Patches #7

Patches and Tubby gorge themselves at dinner, and when Tubby drifts off to sleep, he tumbles into a wild dream where his pal's father supplies magical pills that turn seeds into a towering beanstalk—leading the hungry boys up into a sky-scraping realm full of impossible riches and a none-too-friendly giant. When Patches and Tubby wake up (still in their dream clothes), they discover their adventure may have been more real than they'd like to admit.

Hopalong Cassidy shares a Western cowboy's wisdom about when to "hop along" in life—offering a young reader's guide to everything from rushing to dinner and heading to school, to helping your parents, visiting the library, and giving your all in sports and play. With folksy charm and practical advice drawn from his years of picture-show adventures, Hopalong makes the case that a good attitude and quick action are what separate the real go-getters from the tenderfeet.

Two young reporters, Sandy and Spiderlegs, take on a newspaper assignment to boost their English grades—but their attempt to photograph a bank robbery lands them in hot water with actual crooks who'll stop at nothing to get that camera back. When the gangsters chase them right into the school gym during basketball season, the boys find themselves caught between mobsters, cops, and a very strict English teacher, all while trying to deliver their story and stay on the team.