What do you think?
Rate this book
Wayside School #1-3
The Wayside School Collection
SIDEWAYS STORIES FROM WAYSIDE SCHOOL
You can imagine the confusion at Wayside School when the builder made a terrible mistake. Instead of building 30 classrooms side-by-side, he built them one on top of another. Maybe that accounts for the wacky goings-on in Mrs. Jewls' class. Where else will you find children being turned into apples, dead rats wearing raincoats, and little girls who try to sell their toes?
WAYSIDE SCHOOL IS FALLING DOWN
The teacher pushes the new computer out of the window–what's going on here? It's just a lesson on the laws of gravity. As the outrageous fun continues, the 29 children up on the 30th floor engage in one adventure after another, changing the school routine into something that is far from normal.
WAYSIDE SCHOOL GETS A LITTLE STRANGER
It's been 243 days since Wayside School has been open for classes. It's taken that long to rid the place of all traces of the cows. When the students finally do return, you can bet all the craziness is back too, including a very strange counselor called Dr. Pickle who has a warped sense of humor. The really big surprises come when Mrs. Jewls leaves to have her baby and the kids get some wacky substitute teachers.
An unabridged recording on 7 CDs (8 hours, 55 minutes).
You can imagine the confusion at Wayside School when the builder made a terrible mistake. Instead of building 30 classrooms side-by-side, he built them one on top of another. Maybe that accounts for the wacky goings-on in Mrs. Jewls' class. Where else will you find children being turned into apples, dead rats wearing raincoats, and little girls who try to sell their toes?
WAYSIDE SCHOOL IS FALLING DOWN
The teacher pushes the new computer out of the window–what's going on here? It's just a lesson on the laws of gravity. As the outrageous fun continues, the 29 children up on the 30th floor engage in one adventure after another, changing the school routine into something that is far from normal.
WAYSIDE SCHOOL GETS A LITTLE STRANGER
It's been 243 days since Wayside School has been open for classes. It's taken that long to rid the place of all traces of the cows. When the students finally do return, you can bet all the craziness is back too, including a very strange counselor called Dr. Pickle who has a warped sense of humor. The really big surprises come when Mrs. Jewls leaves to have her baby and the kids get some wacky substitute teachers.
An unabridged recording on 7 CDs (8 hours, 55 minutes).
9 pages, Audio CD
First published November 1, 1996
About the author
Louis Sachar
85 books4,106 followersLouis Sachar (pronounced Sacker), born March 20, 1954, is an American author of children's books.
Louis was born in East Meadow, New York, in 1954. When he was nine, he moved to Tustin, California. He went to college at the University of California at Berkeley and graduated in 1976, as an economics major. The next year, he wrote his first book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School .
He was working at a sweater warehouse during the day and wrote at night. Almost a year later, he was fired from the job. He decided to go to law school. He attended Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.
His first book was published while he was in law school. He graduated in 1980. For the next eight years he worked part-time as a lawyer and continued to try to write children's books. Then his books started selling well enough so that he was able to quit practicing law. His wife's name is Carla. When he first met her, she was a counselor at an elementary school. She was the inspiration behind the counselor in There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom . He was married in 1985. Hisdaughter, Sherre, was born in 1987.
Louis was born in East Meadow, New York, in 1954. When he was nine, he moved to Tustin, California. He went to college at the University of California at Berkeley and graduated in 1976, as an economics major. The next year, he wrote his first book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School .
He was working at a sweater warehouse during the day and wrote at night. Almost a year later, he was fired from the job. He decided to go to law school. He attended Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.
His first book was published while he was in law school. He graduated in 1980. For the next eight years he worked part-time as a lawyer and continued to try to write children's books. Then his books started selling well enough so that he was able to quit practicing law. His wife's name is Carla. When he first met her, she was a counselor at an elementary school. She was the inspiration behind the counselor in There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom . He was married in 1985. Hisdaughter, Sherre, was born in 1987.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
December 9, 2009
Louis Sachar doesn't do voices. He doesn't sing, either – not unless you count the “dramatic reading” stylings of William Shatner as singing (when incanting “Wayside School is Falling Down,” for instance, or performing one character's “Missing Sock” song).
