--- product_id: 25749086 title: "Otis Spofford: A Hilarious and Heartwarming Tale About Mischief and Friendship for Children (Ages 8-12)" price: "$19.09" currency: USD in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/25749086-otis-spofford-a-hilarious-and-heartwarming-tale-about-mischief-friendship store_origin: US region: United States of America --- # Otis Spofford: A Hilarious and Heartwarming Tale About Mischief and Friendship for Children (Ages 8-12) **Price:** $19.09 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Otis Spofford: A Hilarious and Heartwarming Tale About Mischief and Friendship for Children (Ages 8-12) - **How much does it cost?** $19.09 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/25749086-otis-spofford-a-hilarious-and-heartwarming-tale-about-mischief-friendship) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Newbery Medal-winning author Beverly Cleary brings her understanding and warmth to every page of this wonderful story of a "bad boy." When it comes to stirring up a little excitement in class, Otis Spofford knows just what to do. He can turn a folk dance fiesta into a three-ring circus . . . or an arithmetic lesson into a spitball marathon. Best of all, Otis likes teasing neat, well-behaved Ellen Tebbits—until the day his teasing goes too far. Now Otis is nervous, because Ellen isn't just mad . . . she's planning something! Review: Still wonderful! - The first Beverly Cleary book I ever read, at age 10. Otis was just like some of the boys in my class who loved to tease girls and "stir up some excitement." The book is hilarious. Beverly Cleary is 100 years old. I started re-reading her books, as I enjoyed them so much as a child. I was amazed at how wonderful they still are after so many years. Review: Different in a good way - Re-reading this book as an adult, I think this may be Beverly Cleary's most interesting piece of fiction. Most of Cleary's characters are ordinary kids (Henry, Beezus, Ellen) or unusually spunky but otherwise still ordinary kids (Ramona) who live in two-parent homes with yards. Otis, on the other hand, has a single mom, lives in an apartment, and has behavior issues. He's not a bad kid by any means, but he's impulsive, easily bored, and has a very hard time thinking through the long-term consequences of his actions. He's like a jack-in-the-box where all of Cleary's other protagonists are regular dolls. And yet, Cleary writes his character as masterfully as she does the "ordinary" children she usually writes about. She gets inside Otis's head to make the reader understand exactly why he behaves the way he does, to make it make sense, but you can also see, outside his head, why he irritates everyone all the time. I find myself feeling sorry for Otis because he would be happier if he did make progress in learning to think before he acts, which he never seems to do, not even when he finally gets his come-uppance. Reading this book right after Mitch and Amy sparked a GREAT discussion with my child about the difference between a kid who's just being annoying (Otis Spofford) and a kid who's actually being a bully (Alan Hibbler). ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #247,252 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #2,346 in Children's Classics #2,418 in Children's Chapter Books (Books) #5,989 in Children's Humor | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 207 Reviews | ## Images ![Otis Spofford: A Hilarious and Heartwarming Tale About Mischief and Friendship for Children (Ages 8-12) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/812tulwComL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Still wonderful! *by K***S on January 19, 2017* The first Beverly Cleary book I ever read, at age 10. Otis was just like some of the boys in my class who loved to tease girls and "stir up some excitement." The book is hilarious. Beverly Cleary is 100 years old. I started re-reading her books, as I enjoyed them so much as a child. I was amazed at how wonderful they still are after so many years. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Different in a good way *by P***L on October 2, 2013* Re-reading this book as an adult, I think this may be Beverly Cleary's most interesting piece of fiction. Most of Cleary's characters are ordinary kids (Henry, Beezus, Ellen) or unusually spunky but otherwise still ordinary kids (Ramona) who live in two-parent homes with yards. Otis, on the other hand, has a single mom, lives in an apartment, and has behavior issues. He's not a bad kid by any means, but he's impulsive, easily bored, and has a very hard time thinking through the long-term consequences of his actions. He's like a jack-in-the-box where all of Cleary's other protagonists are regular dolls. And yet, Cleary writes his character as masterfully as she does the "ordinary" children she usually writes about. She gets inside Otis's head to make the reader understand exactly why he behaves the way he does, to make it make sense, but you can also see, outside his head, why he irritates everyone all the time. I find myself feeling sorry for Otis because he would be happier if he did make progress in learning to think before he acts, which he never seems to do, not even when he finally gets his come-uppance. Reading this book right after Mitch and Amy sparked a GREAT discussion with my child about the difference between a kid who's just being annoying (Otis Spofford) and a kid who's actually being a bully (Alan Hibbler). ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great Read *by L***R on May 18, 2022* Always a great read for my young students! They love it as much as I do! ## Frequently Bought Together - Otis Spofford - Muggie Maggie --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/25749086-otis-spofford-a-hilarious-and-heartwarming-tale-about-mischief-friendship](https://www.desertcart.us/products/25749086-otis-spofford-a-hilarious-and-heartwarming-tale-about-mischief-friendship) --- *Product available on Desertcart United States of America* *Store origin: US* *Last updated: 2026-09-10*