**Middle-school comedian, homework dodger, rock-star wannabe, master
doodler--Tom Gates is back with two more episodes full of visual humor
and kid appeal.
**
Things are looking up for Tom Gates. The school dance is coming up, and
his birthday, too! What could possibly put him in a bad mood? Well, the
words math lesson, for one thing. And that annoying twit Marcus
Meldrew at school. And Granny Mavis threatening to bake Tom's birthday
cake (carrots!). And the fact that nobody seems to be noticing the long
list of birthday presents Tom has prominently displayed. Worst of all,
can it be true that Tom's dad has volunteered to deejay the school dance
wearing the wacky costume from his new job?