Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril

Lunch Lady #8

by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

It's picture day at Thompson Brook, but the students are plagued by a freak acne epidemic. While the Breakfast Bunch scrambles to put their best faces forward, their hifalutin photographer raises Lunch Lady's eyebrows. She suspects the photographer may have an underhanded plan to break into the world of high fashion that puts the students in danger! Will Lunch Lady be able to storm the runway and stop the vogue rogue without blowing her cover?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Humor, Childrens, Comics, Middle Grade, Mystery, Graphic Novels Comics

96 pages, Library Binding

First published September 11, 2012

About the author

Jarrett J. Krosoczka, known since boyhood as "JJK," is the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator behind more than forty books for young readers, including his wildly popular Lunch Lady graphic novels, select volumes of the Star Wars™: Jedi Academy series, and Hey, Kiddo, which was a National Book Award Finalist. Krosoczka creates books with humor, heart, and deep respect for his young readers—qualities that have made his titles perennial favorites on the bookshelves of homes, libraries, and bookstores over the past twenty years.

In addition to his work in print, Krosoczka produced, directed, and performed in the full-cast audiobook adaptations of his graphic novels. The Hey, Kidoo audiobook garnered both Audie and Odyssey Awards for excellence in audiobook production. The Lunch Lady audiobook cast is led by Kate Flannery (The Office) and is rounded out by famed audiobook narrators and real kid actors! Krosoczka has been a guest on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, has been profiled in The New York Times, was featured on Good Morning America, and has delivered three TED Talks, which have accrued millions of views online. Krosoczka has garnered millions of more views online via the tutorials he has produced for YouTube and TikTok. As well as working on his books' film and television adaptions, Krosoczka has also written for The Snoopy Show (Apple TV+) and served as a consultant for Creative Galaxy (Prime Video), and appeared in live segments for the show.

Realizing that his books can inspire young readers beyond the page, Krosoczka founded School Lunch Hero Day, a national campaign celebrating school lunch staff. A consummate advocate for arts education, Krosoczka also established the Joseph and Shirley Krosoczka Memorial Youth Scholarships, which fund art classes for underprivileged children in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Krosoczka lives in western Massachusetts with his spouse, their three children, pugs Ralph and Frank, and a French bulldog named Bella Carmella.

Reviews

[Melki]

It seems my local library only has volumes eight through ten of this series, so I hesitated to borrow it, thinking of all the backstories I might be missing. Turns out it was not a problem. Lunch Lady is a kick-ass heroine, and that's really all you need to know.

I love the Lunch Lady, and not just because she looks a little like me.



Like Batman, she has no real super powers, but uses an awesome array of gadgetry to stop crime and right wrongs. Believe me, you don't want to mess with anyone skilled in the art of using a Fancy Ketchup-Packet Laser, a Serving-Spoon Crowbar, the Hairnet Net or the dreaded Chicken Nugget Bomb. In this episode, she's out to stop a nasty photographer who has been scamming the students.



She's even got an adorable little sidekick, plus a mob of kids who help her out from time to time.



This appears to be a pretty cute series; perfect for the Captain Underpants crowd.

Ah, Lunch Lady . . .

I shall think of you fondly every time I don my yellow rubber gloves.

[Laura]

”Holy jalapenos!”

This Lunch Lady adventure finds our heroes face to face with a shady shutterbug trying to swindle the kids out of their money, improper use of political funds, battles with zits, and so much more. Can Lunch Lady and the Breakfast Bunch save the day and the student council fund? Tune in to find out.

Another fun filled episode alive with vibrant yellows splashed across the pages, giggle inducing Lunch Lady gadgets, and even a mob of menacing models to battle! My favorite weapon this time out was the chicken nugget bomb. Hehe…Brilliant!

A quick comic blast sure to make readers *smile* for the camera and jump into the continuing adventures of Lunch Lady.

[Kevaia B]

It was wonderful I loved the action and mysterys it had in this book.who ever reads this in my opinion there gonna like it

[Nora]

It was very daring!

[Sara Grochowski]

Holy jalapenos! How have I never heard of Jarrett J. Krosoczka's Lunch Lady graphic novel series before?!? After all, Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril is already #8 in the series. I've seriously been missing out, but I can only hope that the rest of you MG readers, parents, and educators out there weren't as ignorant!

I've never been much for comics and graphic novels centered around superheroes, but Lunch Lady is a whole different story. I have very fond memories of my own childhood lunch ladies and I had fun imagining them as Lunch Lady and her sidekick, Betty, routinely rushing to the aid of students and solving silly mysteries. I definitely would have had fun reading about this superhero as a kid. On a side note, I found Betty's weakness for gossip magazines hilarious!

I loved that the kids in the novel were both proactive and smart. They often chimed in with witty remarks and interesting ideas. For me, the children were quite realistic. They made mistakes (sometimes big ones) and were sometimes clique-y, but they always set aside their differences when it mattered.

One of my favorite characteristics of the Lunch Lady series is how seriously clever and funny it is. Lunch Lady's conversation is always peppered with references to cooking and her gadgets are linked to the culinary as well. You may very well have a Whisk Whacker and Fish Stick Nunchucks in your very own kitchen!

I've only read one book in the Lunch Lady series and I'm already in love. I sincerely hope school libraries are carrying Krosoczka's fantastic series and kids are falling for Lunch Lady, Betty, and their students as well!