This makes the audio book compilation of Sachar's three Wayside School books (Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Wayside School is Falling Down, and Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger) that much easier to listen to, because Sachar himself does the reading. In other words, there's nothing "sing-songy" or vocally irritating to get stuck in a listener's head to distract from the actual stories themselves.
Wayside School is, indeed, the most unusual – and most creative – take on the familiar theme to have seen print in a long time. As it was conceptualized, the thirty-storey Wayside School building (with one classroom on each floor – instead of one storey with thirty classrooms on it, which was the result of some contractor's astonishing oversight) was not a politically-correct establishment. Kids call each other nasty names - “Fatso,” for example – but not to be cruel. Sometimes, something terrible happens – like a child's dog will get hit by a car. Or someone shows up to class with a gun (not a student, admittedly, but one character does appear at Wayside with a loaded firearm). Or a stranger will make menacing comments to a sole female student, all alone in her classroom. Or a trouble-making kid will get kicked over a fence by an adult.
But nothing truly terrible ever really happens. Not at Wayside. But you know, as “threatening” as these incidents sound, there's never any real feeling of meanness or terror involved in any of it. It's just accepted as a part of the unsanitized life in which all children live, whether we like to admit it or not. These things are all treated as slapstick – not true-to-life tragedies. It's an escape, healthy yet unpasteurized.
Sometimes, at least for an adult readership, some of the endings feel a little contrived – even predictable But it isn't so much how a story is going to end, per se, but the means by which the story arrives there. A reader legitimately cares about the story, even if the ending seems clear early on. The means b y which that ending is attained is so off-the-wall as to be completely devoid of predictability.
The one thing missing from the audiobook, of course, are the delightful illustrations by Julie Brinckloe and Adam McCauley which appear in the print editions of these books. Without the illustrations, much of the books' charm is lost. Regardless of the limitations of the format, however, Sachar's reading provides all the warmth and humour of his own material, and one cannot imagine it being given a better treatment.
This makes the audio book compilation of Sachar's three Wayside School books (Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Wayside School is Falling Down, and Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger) that much easier to listen to, because Sachar himself does the reading. In other words, there's nothing "sing-songy" or vocally irritating to get stuck in a listener's head to distract from the actual stories themselves.
Wayside School is, indeed, the most unusual – and most creative – take on the familiar theme to have seen print in a long time. As it was conceptualized, the thirty-storey Wayside School building (with one classroom on each floor – instead of one storey with thirty classrooms on it, which was the result of some contractor's astonishing oversight) was not a politically-correct establishment. Kids call each other nasty names - “Fatso,” for example – but not to be cruel. Sometimes, something terrible happens – like a child's dog will get hit by a car. Or someone shows up to class with a gun (not a student, admittedly, but one character does appear at Wayside with a loaded firearm). Or a stranger will make menacing comments to a sole female student, all alone in her classroom. Or a trouble-making kid will get kicked over a fence by an adult.
But nothing truly terrible ever really happens. Not at Wayside. But you know, as “threatening” as these incidents sound, there's never any real feeling of meanness or terror involved in any of it. It's just accepted as a part of the unsanitized life in which all children live, whether we like to admit it or not. These things are all treated as slapstick – not true-to-life tragedies. It's an escape, healthy yet unpasteurized.
Sometimes, at least for an adult readership, some of the endings feel a little contrived – even predictable But it isn't so much how a story is going to end, per se, but the means by which the story arrives there. A reader legitimately cares about the story, even if the ending seems clear early on. The means b y which that ending is attained is so off-the-wall as to be completely devoid of predictability.
