Clarice Bean, aspiring actress and author, unsuccessfully tries to avoid getting into trouble as she attempts to help a friend in need by following the rules of the fictional, "exceptionordinarily" spy, Ruby Redfort.

A new 20th anniversary edition of the utterly classic Clarice Bean Spells Trouble by bestselling Children's Laureate, Lauren Child. There are so many things in life you can't explain. Like why isn't YOU spelt U? Why isn't WHY spelt Y? And why can just opening your mouth get you into some very BIG trouble? Clarice Bean is in non-stop trouble these days - almost as much as Karl Wrenbury, and he is the naughtiest boy in school. Clarice just wants to star in the school play and impress Mrs Wilberton in the spelling bee, but things aren't quite going to plan . . . 'Witty and charming. We can't get enough of Clarice Bean.' The Sunday Times

When someone steals the winner's trophy for the school book project, Clarice emulates her favorite book heroine, Ruby Redfort the detective.

"Told in Child’s familiar stream-of-consciousness style and punctuated with creative vocabulary. . . . Clarice is quickly stepping out from behind the shadow of other witty characters such as Junie B. Jones." — School Library Journal It’s the worry you hadn’t even thought to worry about that should worry you the most. At least that’s how it looks to Clarice Bean, who has been writing her worries in a notebook — things like Worry no. 1: infinity, or Worry no. 3: change. And now that her worst never-imagined worry has happened — her utterly best friend is moving away forever — Clarice doesn’t even care about her tickets to the Ruby Redfort, girl detective, movie premiere. That is, unless something happens to change things again. . . . Lauren Child’s trademark wit combines with spot-on insight in this hugely engaging story about childhood worries, unwanted changes, and finding friendships in the most surprising places.

When Clarice has to do a school project on the environment, she and her family become eco-warriors in an attempt to save a tree on their street.

A girl describes the hectic life she leads among the members of her large family, and her search for a little peace and quiet.

When her Uncle Ted, the fireman, comes to stay with Clarice and her brothers and sister while her mother is away, things get somewhat hectic.