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My Weirder School #1
Miss Child Has Gone Wild!
My Weirder School weirder than ever!
The third grade has won a weird contest, so they get to go on a field trip to the zoo. That's how they meet Miss Child, the weirdest zookeeper in the history of the world. She thinks animals are smarter than people! She thinks elephants can paint pictures! She keeps snakes in her pockets for fun! Guess who's going to wind up in a cage with a lion?
The third grade has won a weird contest, so they get to go on a field trip to the zoo. That's how they meet Miss Child, the weirdest zookeeper in the history of the world. She thinks animals are smarter than people! She thinks elephants can paint pictures! She keeps snakes in her pockets for fun! Guess who's going to wind up in a cage with a lion?
112 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2011
178 people are currently reading
1144 people want to read
About the author
Dan Gutman
365 books1,038 followersThe author of over 80 books in a little over a decade of writing, Dan Gutman has written on topics from computers to baseball. Beginning his freelance career as a nonfiction author dealing mostly with sports for adults and young readers, Gutman has concentrated on juvenile fiction since 1995. His most popular titles include the time-travel sports book Honus and Me and its sequels, and a clutch of baseball books, including The Green Monster from Left Field. From hopeful and very youthful presidential candidates to stunt men, nothing is off limits in Gutman's fertile imagination. As he noted on his author Web site, since writing his first novel, They Came from Centerfield, in 1994, he has been hooked on fiction. "It was fun to write, kids loved it, and I discovered how incredibly rewarding it is to take a blank page and turn it into a WORLD."
Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.
Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
March 10, 2014
My 9 year old was not interested in reading this book after reading the back cover. In an effort to encourage a book not about fairies or animals, I read this book aloud to her. It started out with a grammar error which kills me in children's books because their ear gets used to hearing the wrong words. The author wrote, "if I was"... should have been "if I were"... grrrrr! I gave three ***stars though because it was funny and we laughed out loud. Also, used quite a few put down words like stupid or dumb :-(
November 15, 2015
This wouldn't be my top recommendation for kids, however I read this aloud to my class of third graders and a lot of my students loved it. It seemed to especially strike a chord with my reluctant readers with it's silliness and humor. Based on my students' comments and excitement afterwards, I would probably read it again to future classes-- if nothing else to introduce them to a new series.
July 29, 2017
Matthew: I liked this book. It Was very cool when Alexa rode her skate board into the lion pit like it was a half-pipe! It's really funny when A.J. Always asks things that the exact oppisite as what he's saying. and when they laugh he says "Everyone laughed even though I didn't say anything funny." I loved this book!!!
November 29, 2016
the book was good but Mr G can you get more my weird school and weirder school plez
July 3, 2019
I'm so glad that I stumbled upon this series. Miss Child has gone wild us the first installment of the My Weirder School series written by Dan Gutman.
Right from the first page till the last, the dialogues, plot, characters elicited so much laughter. In fact, I found myself biting lips to stifle laughter as I didn't want my parents to wake up in the middle of the night. The third grade goes to a field trip to the Zoo and they're accompanied by Miss Child who takes pride in her knowledge of the animals. But little did she know that it's only a matter of time before she ends up in a cage with a lion.
When you finish the book, you'd be compelled to read the entire series. Short chapters, cute illustrations, and a whimsical plotline make this a delightful read.
Right from the first page till the last, the dialogues, plot, characters elicited so much laughter. In fact, I found myself biting lips to stifle laughter as I didn't want my parents to wake up in the middle of the night. The third grade goes to a field trip to the Zoo and they're accompanied by Miss Child who takes pride in her knowledge of the animals. But little did she know that it's only a matter of time before she ends up in a cage with a lion.
When you finish the book, you'd be compelled to read the entire series. Short chapters, cute illustrations, and a whimsical plotline make this a delightful read.
December 13, 2020
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This is the first book I have read in any of the My Weird School series.
I could see this being a popular book for reluctant readers, but it was not for me. I found the narrator irritating. He is extremely negative and makes fun of everyone, calling them crybabies and know-it-alls. People are also made fun of for being excited, being scared, and being interested in something. Miss Child is very passionate about animals and their treatment and is thus made fun of, her dialogue usually devolving into "blah blah blah". This message of not carrying about animals is continued as the children literally bully the animals at the zoo and promote killing a pest after the trip.
I really disliked this book. To me, it came off as very mean and does not promote empathy or an understanding of others.
Very simple text with fine illustrations. A very quick read, but I really did not like the messages it put forth. From the first page I was irritated with the ridiculous characters and it all went downhill from there.
This is the first book I have read in any of the My Weird School series.
