A story of a mischievous, impudent boy who is a classroom comedian, a show-off and a pest, but still very lovable. Young readers will understand Otis and will be delighted when he is given his comeuppance by the gentle, timid, feminine Ellen Tebbets, heroine of a previous book.

The kids in Room 207 take advantage of their teacher's good nature until she disappears and they are faced with a difficult substitute.