in future an Otis Spofford/Henry Huggins hybrid. I'm okay with this, though, since I tended to take a page More...
This was so much fun to read aloud to my own little boy, who I have a feeling is going to be in future an Otis Spofford/Henry Huggins hybrid. I'm okay with this, though, since I tended to take a page More...
Jan 27, 2008
R.
rated it: 
The kid from Stephen King's Rage was merely Otis Spofford with zits, a pistol and erectile dysfunction issues. Beverly Cleary -such a dear- dug deep...climbed her darkest tower...to provide this early portrait of the man known by many names -many horrendous names- but y'all can just call him The Walkin' Dude.
Aug 27, 2008
Betsy
rated it:
Beverly Cleary at her best. She takes Otis, the thorn in sweet Ellen Tebbits' side and makes him real and lovable. Love that Beverly.
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Sep 06, 2009
Lars
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'There was nothing better Otis Spofford liked better than stirring up a little excitement.' So starts 'Otis Spofford.' Otis Spofford is an only and fatherless child who lives with his distracted working mother in a small apartment. Otis Spofford, playing cowboys and Indians (one of several anachronisms in 'Otis Spofford,' such as kids using the word 'keen') 'scalps' a classmate obsessed with growing her hair longer by cutting off a hunk of that hair. Otis Spofford meets the 'comeuppance' pro
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Jul 01, 2010
There was nothing Otis Spofford liked better than stirring up a little excitement, particularly at school. A less resourceful teacher than Mrs. Gitler would have found him pretty hard to take. But even Mrs. Gitler did not entirely relish the bullfight at the fiesta arranged for the P.T.A. meeting. Otis was disappointed at not being the toreador, but as the front half of the bull he managed to steal the whole show, to the annoyance of his classmates and his teacher. It was then that Mrs. Gitler s
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Aug 25, 2011
Josiah
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"Boys and girls in readers were always dopes. They were always polite and they never used slang and they hardly ever did anything they shouldn't...Dopes!"
—Otis Spofford, P. 140
This quote encapsulates a lot of the impetus behind Beverly Cleary's amusing story, "Otis Spofford".
The common theme that binds together most of these stories (the book is written more as a series of companion anecdotes rather than as one complete narrative) is that More...
—Otis Spofford, P. 140
This quote encapsulates a lot of the impetus behind Beverly Cleary's amusing story, "Otis Spofford".
The common theme that binds together most of these stories (the book is written more as a series of companion anecdotes rather than as one complete narrative) is that More...
Nov 18, 2009
Karen
rated it: 
One of the few Beverly Clearys I didn't read when I was a child. As a teacher, I love reading about the wily kid that always gets in trouble. It helps me connect with my own little hellions. Otis Spofford remind me of my sweet little C******* who once told me, with the utmost sincerity, that he wasn't cheating on his spelling test, but "looking at the spelling words in my desk to see how to spell them!" Um...that's cheating. He and Otis could be brothers!
Nov 04, 2010
Collin
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This is a very fun book. its very funny and very relatable. the author beverly cleary is very creative with the different sittuations i recomend this book if you are lookin for a comedy, even though it is a little more geared tword elementry age kids its still a fun book
Aug 19, 2011
Tracy
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I just finished reading this to my daughter, and we enjoyed it much more than Ellen Tebbets. Though Ottis is a bully, he is good-natured (just desperate for a little attention). We laughed out loud all the way through. :)
Jun 23, 2010
Krissy
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you can't really go wrong with a book that starts out saying that the main character always likes to "stir up a little excitement." why did i not know about this book as a child?!
May 10, 2011
Shelter
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This was the very first chapter book I ever read. I remember reading under the covers with a flashlight so that my parents wouldn't know I was staying up late. This was the definitive book that made me want to be a writer.
Jul 29, 2011
Catherine
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Beverly Cleary was on eof the favorites of my childhood, and while my kids were less attached to her, they still enjoyed her books--this is a good one.
Jan 19, 2009
Carly
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This is a good book on a mischievous boy. He did a lot of funny antics, but still learned that his choices were probably not the best.
Dec 01, 2008
Sarah
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This hilarious book is a must for any 1-3 grade boy! I read it myself just for fun and now I'm reading it with my 6 year old.
May 12, 2011
Lorna
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Cute book about a mildly mischevious boy. I enjoyed the Henry Huggins books from the same author much more, however.
May 10, 2009
Kelly
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Loved this book!!! I read it to Korynn and we laughed at how mischievious Otis is. Great easy and fun read.
Dec 29, 2008
Kate
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How could I not read this book, when the title character has the same last name as me?
Jun 26, 2009
Britt-goodie of newsieness
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I like books about girls, but still, it was okay.
He repeated his "Oh for gunny sacks" just to get a laugh. I didn't like it when he did that.
He repeated his "Oh for gunny sacks" just to get a laugh. I didn't like it when he did that.
Apr 25, 2011
Xiao Wen
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I think Otis is a pitiful boy because when his classmates are choosing partners for dance, nobody choose him. However, he protects himself in a wrong way, this makes me feel he is too hyper. When nobody choose him, he stirs up his excitement. Otis is very different from others, he always stands in an opposite opinion with others. I think that he does that because he wants to grab other people's attention on him, and wants other people to care him more.
Aug 31, 2008
Zarakoda
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I know it has been many long years since I reread this book, but I remember it very well and am certain I will love it just as much as I did in second and fourth grade. Otis Spofford's mischievous adventures really are hilarious, especially concerning the bull fight ("Ouch!").
Jun 24, 2007
Needleroozer
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Otis is a naughty boy. As a child I got a vicarious thrill in reading of his escapades because I knew I'd never do the things he did. Not my favorite Beverly Cleary book, but I did enjoy reading it.