I could see this being a popular book for reluctant readers, but it was not for me. I found the narrator irritating. He is extremely negative and makes fun of everyone, calling them crybabies and know-it-alls. People are also made fun of for being excited, being scared, and being interested in something. Miss Child is very passionate about animals and their treatment and is thus made fun of, her dialogue usually devolving into "blah blah blah". This message of not carrying about animals is continued as the children literally bully the animals at the zoo and promote killing a pest after the trip.
I really disliked this book. To me, it came off as very mean and does not promote empathy or an understanding of others.
Very simple text with fine illustrations. A very quick read, but I really did not like the messages it put forth. From the first page I was irritated with the ridiculous characters and it all went downhill from there.
July 28, 2012
I just read this book with my 5yr old. He loved it. Although it was a cute tale and a fun read,I wish the main character wasn't so negative. I did order the next few in the series for my son because he did enjoy it a lot.
February 23, 2020
He still loves football and penguins. He still has multiple "first rules" about being a kid. He still wants a huge heavy object of his choice to fall on the head of his girl-frenemy Andrea. And he STILL HATES SCHOOL....so he says!
Arlo Jarvis, the snarky kid of Ella Mentry Middle School is back for a sophomore year in Dan Gutman's kid lit megaseries, which now has tween fans of all ages, including tween-like grownups. The Weird School years are passed. Unfortunately those were just warmups! The Weirder School Era starts right NOW!
A new teacher, Mr Granite ("from another planet", which is how Arlo, or "AJ" sees virtually every teacher) has taken the place of "crazy" Miss Daisy, and today begins a new year with new possibilities for mischief...and a new friend for AJ, one that could be right up his alley, if he allows it to be.
Her name also is AJ....Alexia Juarez, straight outta South America and a shaggy haired blonde. (Yes, fans, blondes from South American countries like Puerto Rico do exist. Perfect example: Cameron Diaz, but that's another story) Like Arlo, she skateboards like a pro. Like Arlo, she's hardcore in loving fun and has similar philosophies of how life "should be". And like Arlo, she HATES SCHOOL and still goes there to see what kinda crap she can start. Arlo likes her, but won't admit it (yet) since he still finds girls aside from his mom anathema to his well being. A field trip to the local zoo, led by "bananas" Miss Hannah and Mr Granite, could change things for our reluctant rogue hero and his classmates. There they meet the latest addition to the Weird School Canon: Miss Child the zookeeper whose love of wildlife has brought on the same old same old speech most animal experts on Saturday morning TV make about how animals are human as we are, yadda yadda yadda. Arlo speaks the way lotsa kids feel by having Miss Child use the words "blah blah blah". (Arlo's idea, which makes sense since....well I admit I too get tired of authority types who moralize, as in those damn Woodsy Owl ads, "give a hoot don't pollute" that type). Miss Child enjoys showing them around the zoo, where an elephant actually paints pictures with his trunk. (On page 48, AJ, or Mr Gutman, has been nice enough to leave a special weblink to videos that do show elephants using paintbrushes, but I think looking videos up on YouTube works just as well so look some up and enjoy!) But then one kid, none other than squeamish Emily, very important to the Weird School Canon, gets lost and is found trapped in a lion's den area with a lion named Brian. (Insert snarky chuckle here at your convenience!) Miss Child tries to control Brian, her "best friend who respects me" (we all KNOW how that works, or not) and she's....using a whip and a chair? Which causes Arlo to ask the question we all have been waiting 60 plus pages for: "If he respects you, why use a bullwhip and chair?" This does it, Brian the Lion is Cryin'...for payback! And it's up to the new AJ, Alexia Juarez, to make things right. Arlo could grow as a character, or at least he's on his way, since this is the year where he's taken on richer, more complex dimensions what with Alexia being the woman (at age 13, which is like us guys at 32, which is why I will love women even as I overcome fear of them in my own life) who could help swing things either way for Arlo, and could create friction with "competition for love" Andrea, the smart girl still crushing on Arlo and still causing him to cringe in little boy chauvinist style fear. I'm kinda eagerly looking forward to seeing how the story develops and to how the Ella Mentry Middle in their unorthodox use of trick psychology will help Arlo evolve as a person. Am I wrong to think that? I'm okay with being right or wrong. And so are Gutman's legions of Weird School Disciples around the world!
Four stars
Weirder is here ta stay!!! Arlo still rocks!
Arlo Jarvis, the snarky kid of Ella Mentry Middle School is back for a sophomore year in Dan Gutman's kid lit megaseries, which now has tween fans of all ages, including tween-like grownups. The Weird School years are passed. Unfortunately those were just warmups! The Weirder School Era starts right NOW!
A new teacher, Mr Granite ("from another planet", which is how Arlo, or "AJ" sees virtually every teacher) has taken the place of "crazy" Miss Daisy, and today begins a new year with new possibilities for mischief...and a new friend for AJ, one that could be right up his alley, if he allows it to be.
