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(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
A.J. refuses to join Ryan's curling team. But after learning the coach is star athlete Mo Deen, A.J. watches every practice and replaces an injured player during the big game. A slight but accessible easy-reader plot centers on the (forced) humor the series' longer chapter books are known for. Full-color cartoon illustrations capture the story's frenetic spirit.
(4)
1-3
My Weirdest School series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
In Newman, high jinks ensue when a local meteorologist takes A.J. and Andrea on a hot-air balloon ride and the trio gets caught in a sandstorm. In Tracy, a retired astronomer directs a student play about the solar system, and A.J. is given the unfortunate role of Uranus. Despite repetitive, one-note humor, series fans will enjoy the over-the-top wackiness complemented by black-and-white cartoons. Review covers these My Weirdest School titles: Miss Newman Isn't Human! and Miss Tracy is Spacey.
(4)
1-3
My Weirdest School series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
In Newman, high jinks ensue when a local meteorologist takes A.J. and Andrea on a hot-air balloon ride and the trio gets caught in a sandstorm. In Tracy, a retired astronomer directs a student play about the solar system, and A.J. is given the unfortunate role of Uranus. Despite repetitive, one-note humor, series fans will enjoy the over-the-top wackiness complemented by black-and-white cartoons. Review covers these My Weirdest School titles: Miss Newman Isn't Human! and Miss Tracy is Spacey.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
Tomboy Alexia is assigned to feed class pet Bob, a snake. During show-and-tell, other students' pets wreak havoc until Bob is scared into playing dead (much to Alexia's relief, "Bob is fine!"). Forced humor drags down the slim story, but full-color cartoon illustrations capture the frenetic energy of this easy reader aimed at kids not quite ready for the chapter books.
(4)
K-3
My Weird School Fast Facts series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
Andrea and Arlo (A.J.) relate bite-size chunks of history from the exploration of North America through WWII. Although the book covers a decent swath of American history, the brief sections don't go beyond surface-level facts. Still, young readers will enjoy the quirky information (including a brief history of toilets) as the kids trade jokes and barbs along the way. Black-and-white cartoons and tiny photos are included.
(4)
1-3
My Weirdest School series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
During Ella Mentry School's Grandparents Day, the students get inspired by Alexia's inventor grandmother to create their own invention: "the first heated, scented, talking toilet seat." With the faculty backing their get-rich-quick scheme, the "Party Pooper" becomes an overnight sensation until it turns out to be defective. Despite forced, one-note humor, series fans will enjoy its signature brand of over-the-top wackiness complemented by black-and-white cartoon illustrations.
(4)
4-6
My Weird School Fast Facts series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
Funny, irreverent Arlo and studious Andrea take turns narrating this book of basic geography lessons and weird facts. Seven chapters cover planet Earth; the continents; water; mountains, deserts, and forests; the fifty United States; and natural disasters. Although the narrative sometimes reads like a simple list of facts, young readers will love the silly humor and black-and-white cartoons in each section.
(4)
4-6
My Weird School Fast Facts series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
Funny, irreverent Arlo and studious Andrea curate a collection of weird facts about sports. Seven chapters cover popular sports, including baseball, football, soccer, and car racing. Chapters on speed in sports, "Other Sports" (e.g., bowling, tennis, and volleyball), the Olympics, and additional random facts round out the book. Although the narrative sometimes reads like a simple list of facts, young readers will love the silly humor and black-and-white cartoons in each section.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
Class clown A.J. and teacher's pet Andrea make their easy-reader debuts, complete with their usual wordplay, goofiness, and love-hate relationship. Andrea accidentally gets on the wrong side of a museum educator (Museum); A.J. worries that he lacks a school-appropriate talent (Talent Show). Illustrated with Paillot's caricatures (in full color), the slight stories will lure developing readers not quite ready for the chapter books. Review covers the following I Can Read Book titles: My Weird School Goes to the Museum and My Weird School Talent Show Mix-Up.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
Class clown A.J. and teacher's pet Andrea make their easy-reader debuts, complete with their usual wordplay, goofiness, and love-hate relationship. Andrea accidentally gets on the wrong side of a museum educator (Museum); A.J. worries that he lacks a school-appropriate talent (Talent Show). Illustrated with Paillot's caricatures (in full color), the slight stories will lure developing readers not quite ready for the chapter books. Review covers the following I Can Read Book titles: My Weird School Goes to the Museum and My Weird School Talent Show Mix-Up.