The one thing missing from the audiobook, of course, are the delightful illustrations by Julie Brinckloe and Adam McCauley which appear in the print editions of these books. Without the illustrations, much of the books' charm is lost. Regardless of the limitations of the format, however, Sachar's reading provides all the warmth and humour of his own material, and one cannot imagine it being given a better treatment.
August 25, 2021
What a delightful audio reading of these bizarre, yet charming stories. Although I wouldn't complain about sitting in the student lounge at Faith Builders, listening to James Miller read these stories again.
February 16, 2020
I reread these old favorites of mine because I’m *that* excited about the upcoming release of book four in the series. Also, I know there’s no audience for this, but I’m seriously considering writing some Wayside School fan fiction. I have ideas.
When I was younger, I thought book 2, Wayside School is Falling Down was the best of the three. But in my old age, it’s clear that book 3, Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger is clearly the funniest. I completely forgot about the Principal Kidswatter’s door/goozack speech, and I was rolling around laughing about it. I’m impressed with the sheer number of details I’d retained from these books, as well as with the things I forgot. Here are a few things I remembered before re reading these:
1. There is no 19th story.
2. The attaché case people.
3. Dead rats live in the basement. Mrs. Jules hates dead rats.
4. The last sentence of each book is always “Everybody...” and a word is or rhymes with “booed.”
5. Louis the yard teacher, Mrs. Jules, Mrs. Gorf, Miss Zarves (there is no Miss Zarves).
6. Write your name under the word “discipline.”
7. That one student always got in trouble and even though he didn’t do anything.
Here are some of the things that, incredibly, I’d forgotten:
1. Joe learning to count and then knowing how many hairs he had on his head.
2. Goozack/the existence of Mr. Kidswatter
3. Miss Mush
4. BenJAmin NUSHmut. Or was that BENjaMIN NushMUT?
5. That there was a substitute teacher with a third ear that heard people’s thoughts in book 3.
6. The three Erics.
7. Music and dancing class.
When I was younger, I thought book 2, Wayside School is Falling Down was the best of the three. But in my old age, it’s clear that book 3, Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger is clearly the funniest. I completely forgot about the Principal Kidswatter’s door/goozack speech, and I was rolling around laughing about it. I’m impressed with the sheer number of details I’d retained from these books, as well as with the things I forgot. Here are a few things I remembered before re reading these:
1. There is no 19th story.
2. The attaché case people.
3. Dead rats live in the basement. Mrs. Jules hates dead rats.
4. The last sentence of each book is always “Everybody...” and a word is or rhymes with “booed.”
5. Louis the yard teacher, Mrs. Jules, Mrs. Gorf, Miss Zarves (there is no Miss Zarves).
6. Write your name under the word “discipline.”
7. That one student always got in trouble and even though he didn’t do anything.
Here are some of the things that, incredibly, I’d forgotten:
1. Joe learning to count and then knowing how many hairs he had on his head.
2. Goozack/the existence of Mr. Kidswatter
3. Miss Mush
4. BenJAmin NUSHmut. Or was that BENjaMIN NushMUT?
5. That there was a substitute teacher with a third ear that heard people’s thoughts in book 3.
6. The three Erics.
7. Music and dancing class.
January 17, 2018
Loved these stories when I was young, and now I really see how clever they are! Louis Sachar is a great writer. Although, some of the content matter surprised me for the target audience. I had a few good chuckles with this set of books. It really brought me back to my childhood.
September 26, 2018
wow this absurd humor was so formative for small!me, and the stories mostly hold up, with lots of smiles and some unexpectedly poignant moments.
June 13, 2007
I cannot wait to have children simply because I plan to immediately shove these books into their hands. I didn't even know such a box set existed but since I already own each of the three books in question, I decided to add them to my collection like this.
