George brags, procrastinates, and offers excuses instead of training for the big race--much to his later embarrassment.

A boy explains that he won't clean up spilled milk because he didn't spill it and wonders who might have done so.

Arriving late again with no homework and uniform, a young goat has a whale of a tale involving dinopirates, fish-driven submarines, and elephant rides--but will his teacher believe him?

Buster gives his mother several exaggerated excuses for being late for lunch. At intervals readers are given a variety of similar excuses from which to choose.

Murphy doesn't want to go to school. He has butterflies in his tummy and ants in his pants! But no amount of made-up excuses convince his dad to let him stay home. Just when Murphy has all but given up, his father brings him up-to-date-it's Saturday!