[Megan]

I thought this book was very comical and one that children would enjoy. The story takes place around a school and the lunch lady and her assistant are crime fighting ladies. Along with three children seem to be the main characters. These books are series of books that encompass the same main characters, but different adventures/crime fighting adventures.
I would have preferred to read the first book in the series, because to me it was hard to truly grasp who the characters were without some background knowledge. But overall it was a good story written as a graphic novel that is engaging to child readers.
Within the classroom, I think students would prefer to pick up novels like this. The graphic novel allows for an easy quick read, while the pictures assist in providing a lot of information for the story, making it a good text to use for inferring. This book recommended me of Captain Underpants, though I haven’t read any, I am assuming that the Captain goes on many adventures throughout the different books.

[katsok]

Love this series and the eighth installment doesn't disappoint. Should be noted that in my house there was an argument over who would read it first: 10 year old son, 7 year old son, my husband, or myself. Yes, it's that good. :)

[Donalyn]

Another fun installment in the Lunch Lady series. It was fun to see a guest appearance by my favorite guybrarian, too.

[Fiona]

fun

[Nancy Kotkin]

Story: 4 stars
Art: 4 stars

Fun graphic novel series for chapter book readers. Lunch Lady and her sidekick, Betty, are a secret crime-fighting duo that serve up breakfast, lunch, and justice. There is a group of three elementary school kids (two boys and one girl) who help Lunch Lady and Betty on their superhero missions. Lunch Lady's ninja skills are complemented by Betty's tech acumen. My favorite part are all the souped-up cooking utensils and food-related gadgets that Betty invents, which are then used to capture the bad guys.

For the same age group as readers of the Babymouse and Salem Hyde graphic novel series, but the Lunch Lady series has wider appeal to both genders. Nothing deep here, but good entertainment value when kids need a break from more serious reading and studying. Especially well-suited to build reading confidence for reluctant readers.

Not a lot of detail in the drawing. This more iconic style, along with large panels, makes these graphic novels easy to read. Color palette is restricted to black, white, and yellow for all books in the series. I wish the creator had chosen a more contrasting color than yellow, but it works well for the apron and gloves of Lunch Lady's outfit.

In this eighth book of the Lunch Lady series, Lunch Lady and her helpers unveil a crooked photographer.

[Giuliana Frye]

In the book Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril, it's Picture Day at school. Like most children and teenagers know, this is a big day and it is important to look your best. However, when the day arrives, many children show up to school with faces full of acne. As the photographer takes pictures of students, they realize something is amiss. What is wrong with the photographer?
This graphic novel involves cartoon-esque images that accurately aid to the meaning of the novel. It is suspenseful and humorous and keeps readers entertained from the first page to the last.

[Anthony]

It's picture day at Thompson Brook School, and there is also an outbreak of acne. Lunch Lady is suspicious of Stefani Depino the photographer, but can't recall where she's seen her before. Meanwhile the Breakfast Bunch tries to retrieve the money back from Stefani that Candace took from the student fund and gave to Stefani to pursue a modeling career. It all comes to a head on the catwalk.

[Brandon]

The Lunch Lady series is charming, fast-paced, and really fun to read to my kids. I've read the rest of the series to them as well (but without adding them to Goodreads). This series is a little less random than Captain Underpants, Dog Man, or Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but still has plenty of goofiness to keep kids (and kids at heart) entertained.

[Kristen]

This book was great! It had a good guy vs. bad guy type of situation and it had a great theme. To me it showed that just your average lunch lady can save the day and I think that's a good message to kids. Even though you might feel "average," you can still save the day during any given opportunity.

[Amanda]

Another silly, but fun read. I feel like the pimple-driven plot in this one would be more readily understood (and sympathized with) by middle school grade readers, but I still think kids of many ages would laugh along and enjoy the shenanigans of Betty, Lunch Lady, and the Breakfast Bunch.

[Darlene]

My 7 year old granddaughter read this to me over Zoom while being home schooled during the Pandemic. She loves the lunch lady books. It has some challenging words for a 2nd grader, but she did a good job and spelled words to me she needed help on.

[Cris]

Lunch Lady v8

Ah picture day! Nothing was worst then waking on picture day and having acne! Well, now there is, an epidemic of the school having acne. The photographer charges $15 for touching up pictures (I would have paid that!).

[Josie Young]

There is a superhero lunch lady at a school. I gave it four stars because I liked the lunch bunch kids that help the lunch lady to defeat evil bad guys. I really like all the lunch gadgets because they are funny.

[Debbie]

Lunch Lady, book 8.

For fans of Captain Underpants who suspect that their school lunch lady just might be a secret superhero.

The horrors of school picture day are about to go next level.

[Rachel]

Who knew something as innocent as permission slips could be tinkered with! This was a fun read as usual.

[Seth]

i have never read it but think it would be great

[Isabel]

Easy read with some great words like eccentric for the younger student to get their mouths round.

[Emili]

My family and I got into this series based on a recommendation from our neighbor. They are fun, entertaining and zany!

[Stephanie]

BCFL Checkout. Did not keep specific date log during July 2019 😕

Second read is me.

[Christy Broderick⁷]

Acne and school pictures...bad memories 😅😧 However, the BB and lunch ladies knew what to do to stop the bad photographer 👏🏻🎉

[Erica Flory]

Like that there is a librarian in this book.

[Brooke]

This is another fun one with a clever problem, and a solid Scooby-Doo vibe (and I would've gotten away with it too, if hadn't been for you meddling kids!).

[Katie]

There’s an acne outbreak at the middle school on picture day! And it turns out that the school photographer is a fashion photographer....So odd!

No worries, Lunch Lady is on it!!

[Arhaan Shaikh]

Pretty fun. Addicting just like other books in series.

[Andy Baird]

Fast-paced fun and a great story.