In case you don't know, Louis Sachar is an amazing writer. That aside, these stories are so friggin' smart and doofy that I recommend them to every adult I know who isn't afraid to read a doofy book. It's about a school that was mistakenly built with each of the floors on top of each other; I think it's supposed to be 30 stories high. And Miss Zarves teaches on the 19th floor, but there is no 19th floor. And one of the kids gets a tattoo of a potato and Louis Sachar writes himself in the stories as Louis the Yard Teacher.
Fucking amazing books.
Apparently there are two new ones I haven't read yet: Sideways Arithmetic and More Sideways Arithmetic. I am on them anon!
In case you don't know, Louis Sachar is an amazing writer. That aside, these stories are so friggin' smart and doofy that I recommend them to every adult I know who isn't afraid to read a doofy book. It's about a school that was mistakenly built with each of the floors on top of each other; I think it's supposed to be 30 stories high. And Miss Zarves teaches on the 19th floor, but there is no 19th floor. And one of the kids gets a tattoo of a potato and Louis Sachar writes himself in the stories as Louis the Yard Teacher.
Fucking amazing books.
Apparently there are two new ones I haven't read yet: Sideways Arithmetic and More Sideways Arithmetic. I am on them anon!
July 5, 2023
These books are so good and bring so many laughs.
March 22, 2019
Listened to this with the kids. They liked it. I liked it, except I've read the last book so many times growing up (I owned it) that I didn't need to listen to it yet again.
March 2, 2012
In The Wayside School Collection by Louis Sachar is seven CDs (9 hours) of the author performing the three books in the series: Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Wayside School is Falling Down and Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger. Sachar's dry sense of humor and perfect sense of timing makes each joke hit its mark, making for a very silly series of shaggy dog stories.
Wayside School is Falling Down introduces the unusual school (a 30 story, one room per story building with a missing 19th story). Then it introduces the characters, starting with the awful Mrs. Gorf and the much nicer Mrs. Jewls (who sometimes thinks her students are monkeys). As the books follow the students of the top floor, the first book has a chapter devoted to each student, except for the three Erics who share a chapter.
The question of the missing 19th floor is addressed a few times in the collection. The first time is in the chapter called "Calvin" in which Calvin has to deliver a non-existent note to a non-existent teacher about the cancelation of a lunch date. As crazy as that sounds, it makes sense if you follow along with the word play and leaps in logic that Sachar makes as he sets up his jokes for a big pay-off.
In fact my favorite stories in the collection are those dealing directly with Miss Zarves who doesn't teach on the 19th floor. Allison has a first hand encounter with her when she's accidentally marked absent in Wayside School is Falling Down. This is the story that my children and I have talked about most since finishing.
We listened to the collection twice on trips to Southern California.
Wayside School is Falling Down introduces the unusual school (a 30 story, one room per story building with a missing 19th story). Then it introduces the characters, starting with the awful Mrs. Gorf and the much nicer Mrs. Jewls (who sometimes thinks her students are monkeys). As the books follow the students of the top floor, the first book has a chapter devoted to each student, except for the three Erics who share a chapter.
The question of the missing 19th floor is addressed a few times in the collection. The first time is in the chapter called "Calvin" in which Calvin has to deliver a non-existent note to a non-existent teacher about the cancelation of a lunch date. As crazy as that sounds, it makes sense if you follow along with the word play and leaps in logic that Sachar makes as he sets up his jokes for a big pay-off.
In fact my favorite stories in the collection are those dealing directly with Miss Zarves who doesn't teach on the 19th floor. Allison has a first hand encounter with her when she's accidentally marked absent in Wayside School is Falling Down. This is the story that my children and I have talked about most since finishing.
We listened to the collection twice on trips to Southern California.
November 29, 2009
Author Louis Sachar reads the first three volumes of his infamous Wayside School series, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Wayside School is Falling Down and Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger. Scahar's hilarious classroom antics have been favorites since they were published in the 1970's. Each story focus on the slightly strange nuances of the class on the 30th floor of Wayside School.
