Charlie Bumpers vs. the Teacher of the Year

Charlie Bumpers #1

by Bill Harley, Adam Gustavson (Illustrator)

Shortly before school starts, Charlie Bumpers learns that he will have the strictest teacher in the whole school for fourth grade. It doesn't matter that she's been named Teacher of the Year. He's still afraid of her. Last year when he was horsing around in the hall, he accidentally hit her in the head with his sneaker (don't ask). How will he survive a year under a teacher who is just waiting for him to make another stupid mistake?

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Humor, Fiction, School, Middle Grade, Juvenile, Childrens

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

A two-time Grammy award-winning artist and recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the RI Council for the Humanities, Bill uses song and story to paint a vibrant and hilarious picture of growing up, schooling and family life. His work spans the generation gap, reminds us of our common humanity and challenges us to be our very best selves. A prolific author and recording artist, Bill tours nationwide as an author, performing artist and keynote speaker.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Bumpers has problems. His little sister Squid (Mabel) talks too much. His big brother Matt knows how to push his buttons, and he has to be in Mrs. Burke's class for 4th grade. She calls her classroom and empire and has this way of snapping her fingers that sounds like Pow! Pow! Pow! And to top it all off his best friend Tommy is in the other 4th grade class with the "nice" teacher. You can't help but fall in love with Charlie. His desk may be messy and he keeps getting into trouble, but he has a kind heart and even the 1st graders know they can come to him for help. How will he ever make it through a whole year in Mrs. Burke's class? How did she ever get voted Teacher of the Year? This is a really great start to a new series. Charlie reminds me a bit of Clementine. The illustrations are reminiscent of those done by Jacqueline Rogers in the Beverly Cleary books. I'll definitely be checking out Charlie vs. the Really Nice Gnome to see what happens next for Charlie Bumpers.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

We elementary librarians need more books like this! Simple, sweet, small, slim. Boys will read it. Most kids will bother to finish because it's not hard to get through or overwhelming to look at ... there are pictures on almost every spread. Not a fantastic work of literary import, but I find my students aren't willing to put in the work to read those.

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really excited to have found this series. It's great for transitional readers - kids who are ready for chapter books, but not necessarily the length or content of longer middle grade books.
This book was full of humor that I know will make kids laugh and want to read more in the series.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting to be all that interested in this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Charlie was a delightful, mischievous character, and I really enjoyed watching him grow and begin to understand how he had to conduct himself to be successful in school. Charlie reminded me a little of Joey Pigza—he really wanted to do the right thing, but somehow he just kept messing up—and I love Joey, so that comparison works in Charlie's favor. This is a light-hearted, funny story with a little hidden depth, and I really enjoyed it!

[Nancy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was adorable and really captured the essence of boys in third or fourth grades. I would definitely recommend this book to my students, especially my reluctant readers.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute middle grade fiction. Charlie is a likeable protagonist. This one won't set the world on fire or even provoke terribly deep thinking, but I'll definitely be recommending it to students.

[Hilary]

School Library Journal September 1, 2013
Review author: Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY
Gr 2-4-When Charlie finds out that his fourth-grade teacher will be Mrs. Burke, Teacher of the Year, he knows that he's in trouble. The previous year, he accidentally hit her in the head with a shoe. He is also a disorganized mess and she is notoriously orderly. Throughout a rough couple of first weeks of school, Charlie struggles to be more organized and to get along with Mrs. Burke. He befriends Hector, a new student from Chile, and is annoyed by know-it-all Samantha Grunsky. While Charlie seems incapable of avoiding mishaps, he also has some very good qualities, like helpfulness, which will have readers cheering him on. The final conversation with Mrs. Burke includes an explanation of her "dry sense of humor," which is a little awkward, but otherwise this is a fast-paced, enjoyable first entry in a new chapter-book series. It's a good choice for those who have finished Andrew Clements's "Jake Drake" books (S & S).-Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

There were a few good reviews for this book, which is a good sign. I picked this review because I liked the fact that it recommends this series for readers who've enjoyed the Jake Drake series -- I think this is a good tool for recommending books to my students. I also agreed with the recommendation for grades 2-4 because there are a wide range of reading abilities, and I think this book would be appropriate and enjoyable for students in those grades, depending on their reading level.

[Judi Paradis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Bumpers is a terrific kid--kind to the new boy in his class, all the pesky first graders, and his good pal Tommy. So it doesn't seem fair when the adults in his life get so angry when he accidentally throws sneakers at heads and roofs, tangles the entire playground in toilet paper, or pulls down a carefully arranged bulletin board. The fact that his teacher seems to hate him makes the beginning of school especially bad. Kids will be pulling for Charlie, and relieved when things finally fall into place for him.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Bumpers will remind you of Hank Zipzer, Henry Huggins, and all those other well-meaning upper elementary boys. He is ultimately a nice kid who doesn't think through his actions well enough. This is a great accessible read for all upper elementary students and will be a definite buy for my library!

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie Bumpers vs. Teacher of the Year does an amazing job of what it's like to be a 4th grader. While a light-hearted story on the shorter side, I was really brought back to what it's like to be at that age where you're just beginning to make your own decisions and not doing the best job. Good stuff.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second and third grade boys will identify with Charlie Bumpers. A cute introductory chapter book for elementary students.

[Jeni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for elementary kids! Funny, down to earth, appropriate, good message!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when you find out that your homeroom teacher is the same one that you hit on the head with your shoe last year? The one who told you, "If I ever see you throw another shoe in school, you will stay in from recess for the rest of your life!" You try to get your parents to have you transferred to another class. Your best friend tells the principal there has been a mistake. And then, you prepare for the worst school year ever.