Her name also is AJ....Alexia Juarez, straight outta South America and a shaggy haired blonde. (Yes, fans, blondes from South American countries like Puerto Rico do exist. Perfect example: Cameron Diaz, but that's another story) Like Arlo, she skateboards like a pro. Like Arlo, she's hardcore in loving fun and has similar philosophies of how life "should be". And like Arlo, she HATES SCHOOL and still goes there to see what kinda crap she can start. Arlo likes her, but won't admit it (yet) since he still finds girls aside from his mom anathema to his well being. A field trip to the local zoo, led by "bananas" Miss Hannah and Mr Granite, could change things for our reluctant rogue hero and his classmates. There they meet the latest addition to the Weird School Canon: Miss Child the zookeeper whose love of wildlife has brought on the same old same old speech most animal experts on Saturday morning TV make about how animals are human as we are, yadda yadda yadda. Arlo speaks the way lotsa kids feel by having Miss Child use the words "blah blah blah". (Arlo's idea, which makes sense since....well I admit I too get tired of authority types who moralize, as in those damn Woodsy Owl ads, "give a hoot don't pollute" that type). Miss Child enjoys showing them around the zoo, where an elephant actually paints pictures with his trunk. (On page 48, AJ, or Mr Gutman, has been nice enough to leave a special weblink to videos that do show elephants using paintbrushes, but I think looking videos up on YouTube works just as well so look some up and enjoy!) But then one kid, none other than squeamish Emily, very important to the Weird School Canon, gets lost and is found trapped in a lion's den area with a lion named Brian. (Insert snarky chuckle here at your convenience!) Miss Child tries to control Brian, her "best friend who respects me" (we all KNOW how that works, or not) and she's....using a whip and a chair? Which causes Arlo to ask the question we all have been waiting 60 plus pages for: "If he respects you, why use a bullwhip and chair?" This does it, Brian the Lion is Cryin'...for payback! And it's up to the new AJ, Alexia Juarez, to make things right. Arlo could grow as a character, or at least he's on his way, since this is the year where he's taken on richer, more complex dimensions what with Alexia being the woman (at age 13, which is like us guys at 32, which is why I will love women even as I overcome fear of them in my own life) who could help swing things either way for Arlo, and could create friction with "competition for love" Andrea, the smart girl still crushing on Arlo and still causing him to cringe in little boy chauvinist style fear. I'm kinda eagerly looking forward to seeing how the story develops and to how the Ella Mentry Middle in their unorthodox use of trick psychology will help Arlo evolve as a person. Am I wrong to think that? I'm okay with being right or wrong. And so are Gutman's legions of Weird School Disciples around the world!
Four stars
Weirder is here ta stay!!! Arlo still rocks!
June 5, 2017
My boy (6) didn't really want to read this, I had to bride him, but he did and he loved it. I bride him to read this book and "Rufus the scrub does not wear a tutu" and he loved both. Thought they were really really funny. He wants to read more and made me promise to get some from the library. This series is good for young reads, ones who are wanting to start reading easy chapter books. They are about at the level of Magic Tree House. My daughter didn't really like this series when she tried it at 9, she tried a few and thought some were good, but just not her thing. But my boy loved them. I don't know if it is a boy girl things, or an age thing, or just personalities, but he loved it.
November 7, 2017
This book is Miss Child Has Done Wild by Dan Guzman.This book talk about the third grade has won a weird conte, so they trip to the zoo. And they meet a zookeeper, her name is Miss Child.Student think she is weird because she carrying tarantulas around her pockets.
During the trip in the zoo, that was pretty much happened.They saw a elephant can paint pictures, they met a gorilla, she is very smart.And the gorilla try to tell them a joke, but all of Students didn’t laugh, then the gorilla was angry and sad.And she said human are stupid……
Finally, they backed to school and have a excited day.
During the trip in the zoo, that was pretty much happened.They saw a elephant can paint pictures, they met a gorilla, she is very smart.And the gorilla try to tell them a joke, but all of Students didn’t laugh, then the gorilla was angry and sad.And she said human are stupid……
Finally, they backed to school and have a excited day.
March 23, 2018
The writing has some very clever bits, but also some snarky jabs between the children, so I can't recommend this very highly. "In case you don't know French, a chaperone is a grown-up who tells everybody to stop talking."
One of the main things I don't like are these "kid rules," like "kids don't like holding hands" and "when your parents ask what you learned in school today, the answer is always 'nothing.'"
One of the main things I don't like are these "kid rules," like "kids don't like holding hands" and "when your parents ask what you learned in school today, the answer is always 'nothing.'"
May 17, 2018
This book is really funny. I say this because A.j. did not want to go to the museum but he still had to. But when he got there, he saw all the animals and he changed his mind. He started asking questions about reptiles and started to pet the animals. But he still had one problem. His problem was he was partners with Andrea. He did not like her at all because she thinks she knew everything and she was a goody two shoes. This is why my book I'm currently reading is funny.