While the Wayside School stories may be hilarious and engaging in nature Sachar sucks all of the fun out if these stories when he reads them. It sounds like he should be narrating a National Geographic TV special. Sachar's voice is completely void of the childhood playfulness and glee that the stories lend themselves too, in fact they he is completely void of a change in inflection! These audio version is completely boring.
While the Wayside School stories may be hilarious and engaging in nature Sachar sucks all of the fun out if these stories when he reads them. It sounds like he should be narrating a National Geographic TV special. Sachar's voice is completely void of the childhood playfulness and glee that the stories lend themselves too, in fact they he is completely void of a change in inflection! These audio version is completely boring.
May 23, 2024
It was a great read. A refreshing book that revolves around laughter and stories that entertain and intertwine. Creativity is present, but the stories are very brief and the plot is nicely, but sadly, top-layer. In other words, the plot doesn’t dive deep as it’s made up of multiple stories from multiple views. The creativity was in the interesting way of writing and the little things that popped up throughout the novel. The ideas that appeared every-so-often made the book easier to grasp, as it was purely logical with confusing outlines.
I find myself rating this 3 stars because of the creativity in stories and writing style but dock off stars for the lack of a deeper plot, meaning, and development throughout the stories; however, it is a children’s book.
I give it 3.5 stars, but I don’t round up.
I find myself rating this 3 stars because of the creativity in stories and writing style but dock off stars for the lack of a deeper plot, meaning, and development throughout the stories; however, it is a children’s book.
I give it 3.5 stars, but I don’t round up.
October 17, 2017
I love this book because it is funny and very satisfying. This book would be a perfect for 5th graders who enjoy what happens in school. If you like the diary of the wimpy kid series then you will like the wayside school series. Louis the yard teacher is scared of his old teacher because she makes him do his old school homework and she puts the wastebasket on his head. I like this quote because MR.Kidswatter the principal said please careful always check to see if a door is open before you go though it. Will the students get rid of mrs. Drazil or not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2007
LOVED these boks when I was about 7 years old! Endlessly fascinating and imaginative stuff for the wee ones. A bit disappointing as an adult (picked up a coy last year; just wasn't the same) but isn't that just true for most of the books and movies that captured us in those days? (with a few notable exceptions...)
February 2, 2008
the series of 3 books is awesome. they are so funny.
March 15, 2009
i think these books had something to do with my personality.
May 19, 2010
I love all the Wayside School books. They're funny and creative.
June 10, 2024
old post reposted
About two years ago, I reread "Sideways Stories From Wayside School" by Louis Sachar for the first time in 20 years (second grade throw-back). I recently found the series as a box-set at Target and said to myself "why the hell not" (like one does about books--or at Target) and bought it. Like the one I read a few years ago, these are illustrated by Tim Heitz.
1) "Sideways Stories From Wayside School" ["There was a terrible mistake - Wayside School was built with one classroom on top of another, thirty stories high (The builder said he was sorry.) Maybe that's why all kinds of funny things happened at Wayside-especially on the thirteenth floor."]
2) "Wayside School is Falling Down" ["Louis the yard teacher starts off 30 tales of unusual students. Comic sketches precede every chapter. Todd brings a cute adorable plastic puppy who bites back when Joy steals it. Cafeteria lady Ms. Mush serves Mushroom Surprise that changes Ron. When Paul falls out the window, Leslie offers her pigtails to pull him back. On the 19th floor, invisible Allison finds Miss Zarves' class."]
3) "Wayside School Gets A Little Stranger" ["Before you enter Wayside School, you should know that it’s a thirty-story building with one classroom on each floor. Mrs. Jewls teaches the class on the thirtieth story. Miss Zarves teaches the class on the nineteenth story—except there is no nineteenth story, so there is no Miss Zarves. Understand? Good. Explain it to Calvin."]
The fourth book (a recent publication ("Wayside School Beneath a Cloud of Doom")) was sold separately (and probably the reason this 3-book set was on sale).