Charlie is not a bad kid. He is friendly. He does okay on his work. But he is messy, impulsive, and even when he is trying to be helpful, he usually makes things worse. Whether it is trying to borrow a soccer ball from the new gym teacher, fairly judging a foot race, or doing something about the white sneakers that he can't stand - the consequences are never what he expects, or what an adult wants to see.

Reminiscent of Hank Zipzer, Charlie is a likable character with very ordinary issues to to deal with. Readers will identify with problems like an older brother who enjoys teasing him, or a best friend who volunteers him to race a bully, or a mother who buys new school shoes that he doesn't want (just think of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day at the show store).

Perfect middle grade realistic fiction with memorable characters, plenty of humor, and a narrative that is easy to read aloud - thanks to master storyteller/author Bill Harley.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad story, just not as good as others like it. Charlie is impulsive but good-hearted. Thankfully, the teacher of the year redeems herself at the end of the story by taking the time to understand why Charlie makes (what seem like) poor decisions. But honestly the adults in this book don’t show the best side of the teaching profession.

Tags:
School stories
Fourth grade
Bad behavior
New kids
Impulsivity
Family
Bad teachers
Good teachers

[Aimee Leonhard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good grade school story. Nice and easy to read for those still struggling a bit but not a little kid book. I particularly liked the way Harley structured the story with it's "series of unfortunate events" and the family chorus. Satisfying ending, which I think is always important in this level of book.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Charlie: a good kid whose good intentions seem to almost constantly get him in trouble. When he is placed in the class of the teacher who he thinks hates him, he finds out she actually deserves the "Teacher of the Year" title. This is a fun story that most elementary kids (and many older "kids") will enjoy.

[Eileen Winfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Bumpers always seems to be in trouble, but he’s just trying to find solutions to his problems. Unfortunately, they never work out quite the way he plans. Touching and funny, misunderstood boys will definitely see themselves in this story.

[Allison Turkish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the use of the words "hate" and "idiot," I think this book was well-written, funny, and charming.

Charlie is a realistic character and it rang true for me that the teacher he feared was being sarcastic, not scary.

I recommend this for kids 3rd grade and up.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this first book in the Charlie Bumper series! A perfect Elementary school read and I will be recommending this series throughout our district!

[Rylee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It didn’t interest me it had a weird plot line and was boring

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was very good! I’m so glad that Mrs. Burke and Charlie finally got along!

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of like always Abigail but about a boy

[Brittney Buendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so cute! I absolutely adored it.

[Arielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved the book!

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Elspeth’s review: this is the worst book ever!

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book for 3rd or 4th grade readers. My daughter was captivated by the story and loved the humor, yet intentions of the main character. Fun book!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children's Fiction

This was a battle of the books book in fourth grade. I don't remember much more than that except that the teacher in the book snapped really loud.
-July 2022

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun surprise! Our librarian recommended this book. I read it aloud to my kids, and we laughed on every page!!! It was so adorable and funny. We already have the next book ready to read tomorrow. Highly recommend as a read aloud or for reluctant readers. My kids all loved it!

[Kate Puleo Unger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love this series so much. After reading the most recent two books for reviews, I decided we needed to go back to the beginning and read the rest of the books. This book explains how Charlie and Hector met and gives some background on Mrs. Burke's "Empire", which I always thought was a weird name for a classroom.

http://www.momsradius.com/2017/11/juv...

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

O.K. Charlie, Focus

You know, ten year old boys may sometimes be knuckleheads, but they aren't usually complete idiots. I think the writers of chapter books have gotten that message. Even just a few years ago, when I started reading a lot of juvenile fiction, there was a constant stream of fart/butt/poop books. Psycho butts, underpants, armpit farts - the list was endless. Now don't get me wrong. There's usually room for a fart or two; I just don't see potty humor sustaining an entire book. Oddly enough, lots of elementary school boy readers don't either.

As the tide turned so did the books. Fourth grade kids especially became featured players in well plotted, well written, insightful books. Henry Winkler's Hank Zipzer books feature a boy hero and his pals who are engaging and entertaining. Jack Gantos' Joey Pizga books are more serious, but still hit that sweet spot. Kevin Henkes' "The Year of Billy Miller" was a big hit in 2013 and features a bright, decent but shy kid worried about making it in second grade. These are all thoughtful, entertaining books that don't go for cheap laughs.

And that's the long way around to Bill Harley's Charlie Bumpers books. Again, we have a boy getting ready for fourth grade and worried about how he'll measure up to a demanding teacher with a thing for neatness and a memory of accidentally being hit by a sneaker thrown by Charlie. An interesting, honest plot. But we also get a lot more.

Charlie is smart and observant, with good instincts about people and a fundamentally decent outlook on life. He has available, patient and understanding, but still human, parents. He has siblings who are both annoying and loyal in an aggravating sibling way. So, we start off with a solid family vibe. Charlie's pals are the usual range of wise fools, and can be helpful or hopelessly inept as the situation warrants. This all feels real enough to draw a middle elementary school reader in.

Our narrator is Charlie, and he has a pretty dry wit and is just oblivious enough that some of the humor he intends and some is at his expense. His interior monologues can be very realistic; there are some very sharp throwaway lines and observations; there are a lot of grace notes that add authority to the narrative. The conversations among the kids sound authentic, again with that mix of insight and cluelessness that I see as a signature aspect of this age group. And there's no deep meanness here, or actual bad guys. You can root for everyone.

They say kids like to read about characters who are a year or two older than they are, and that sounds right for these books, which would seem to be ideal for confident early chapter book readers. So, good-hearted, sharp and well crafted- a nice possibility.

Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.