August 23, 2019
Cursing (in ASL) gorillas and painting elephants are pretty funny. Here's the question: Do we go with a discussion of what is language? What is art? What it means to communicate? Or should we go with the "Wow, that's kind of anthropomorphically exploitative!" There's a website address for real elephant art in the book; there's also a scene featuring Miss Child holding a chair and a whip toward Brian the Lion. Choices!
Read
February 14, 2018miss child just went so wild and it was funny when she did it was just so funny because of what she did and aj with his jokes again he is just the funnest kid in this book.I just love all the jokes that aj says and it just makes me laugh every time there are good jokes he is my favorite because of his jokes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2018
After AJ and his class wins "cleanest classroom" in the school, they earn a trip to the zoo. Misadventures abound as they spend the day learning about elephants that paint, gorillas that use sign language, lions that chase and a search for a lost schoolmate. Can things get any weirder for the students at Ella Mentry School?
December 11, 2018
I think this book is quite funny..
I love AJ so much ...
I can understand he can do anything to refrain himself from going to school..
Also when girl named AJ comes to class was funny ..
Instances in the story were quite funny..
AJ's jokes my god😂😂😂..
Characters are good ..It could be written more elaborately but it's okay till I find it good ..
I love AJ so much ...
I can understand he can do anything to refrain himself from going to school..
Also when girl named AJ comes to class was funny ..
Instances in the story were quite funny..
AJ's jokes my god😂😂😂..
Characters are good ..It could be written more elaborately but it's okay till I find it good ..
February 18, 2022
My first grade class loved this book! They laughed out loud and begged me to read more chapters every day. The reason I am taking off a star is the use of the word “stupid.” I make sure I substitute with a different word when reading aloud, but I wish these books didn’t use words like that stupid, dumb, etc so much.
October 27, 2023
The third grade has won a weird contest, so they get to go on a field trip to the zoo. That's how they meet Miss Child, the weirdest zookeeper in the history of the world. She thinks animals are smarter than people! She thinks elephants can paint pictures! She keeps snakes in her pockets for fun! Guess who's going to wind up in a cage with a lion?
August 28, 2017
Emily in the Lion Lane and her Calssmeets are looking for her. Alexia she new girl and She help get to Emily out of lion lane she ride her Skateboard and Save Emily and Miss Child Stop the lion get to Emily and anyone get ready for back on the bus and back to School and ready get for going to home.
October 6, 2017
When they won a cleanest classroom contest and got a prize to go to the zoo, Miss Child showed them all the animals and I liked when the gorilla told all the jokes and then she got mad when the kids didn't get it!
August 2, 2018
This is one of the many children's books that I've read lately that I would describe as a decent story with obnoxious characters (similar to Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid). It's a great option for kids who are into stories with ornery characters, but I wasn't super fond of it. It is a short story about a class visiting the zoo. The story moves along quickly, so it is a very light/easy read. I would definitely recommend it to reluctant readers who like characters with a lot of sass.
November 23, 2018
It was good...😉 it was funny...😉... Dan Gutman is also my favorite author!!!
It was good...😉 it was funny...😉... Dan Gutman is also my favorite author!!!... ... I love his books!!!!! He he
It was good...😉 it was funny...😉... Dan Gutman is also my favorite author!!!... ... I love his books!!!!! He he
December 29, 2018
When I’m reading a book to my nephews, I don’t want a rude character. Like,, ugh it’s just exhausting. The whole vibe of the book was negative and rude. They enjoyed the animals. Didn’t like the main character though
February 19, 2019
Boys enjoyed it ok but not as great as other books. We will try the Weird School books as we hadn't realized this is later in the series. I was not overly impressed as the characters aren't that compelling and it seems more formulaic than other series we've read together.
February 19, 2021
This was really funny! I liked the zookeeper Miss Child. She said that elephants can paint pictures, and I actually looked on YouTube and found really cool videos of elephants painting self portraits with their trunks!
March 6, 2023
My Weirder School v1
Miss Child from the zoo comes to visit the school. Then all the children go and visit her there. The children meet animals up close and personal, which is when all the fun happens.
Miss Child from the zoo comes to visit the school. Then all the children go and visit her there. The children meet animals up close and personal, which is when all the fun happens.
September 20, 2017
Más dibujos
Yo le pondría un poco de más dibujos
Pero si me gusto el libro es interesante
¿Pregunta? Para qué grado es
Yo le pondría un poco de más dibujos
Pero si me gusto el libro es interesante
¿Pregunta? Para qué grado es
April 20, 2018
A fun, wild and weird field trip to the zoo!
July 31, 2018
Alexia seems like she might be an interesting character.
July 19, 2019
I THOUGHT IT WAS WILD!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews