Fagan, Cary

Fanny, the Great Zandini's daughter, hopes to use her conjuring powers to follow in her father's footsteps, but her father wants her brother to take over the family tradition instead.

Thing-Thing, a stuffed animal of an unidentifiable species, is given as a gift to the very spoiled Archibald Crimp who promptly throws it out the sixth floor window of the Excelsior Hotel, and the falling creature inspires random thoughts in the people who see it as it passes, while Thing-Thing hopes only to land in loving arms.

Jacob Two-Two encounters danger and adventure on the high seas as he and his family embark on a journey across the ocean aboard the "Spring-a-Leak.".

Ethan, whose goal is to survive summer camp and emerge from the ordeal with at least one positive experience, meets his new cabin mate, Zachary, an unusual boy who does not seem to care about the Big Swim, a camp event in which a select few try to swim across the lake and back.

Jeremiah Birnbaum, an obedient boy from a very wealthy family, attends a private school where he takes classes in etiquette, ballroom dancing, watercolor painting, and classical piano, but his soul is stirred when he hears a banjo being played, and though his parents forbid it, he decides to learn anyway.

Morris wants to give his fiancee Minnie a wonderful home, but because he is only a poor fishmonger he is afraid Minnie will be disappointed, so Morris comes up with on outrageous plan to give Minnie the best of everything.

When Leo's hat takes off Mr. Zinger wonders if there was something inside it and Leo imagines what that could be.

Randolph, an avid young collector of bottle caps, new words, and other assorted items, is captivated by the mysterious wooden crates belonging to his family's new boarder, Mr. Karp.