![]() First book in the series | |
Author | Dan Gutman |
---|---|
Illustrator | Jim Paillot |
Language | English |
Genre | Humor, children's literature |
My Weird School is a series of humorous chapter books written by Dan Gutman and illustrated by Jim Paillot, first published in July 2004. [1] Further series include My Weird School Daze (2008-2011), My Weirder School (2011-2014), My Weirdest School (2015-2018), My Weirder-est School (2019-2022), and My Weird-tastic School (2023-2024)
The series takes place in a school whose teachers display bizarre behaviors, with each title focusing on a specific teacher. Each book in the series has a rhyme in the title. The main character, A.J., is a boy who hates school. [2] His rival is a girl named Andrea, who loves school and has a friend, Emily, that A.J. considers a "crybaby." [3] Much of the humor is derived from the plot's unlikely situations [4] and the teachers' personalities which are written to be "outlandish." [5]
Gutman was initially inspired to write the books after being exposed to the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park and wanted to write something similar from a boy's point of view. [5] Gutman says that he has been inspired by visiting real-life schools, going to 60 schools a year to gather material. [6] He has also stated that his goal in writing the books is to interest children in reading and especially to make reading fun for children who have difficulty in school. [7] The series' defining characteristic of strange teachers comes from Gutman's belief that children enjoy reading about "grownups doing dumb things." [8] Gutman feels that along with having his own son, the series My Weird School helped launch his writing career. [9]
Various spinoff specials have been published from 2013 to 2022.
A series of early reading books as part of the I Can Read! line.
A series of nonfiction books with facts presented by A.J. and Andrea.
A series of graphic novels.
Disappointed by the writing skills of the fans who write him letters, Gutman created a spinoff book in 2013, My Weird Writing Tips, to teach readers how to write. [10]
Audiobook versions of My Weird School have been bundled together with books 1-4 released together. [2]
During lockdowns associated with COVID-19, Gutman has hosted a "My Weird Read-A-Loud" series. [11] Gutman has also read online from the My Weird School series for #OperationStoryTime on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. [12]
The series has been known for all it frequent running gags.
Kirkus Reviews said that the first book, Miss Daisy is Crazy!, is "a sure-fire hit for the most reluctant reader." [13] Publishers Weekly also notes that the series is a good choice for beginning readers. [14] The Reading Teacher mentioned the series in their 2008 article on choosing books for children that they will enjoy reading. [15] Some books, such as Class Pet Mess!, do contain more challenging vocabulary. [16] Mrs. Cooney Is Looney! uses homophones to provide humor. [17]
My Weirder School continues the trend of using humor that began in the My Weird School series. [18] Booklist calls the series habit forming, writing, "Fortunately, the habit is reading." [18] Booklist has also called the depiction of some of the adults in the series as " satire." [19]
The Weird School Fast Facts series has been reviewed favorably. School Library Journal called the drawings "hilarious" in both My Weird School Fast Facts: Sports and My Weird School Fast Facts: Geography. School Library Journal also noted that Gutman's writing was especially suited to his audience of younger readers. [20] Booklist wrote that Sports was entertaining and informative. [21]
My Weird Writing Tips is a book written to help students become better writers. School Library Journal wrote that the book makes " grammar entertaining," but criticized the introduction for not being sensitive to the issues faced by bilingual students and others who have trouble with grammar. [22] Booklist, however, felt that My Weird Writing Tips was extremely funny and informative for a broad group of young readers. [23] Kirkus Reviews found the book to have useful information even if the tone of the book was "disingenuous at times and too self-consciously fun." [24]
The first four books released as an audiobook in 2005 were read by John Beach. [25] His narration was good at capturing the voices of the characters in the stories, according to Booklist. [25] School Library Journal praised the narration of Jared Goldsmith on the audiobook, Miss Cooney Is Looney!, for capturing the voice of A.J. in a way that "brings him to life." [17]
The series has been very successful with young readers, although Common Sense Media notes in a review that the series sometimes reinforces gender stereotypes. [26] The series also receives criticism for characters having caricatured personalities [17] and repetitive plots. [2]