4) "Wayside School Beaneath a Cloud of Doom" [" Welcome back to Wayside School! Your favorite students and teachers are all here. That includes Sharie, who loves her striped-and-spotted umbrella more than anything; Kathy, who has a bad case of oppositosis; Jason, who has to read the longest book in the world; and the rest of Mrs. Jewls’s class on the thirtieth floor, who are busily collecting toenail clippings. Everyone is scrambling to prepare for the all-important Ultimate Test, but meanwhile, there is a mysterious Cloud of Doom looming above them…"]
Seriously, when life gets too serious, when things become too much, when you need a break from reality, children's/middle grade novels are a great way to go. You still have that relaxation from reading but it's...less taxing. The problems are usually trivial, the characters are happy and ready for growth, and the plot is simple as fuck. Plus, with the Wayside School series: it's funny and silly and quirky and just plain weird--which should make you smile (even if you don't feel like it).
#sidewaysstoriesfromwaysideschool #waysideschoolisfallingdown #waysideschoolgetsalittlestranger #waysideschoolbeneathacloudofdoom #waysideschool #waysideschoolseries #louissachar #timheitz #books #childrensbooks #childrensclassics #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
About two years ago, I reread "Sideways Stories From Wayside School" by Louis Sachar for the first time in 20 years (second grade throw-back). I recently found the series as a box-set at Target and said to myself "why the hell not" (like one does about books--or at Target) and bought it. Like the one I read a few years ago, these are illustrated by Tim Heitz.
1) "Sideways Stories From Wayside School" ["There was a terrible mistake - Wayside School was built with one classroom on top of another, thirty stories high (The builder said he was sorry.) Maybe that's why all kinds of funny things happened at Wayside-especially on the thirteenth floor."]
2) "Wayside School is Falling Down" ["Louis the yard teacher starts off 30 tales of unusual students. Comic sketches precede every chapter. Todd brings a cute adorable plastic puppy who bites back when Joy steals it. Cafeteria lady Ms. Mush serves Mushroom Surprise that changes Ron. When Paul falls out the window, Leslie offers her pigtails to pull him back. On the 19th floor, invisible Allison finds Miss Zarves' class."]
3) "Wayside School Gets A Little Stranger" ["Before you enter Wayside School, you should know that it’s a thirty-story building with one classroom on each floor. Mrs. Jewls teaches the class on the thirtieth story. Miss Zarves teaches the class on the nineteenth story—except there is no nineteenth story, so there is no Miss Zarves. Understand? Good. Explain it to Calvin."]
The fourth book (a recent publication ("Wayside School Beneath a Cloud of Doom")) was sold separately (and probably the reason this 3-book set was on sale).
4) "Wayside School Beaneath a Cloud of Doom" [" Welcome back to Wayside School! Your favorite students and teachers are all here. That includes Sharie, who loves her striped-and-spotted umbrella more than anything; Kathy, who has a bad case of oppositosis; Jason, who has to read the longest book in the world; and the rest of Mrs. Jewls’s class on the thirtieth floor, who are busily collecting toenail clippings. Everyone is scrambling to prepare for the all-important Ultimate Test, but meanwhile, there is a mysterious Cloud of Doom looming above them…"]
Seriously, when life gets too serious, when things become too much, when you need a break from reality, children's/middle grade novels are a great way to go. You still have that relaxation from reading but it's...less taxing. The problems are usually trivial, the characters are happy and ready for growth, and the plot is simple as fuck. Plus, with the Wayside School series: it's funny and silly and quirky and just plain weird--which should make you smile (even if you don't feel like it).