(4)
1-3
My Weirdest School series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
When the teachers at Ella Mentry School strike for a coffee machine, substitutes are brought in to help. Of course, nothing at the school is normal, and neither are the substitutes. Desperate to get their old teachers and rules back, the students go on strike themselves. The madcap plot and black-and-white cartoon illustrations are over-the-top silly, just as series fans will expect.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
Abundant examples, highlighted in a bold font throughout Cleary's uninspired rhyming narrative, reinforce proper usage of the homophones they're, there, and their. Cartoon illustrations drive home the absurdity of the Tuckabee family's vacation, which features stops to see the World's Largest Underwear and the Cheezie Popz factory. A concluding page summarizes the functions of each member of the homophone triplet.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
Lively word problems are leveled for "wee ones," "little kids," and "big kids," with additional "bonus" challenges. The wording of questions is occasionally awkward, and the topics are quite the hodgepodge. That said, Overdeck's third Bedtime Math book, like the others, does the trick: it makes math fun. Cartoonlike illustrations, answers, and problem-solving details are included.
(4)
1-3
My Weirder School series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
A.J. and friends are back. This time, the students at Ella Mentry School are learning self-defense while also learning how to resolve conflict peacefully. Combine a teacher who's a cross between Elvis Presley and Evel Knievel, a bear, plus A.J. teaming up with arch-nemesis Andrea, and you get a wacky and wild but frenetic adventure. Entertaining cartoony illustrations further the silliness.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
Overdeck's aim is ambitious: "to make math as common and beloved as the bedtime story." Each word problem is leveled for "wee ones," "little kids," and "big kids," with an additional "bonus" challenge. The kid-friendly writing is occasionally clunky, but the topics (underwear, animal sounds, sneezing) and illustrations are lively. Answers are included; an "Equation Chart" with problem-solving specifics is appended.
(4)
1-3
My Weirder School series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
Ella Mentry School failed a countywide history test and might be shut down. Zany world-famous historian Dr. Nicholas is brought in to help; she teaches the students about toilets and Barbie dolls, and they board a time-machine boat for 1776. Will A.J. and his friends pass the makeup test? The animated illustrations and silly narrative make for a diverting but frenzied read.
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
Using characters from his My Weird School series as guides, Gutman walks readers through the basic paces of writing, from idea sources to secondary characters. The structure of Gutman's advice is telling (e.g., his lessons on grammar come after the discussion of getting published), but his tone is both humorous and straightforward, and aspiring authors will surely find points of inspiration.
(4)
1-3
My Weirder School series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
In Wild, the third graders of Ella Mentary School visit a zoo run by an eccentric zookeeper. In Embarrassin', the kids become convinced that the school's IT guy, George Harrison, is the Beatle. This frenetic My Weird School spin-off series teems with teacher disses and poop references; in short, it'll be hilarious for reluctant readers. Cartoony black-and-white art has more sloping angles than a skate park. Review covers these My Weirder School titles: Miss Child Has Gone Wild! and Mr. Harrison Is Embarrassin'!
(4)
1-3
My Weirder School series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
In Wild, the third graders of Ella Mentary School visit a zoo run by an eccentric zookeeper. In Embarrassin', the kids become convinced that the school's IT guy, George Harrison, is the Beatle. This frenetic My Weird School spin-off series teems with teacher disses and poop references; in short, it'll be hilarious for reluctant readers. Cartoony black-and-white art has more sloping angles than a skate park. Review covers these My Weirder School titles: Miss Child Has Gone Wild! and Mr. Harrison Is Embarrassin'!
142 pp.
| Simon/Aladdin
| April, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4169-7594-6$14.99
(3)
4-6
Secrets of a Lab Rat series.
Illustrated by
Jim Paillot.
Scab McNally decides to challenge teacher's pet Missy Malone in class elections. He earns votes by performing one of his trademark stunts: eating unusual foods as the Human Vacuum. While there is an abundance of gross-out jokes, there's also substance and realistic school drama. Frequent text boxes add humor by including additional perspectives and ideas.