![]() First book in the series | |
Author | Dan Gutman |
---|---|
Illustrator | Jim Paillot |
Language | English |
Genre | Humor, children's literature |
My Weird School is a series of humorous chapter books written by Dan Gutman and illustrated by Jim Paillot, first published in July 2004. [1] Further series include My Weird School Daze (2008-2011), My Weirder School (2011-2014), My Weirdest School (2015-2018), My Weirder-est School (2019-2022), and My Weird-tastic School (2023-2024)
The series takes place in a school whose teachers display bizarre behaviors, with each title focusing on a specific teacher. Each book in the series has a rhyme in the title. The main character, A.J., is a boy who hates school. [2] His rival is a girl named Andrea, who loves school and has a friend, Emily, that A.J. considers a "crybaby." [3] Much of the humor is derived from the plot's unlikely situations [4] and the teachers' personalities which are written to be "outlandish." [5]
Gutman was initially inspired to write the books after being exposed to the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park and wanted to write something similar from a boy's point of view. [5] Gutman says that he has been inspired by visiting real-life schools, going to 60 schools a year to gather material. [6] He has also stated that his goal in writing the books is to interest children in reading and especially to make reading fun for children who have difficulty in school. [7] The series' defining characteristic of strange teachers comes from Gutman's belief that children enjoy reading about "grownups doing dumb things." [8] Gutman feels that along with having his own son, the series My Weird School helped launch his writing career. [9]
Various spinoff specials have been published from 2013 to 2022.
A series of early reading books as part of the I Can Read! line.
A series of nonfiction books with facts presented by A.J. and Andrea.
A series of graphic novels.
Disappointed by the writing skills of the fans who write him letters, Gutman created a spinoff book in 2013, My Weird Writing Tips, to teach readers how to write. [10]
Audiobook versions of My Weird School have been bundled together with books 1-4 released together. [2]
During lockdowns associated with COVID-19, Gutman has hosted a "My Weird Read-A-Loud" series. [11] Gutman has also read online from the My Weird School series for #OperationStoryTime on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. [12]
The series has been known for all it frequent running gags.
Kirkus Reviews said that the first book, Miss Daisy is Crazy!, is "a sure-fire hit for the most reluctant reader." [13] Publishers Weekly also notes that the series is a good choice for beginning readers. [14] The Reading Teacher mentioned the series in their 2008 article on choosing books for children that they will enjoy reading. [15] Some books, such as Class Pet Mess!, do contain more challenging vocabulary. [16] Mrs. Cooney Is Looney! uses homophones to provide humor. [17]
My Weirder School continues the trend of using humor that began in the My Weird School series. [18] Booklist calls the series habit forming, writing, "Fortunately, the habit is reading." [18] Booklist has also called the depiction of some of the adults in the series as " satire." [19]
The Weird School Fast Facts series has been reviewed favorably. School Library Journal called the drawings "hilarious" in both My Weird School Fast Facts: Sports and My Weird School Fast Facts: Geography. School Library Journal also noted that Gutman's writing was especially suited to his audience of younger readers. [20] Booklist wrote that Sports was entertaining and informative. [21]
My Weird Writing Tips is a book written to help students become better writers. School Library Journal wrote that the book makes " grammar entertaining," but criticized the introduction for not being sensitive to the issues faced by bilingual students and others who have trouble with grammar. [22] Booklist, however, felt that My Weird Writing Tips was extremely funny and informative for a broad group of young readers. [23] Kirkus Reviews found the book to have useful information even if the tone of the book was "disingenuous at times and too self-consciously fun." [24]
The first four books released as an audiobook in 2005 were read by John Beach. [25] His narration was good at capturing the voices of the characters in the stories, according to Booklist. [25] School Library Journal praised the narration of Jared Goldsmith on the audiobook, Miss Cooney Is Looney!, for capturing the voice of A.J. in a way that "brings him to life." [17]
The series has been very successful with young readers, although Common Sense Media notes in a review that the series sometimes reinforces gender stereotypes. [26] The series also receives criticism for characters having caricatured personalities [17] and repetitive plots. [2]