Dr. Carbles Is Losing His Marbles!

My Weird School #19

by Dan Gutman, Jim Paillot (Illustrator)

Something weird is going on!

It's Thanksgiving! A.J. is thankful for four days off from school. But he's not thankful for Dr. Carbles, who is grumpier than ever. Dr. Carbles even fires Mr. Klutz! Will A.J. and his friends be able to save their principal's job?

Genres: Humor, Childrens, Chapter Books, Fiction, Thanksgiving, Audiobook, Realistic Fiction

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 21, 2007

About the author

The 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.

Reviews

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Dr. Carbles fires Mr. Klutz, and becomes the principal of Ella Mentry School and enforces a military style environment, A.J. and is classmates must think of a way to get rid of Dr. Carbles, and get Mr. Klutz back his old job. This humorous and fun filled holiday read will keep the reader in puns and laughs from cover to cover.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series! Dan Gutman has a way of bringing funny new ideas to each of these books, and they are all so much fun. I thought skateboarding was a fun aspect of this book, very boy friendly, and the humor was up to par with others in this series. Great for reluctant boy readers in elementary school.

[Hawa Adaweh]

he is making kids do horrible stuff and he fired mr. klutz.

[Joey Oborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and funny book! Mr. Klutz kissed a pig! ( And by the way Mr. Klutz is a PRINCIPAL) :)

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

I hated this one at first, but it got a little more interesting as the book progressed. In this book, Mr. Klutz the principal gets fired because of all the shenanigans going on at Ella Mentry. The superintendent who fired Klutz, Dr. Carbles, steps into the new role as principal with the intention of disciplining the kids there. As a result, none of the kids like Carbles as he's too strict and not fun. It's later revealed that Carbles and Klutz have a tumultuous history from their own school days. The kids end up devising a plot to try and get Mr. Klutz back as their principal.

Overall, I thought the plot was pretty good in this one but it was overshadowed by what I feel like are Gutman's writing crutches at this point. Maybe I didn't notice certain patterns in the earlier books, but the last several books in the series were incredibly repetitive and not in a good way. I'm happy these are the last couple books in the series. For my own curiosity and nostalgia, I want to finish the collection but the quality of books really isn't worth it.

[Anna Salvesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very funny at the end because Dr. Carbles got fired, which is good. It was good because he is really mean. He fired Mr. Klutz, the principal, and then he made himself the principal and put video cameras around the cafeteria (vomitorium) and he put up a lot of posters that said "no talking." AJ and his friends remembered that when they drove Mrs. Todd crazy, they chased her out of the school and they realized that they could do the same thing with Dr. Carbles. So when they went to visit Mr. Klutz at his house, he told them that Dr. Carbles wore a toupee and he was bald. SO they decided to go fishing for his toupee and then they made a skating ramp in the gym and Mr. Klutz and Dr. Carbles did a skate off, but they crashed into each other and fell down. And then, Dr. Carbles toupee fell off of his head.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Klutz gets fired as the principal because he was dressed in a costume and was about to marry a turkey. Dr. Carbles came in at that moment and fired him. Then the Superintendent hired Dr. Carbles to be the principal. Dr. Carbles had never been a principal, so he called AJ to his office and asked what made the kids like Mr. Klutz so much. AJ told him that Mr. Klutz was fun. Dr. Carbles had no fun in him, making the kids march around on the playground instead of having recess. He also made them wear uniforms. The kids went to Mr. Klutz's house and saw him skateboarding. At the end, Dr. Carbles challenged Mr. Klutz to a skateboarding contest, and then Dr. Carbles got fired and Mr. Klutz became principal again.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book in this series and I have very mixed thoughts. The concept was cute. A guy from the department of ed comes and sees how silly and fun the principal is being and he fires him. He takes over the job to create more structure and discipline in the school and the kids don't like it. AJ and friends find his weak spots and eventually the old principal comes back. It was a fun concept but the kids are BRATS to each other. I don't want that normalized in our house, so we'll see if we read others from this series.

[Caleb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Caleb (age 6): "I would rate this book zero stars if I could. I really did not like this book at all. The only reason I read the thing is because I like to read. I like most of the other books in the series though. I think the author is just getting used to writing down A.J.'s life. This is the ninth book of about 400 books he's made about A.J."

[Julian Hsiang · Rating 1 out of 5]

That was the last time I will ever read this stupid/dumb
book. I like you, Dan. But it was an issue. You really shouldn't have
created Dr.Carbles in the first place. He is such a jerk.
Gutman, you should have revised it.( as in them people of the school
attacking the school with Nerf guns.)

[Joseph Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though it's a book for kids, it's still enjoyable to adult like me. Well play on puns on "being frank", which is the most funny part of the book. Highly recommended, especially to kids who want to learn English better.

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably on me for reading chapter books to a 4 year old. But, after about 5 chapters it was clear that this book was introducing negative thoughts to my kid and giving him a bad outlook on school. Currently, he loves school. I am sure that will change, but I'd rather that come naturally.

[Kyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ew. No good. If I had kids they would not be reading this. The school principal is fired and replaced by the militant superintendent right before Thanksgiving break. Can they get their old principal back before it’s too late and the superintendent drives them crazy? D

[SETSS Readopoly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexile level: 610

[Jc · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first venture into the Weird School series. So far, so good.

[Nam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was awesome. Dr. Carbles made a terrible principal.

[Courtney Umlauf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent early chapter book series. Each book has a bit of humor and a relatable setting and characters that make them easy for students to engage with.

TpT Store | Pinterest

[Marya · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a kid, I'm sure I would have found the idea that the people in charge are so immature. But as an adult? This book is spot on.

[Jaden John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Laughed my head off!

[Kayla O · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is super duper funny! it tells about how the principal got fired by a mean man who wears a wig

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book. While investigating a possible Thanksgiving gift for my niece I came across this book. It’s clever but not suitable for my family now. It’s geared for elementary school kids.

[Erin S. Griffith Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Carbles is losing his marbles

I think this book is really funny. It has lots of funny parts! I also think they used good details.

[Maeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

The part where he lost his marbles... yea that was classic

[Kathleen Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grate

It was hilarious I could not read the book with out laughing I loved it . ! Love it !

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book series! My son loves these books.

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hilarious

[Olivia Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

7/10. I reread it since I had it as a kid. Definitely not in my area of enjoyment anymore.

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read.

[Natalie Wenzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goofy little Thanksgiving read aloud with my youngest comprehension group.

[Kc · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 hour