#sidewaysstoriesfromwaysideschool #waysideschoolisfallingdown #waysideschoolgetsalittlestranger #waysideschoolbeneathacloudofdoom #waysideschool #waysideschoolseries #louissachar #timheitz #books #childrensbooks #childrensclassics #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
December 7, 2022
Louis Sachar whimsically handles the classic love-hate subject for children: school. Wayside school is a four book series, but only 3 are included in this collection. These books are good for all ages and full of wonderful and wacky stories guaranteed to make even Ebenezer Scrooge laugh. The school itself was built sideways, and without a 19th story. The builders apologized, but it was too late.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School is a book that introduces characters in funny ways. From a teacher who turns children into apples, to another teacher who thinks the children are monkeys, to a girl named Bebe Gun, there's no shortage of humor here. In Wayside School is Falling Down, many more silly things occur, including a dance teacher who, by the end of the lesson, has the children speaking in an accent and a chapter written backwards and then forwards. Those who remember Mrs. Zarves (specifically that there is no Mrs. Zarves) will be shocked to discover what happens when Allison is marked absent from Mrs. Jewels' class. Allison finds herself on the nonexistent 19th story, trapped in Mrs. Zarves class. With the help of a new kid Mark, Allison manages to escape at last by being very naughty. After this little fiasco, the principal finds a note calling him a "mugworm griblick." After THAT, there's a fire drill, during which Mrs. Jewels attracts all the cows in a ten mile radius, filling Wayside School with cows. In Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger, Mrs. Jewels leaves to have a baby, leaving her class in the hands of some very fishy (but funny) subs. First is Mr. Gorf, son of the teacher who turned kids into apples (and got turned into one herself). Mr. Gorf sucked up the kids voices through his nose, and the children were saved when the lunch lady threw a pepper pie in Mr. Gorf's face. The next teacher is really mean and made the yard teacher shave off his mustache. The final teacher has a third ear that can hear thoughts. She uses this power to make the class miserable. She turns into a nice teacher after listening to the pure love in the mind of Mrs. Jewels' baby, which melted the anger around her heart. Wayside school is a must read for people of all ages.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School is a book that introduces characters in funny ways. From a teacher who turns children into apples, to another teacher who thinks the children are monkeys, to a girl named Bebe Gun, there's no shortage of humor here. In Wayside School is Falling Down, many more silly things occur, including a dance teacher who, by the end of the lesson, has the children speaking in an accent and a chapter written backwards and then forwards. Those who remember Mrs. Zarves (specifically that there is no Mrs. Zarves) will be shocked to discover what happens when Allison is marked absent from Mrs. Jewels' class. Allison finds herself on the nonexistent 19th story, trapped in Mrs. Zarves class. With the help of a new kid Mark, Allison manages to escape at last by being very naughty. After this little fiasco, the principal finds a note calling him a "mugworm griblick." After THAT, there's a fire drill, during which Mrs. Jewels attracts all the cows in a ten mile radius, filling Wayside School with cows. In Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger, Mrs. Jewels leaves to have a baby, leaving her class in the hands of some very fishy (but funny) subs. First is Mr. Gorf, son of the teacher who turned kids into apples (and got turned into one herself). Mr. Gorf sucked up the kids voices through his nose, and the children were saved when the lunch lady threw a pepper pie in Mr. Gorf's face. The next teacher is really mean and made the yard teacher shave off his mustache. The final teacher has a third ear that can hear thoughts. She uses this power to make the class miserable. She turns into a nice teacher after listening to the pure love in the mind of Mrs. Jewels' baby, which melted the anger around her heart. Wayside school is a must read for people of all ages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2021
Sideways Stories from Wayside School is broken up into 30 short chapters, each of which tells the story of one person in the classroom on the 30th floor. A delightful, funny, ridiculous collection of short chapters about the weirdest school in the world!
Wayside School is Falling Down continues the adventures at Wayside School, including a memorable trip to the 19th floor and a school full of cows after a fire drill.
In Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger, Mrs Jewls leaves the classroom because her obstetrician no longer wants her to walk up 30 flights of stairs every day, and the students encounter a series of substitute teachers. The book ends on a beautiful, joy-filled note as befits the original collection.
