As Christmas approaches, Caroline Malloy continues the feud between her sisters and the Hatford brothers by making Wally Hatford be her partner for a special project at school.
Seven-year-olds Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy make observations and gather clues that convince them that their older siblings, cousin, and animals have been captured by hungry space aliens.
Elizabeth Cole and her best friend Felicity are known as pranksters in colonial Virginia and their favorite target is Elizabeth's older sister Annabelle; but when Annabelle becomes engaged, the girls get into big trouble.
Spud and Joe are determined to catch the mysterious prankster who keeps getting them into trouble when they spend their summer at Camp Custer with Mary Frances Hooley and Lamar J. Spurgle.