Overall, this collection of books is charming, funny, bizarre, and sure to be a favorite!
Wayside School is Falling Down continues the adventures at Wayside School, including a memorable trip to the 19th floor and a school full of cows after a fire drill.
In Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger, Mrs Jewls leaves the classroom because her obstetrician no longer wants her to walk up 30 flights of stairs every day, and the students encounter a series of substitute teachers. The book ends on a beautiful, joy-filled note as befits the original collection.
Overall, this collection of books is charming, funny, bizarre, and sure to be a favorite!
January 13, 2022
These were some of my favourite books as a kid. Reread them before suggesting the series to my kid. There are some dated chapters that aren't great about bullying and consent. And the genders are very binary and somewhat male centred (using he to refer to everyone). I think, with a bit of discussion about the old stereotypes, my kid would still enjoy these light hearted absurd stories. The author does a great job of representing the ways (middle class western) kids approach and understand the world before they really have a grasp at how it all works. I still love it, but with a grain of salt. 3.5
November 16, 2018
This is a trio of hilarious off-beat stories about a school built on its side instead of on the ground. It's magical realism at its best. This is a great series for younger readers and old readers that like silly stories. Some of these chapters fall flat or don't really offer much emotion/character/plot while others haunt me to this day (or emotionally struck me in a way more mature stories can't dream of doing).
It's a good read.
It's a good read.
October 24, 2020
I had to quit. Full marks for creativity. It's got a lot of fun creative material. But the kids are really rude. Then the teachers are really rude sometimes. Then they speculate about the teacher being drunk, etc. I just didn't like where Sachar took it. I felt like it promoted rude children the way T.V. and movies do. I stuck it out until about 5 parts but couldn't stomach any more after that, so I quit.
August 4, 2017
My husband and kids enjoyed listening to this on audiobook over a recent vacation. The author tells relatable children's stories in a way that is inventive and funny. Our older son did learn how to tell people to "buzz off" from reading this book, so that's not as fun, but other than that we enjoyed it.
March 11, 2018
As good as I remembered
I adored these books as a kid. The stories were weird, wild, and funny. I wished Wayside School was a real place.
The stories still hold up, which makes me happy. I remembered at least a few from each book. The illustrations were changed, which is sad. I was looking forward to seeing how my memories of those had held up as well.
I adored these books as a kid. The stories were weird, wild, and funny. I wished Wayside School was a real place.
The stories still hold up, which makes me happy. I remembered at least a few from each book. The illustrations were changed, which is sad. I was looking forward to seeing how my memories of those had held up as well.
September 10, 2018
A Classic
I read these stories when I was little and loved them. I happened to run across the trilogy on Kindle and got it to read my daughter. So far these are her favorite stores, we have to read 1-2 of these a night. We just finished the books, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she wants me to start over from the beginning.
I read these stories when I was little and loved them. I happened to run across the trilogy on Kindle and got it to read my daughter. So far these are her favorite stores, we have to read 1-2 of these a night. We just finished the books, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she wants me to start over from the beginning.
August 15, 2021
Fun, quirky read that was a revisit to childhood. I remembered my teachers reading these to me as a young elementary student and listening to them with my kids was fun. Lots of laughing from my ten-year-old.
Read
January 4, 2024DNF 30% or basically after the first book.
The stories are cute if a bit kooky. But it was a mistake to have this read by the author who has a lisp. It isn’t as noticeable if you speed it up but still not great.
The stories are cute if a bit kooky. But it was a mistake to have this read by the author who has a lisp. It isn’t as noticeable if you speed it up but still not great.
June 2, 2017
Quirky, silly stories with some subtle criticism of conventional schooling. Many chuckles with my 10-year-old.
July 31, 2017
The kids loved these stories and each of them gave them a 5 star rating. I enjoyed them and would give them a solid 3.5 (not the targeted age group). Definitely fun for kids.
August 22, 2017
Its so funny I love those books 😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews