Mrs. Dole Is Out of Control!

My Weird School Daze #1

by Dan Gutman, Jim Paillot (Illustrator)

With more than 30 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading! In this very first book of the My Weird School Daze series, A.J. and the gang are graduating! But Mrs. Dole, the out-of-control PTA president, is turning the whole thing into a huge ceremony, complete with fireworks, a petting zoo, and a flyover by the Blue Angels! Why is moving up to third grade such a big deal? And what could possibly go wrong? Perfect for reluctant readers and word lovers alike, Dan Gutman’s hugely popular My Weird School chapter book series has something for everyone. Don’t miss any of the hilarious adventures of A.J. and the gang—from Weird, to Weirder, to Weirder-est! This chapter book is an excellent choice to share with children ages 6 to 10 who are ready to read independently. It’s a fun way to keep your child engaged and as a supplement for activity books for children.

Genres: Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Chapter Books, Juvenile, Realistic Fiction, Faith

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

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

[Chasity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh- it was entertaining for my second grader... I get why. Funny, but surface level.

[Gina Weibel · Rating 1 out of 5]

AWful! Oh no! I picked up the entire set from the library, thinking my 2nd grader could charge through them and have a good time. We each read one book and I rounded them all up and returned the lot before he could read any more.

Very much a Diary of a Wimpy Kid wannabe, the character in this book is sassy, rude and sarcastic to the maximum. As an adult, I was cracking up laughing, but I am terrified by how this character states over and over how much he hates school, rudely demeans other students and teachers, and emphasizes how boring and uncool learning/work/manners/rules are. He puts down the smart kids and I do believe the author was sneering while writing the whole series.

I do not want my 2nd grader to relate to the characters in this book any more than he already does. No more sneering, sassy, sarcastic, rude, anti-school remarks, please!

Adults only should read this book...but actually, even they shouldn't.

[ella ☆ any pronouns · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this series when I was in second grade. At the time, I really enjoyed it, and I still have all of the books from this series as well as the other, but looking back on it, this book isn't setting a good example for young kids when it comes to school. When you're younger, you are taught to love and appreciate school. The main character in this book did the opposite of that - he hated school and was so unappreciative of it. It does not portray how we want younger kids to feel about school, and how they should feel about school. I think the reason I didn't realize this when I was younger, is I was a word reader. I would read the page and move on without taking into consideration anything about the characters' emotions or what the author was telling me. If your child is like this, then I don't think they will understand it, but if you are reading it aloud to them, or if they read with purpose (which most don't, just saying), then I don't suggest reading it to them. It sets a bad example for them about what school should be like and feel like for them.

[Theresa Poquis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, because it made my six year old laugh out loud many times; however, it relies on stereotypes (boys hate school, girls love it) and the narrator is quite unlivable. He refers to his friends with unflattering names, professes that he hates school (another outdated, lazy stereotype), and speaks in phrases that don't seem appropriate for a elementary student of the 21st century. We won't be reading the other titles in this series.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book with my daughter and while there were parts that had both of us giggling, I don't approve of the general trope that boys hate school and girls love school. I think it puts such wrong ideas into kids heads.

[Jacqueline Higginbotham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, funny book. Young boys will like it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

My grandson got the first five of these books for Christmas. I had never heard of them so decided to read the first one. It’s cute for kiddos.

[Lais Carvalho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Lais and L.’s Book Club

Second grade is coming to an end and A.J. And his friends are getting ready for an epic graduation ceremony (although they are “just” moving up to grade 3).

As the book is narrated through A.J.’s point of view, you can expect a lot of silliness and second grade misfits lol but I loved how the author use the book to teach some text features along the story.

Downside is the “girl thing” x “boy thing” talk that goes a lot in the plot and as an elementary teacher I don’t see happening that much, thank goodness! (And when it does happen it’s addressed, which doesn’t happen in the book).

Off to book #2

[Juliette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs dole is out of control is a very funny book about a boy (aj) and his friends(ryan who eats anything , even stuff that isnt food ,michle who never ties his shoes and neil the nude kid)

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

AJ and the rest the My Weird School gang are graduating! Graduating from the second grade that is. Mrs. Dole, the PTA president, wants it to be the most over the top amazing graduation ceremony ever. The kids aren't really opposed to a party, but since the aforementioned Mrs. Dole is out of control, it will be a celebration not to be missed.

Lots of kids at my library love this series. I hadn't really felt like I needed to read it until I saw this article in School Library Journal. A father was so shocked by the presence of the word "hate" and other behaviors of the kids in the series. As such he said, "Your book changed my life because now I am going to pay to send my kid to private school to protect him from a society whose morals have been eroded to a level that this kind of acrimonious dribble would even be considered much less popular." Yeesh! This dude is HARSH! Okay, after reading that I had to read this series!

Frankly, I liked it. It's definitely for kids and not a series with a lot of cross over appeal for adults, but the kid in me thought it was pretty funny. Why wouldn't I laugh at the crazy adults who just can't control their emotions. The mother who can't help but spill embarrassing secrets about her son in front of his whole class or the teacher who loves bon bons so much that her students worry she'll explode if she eats anymore (turns out she's just pregnant...no worries).

No, this is not going to be a piece of classic literature. It's never going to win any awards, actually, the book gives you some advice along those lines, "If you hide this book inside one of those Newbery Award-winning books, it will make you look a lot smarter." I think this is a fun, silly book for kids who are reluctant readers and I will continue to recommend it to my kids (not that they need any pushing from me!).

[Melissa Namba · Rating 2 out of 5]

hmmm...not sure how I feel about this series. the kids are in Second grade but it is written above the second grade level. there is misinformation in the book, which might be funny to the advanced reader who knows it is wrong, but might be misleading to those who do not know the information is deliberately wrong.

[Melissa Bezushko · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 5-year-old is enjoying (listening to) this series. It might be a little old for her, but at least (so far) there aren't any "bad guys." And since she's done Magic Tree House, she wanted to did a new series. Geronimo Stilton was a little on the scary/suspenseful side. So here we go!

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the part when it went like "blah blah blah blah blah blah blah".

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and funny. Second graders would love this book.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was strange.

[Sterrett Family · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daniel: My favorite part was when Ryan hid under his desk. I really liked this book.

[Fatma Akyürek Aytekin · Rating 5 out of 5]

2. sınıfın bittiği bu seri de çok güzel. Türkçeye çevrilenlerin sonuna gelmiş bulunduk böylece.

[BookAddict365 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book out loud to my 5 year old. He like it, I did not. A.J. is just unlikable and unkind. He had a very negative attitude towards learning and school. By the end of the book, my apparently easily influenced child was saying that he doesn't like school. Which he has never said in his life.

At one point the school security officer dressed up as a firefighter and LIT HIMSELF ON FIRE in the middle of an assembly. This was to demonstrate stop drop and roll, but COME ON. It was merely followed by a brief statement saying, don't light yourself on fire, and don't light your brother or sister on fire. Later, A.J even started that "fire is fun".

Proceed to the end and at the graduation ceremony, A.J. causes a fire that lights a girl's robe and the straw in the petting zoo on fire. Then they're pregnant teacher faints, they debate about who should slap her and the foreman comes over and "makes out with her". Apparently the CPR is needed for passing out. They never really address it, just keep saying that you should kiss another man's wife.

No substance, but not really humerous either.

[Nape · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple chapter book for young readers. There were a few funny asides in the book, but they get repeated quite a bit and by the end they were pretty old. I don't think I would recommend this for ESL students, as most of the jokes and humor kind of went over their heads. My students didn't seem too interested in it, and couldn't remember any of the major story events when we did a class discussion about it. We read through some of it together and they seemed pretty bored.

Your results may vary, obviously.

Personally speaking, I've read worse books, but I wasn't particularly entertained, either. (For what it's worth, lol.) Like I said, there were a few funny asides and jokes using the footnotes, but none of the characters stood out. Bill Clinton makes a guest appearance and plays the saxophone. Somehow my students knew who he was. (A bunch of Korean 9 year olds?) So, yeah.

Honestly, I'd probably recommend Sideways Stories from Wayside School instead, if you want to read a book about wacky school hijinks. Maybe even Diary of a Wimpy Kid, although it's quite a bit longer than this.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just enough potty humor to make Alice think she's getting away with something. Thanks for the loaner, Bernings! Next in the long line of books to encourage sustained periods of independent reading. Alice stayed up in bed with her flashlight last night to finish it, so it served its purpose well. No lasting literary value but funny, very funny, especially for a 7-year-old. Also, there's a cameo by Bill Clinton.

[Kasey Driskell · Rating 1 out of 5]

My daughter didn’t like this book.
Poor behavior and constant snide, misogynistic comments from the boys. The entire inner monologue is “no one knows why.” And that’s it. No further exploration of problematic portrayals.
Not a single positive character in the whole book. I cringed the whole time I read it to her.
At least we got a chance to discuss some toxic social structures as depicted in a kids book.

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally I didn’t like this book. I found it be, well, ridiculous. However I can see its value as a bridging chapter book and my daughter loved it. My son also liked them as well.

For teachers... this would be a good book for end of the year 2nd grade. It also could be a fun book to discuss y Re used and the main characters constantly doesn’t get them because he takes them literally.

[Kenton Embrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story of the series, "My Weird School Daze," was a goofy little tale that many children can relate to. I believe that most children have those moments where they get embarrassed by their parent or parents. This story ups the tale with the scenario of someone's mom embarrassing them at school.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this series is so funny In Ms dole is out of control OMG this is SO funny She MUST be rich cause it is RARE to get a flyover by the blue angels And are you serious a firework show the PRESIDENT YOU are CRAZY Also a PETTING ZOO OMG OMG OMG And fire ms daisy is pregnant OMG I LOVE THE SERIES MAKE MORE PLEASE

[Catherine Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Students will love this book for the humor and the way the characters interact. The author does a great job of introducing students to vocabulary words and text features while continuing the narrator's point of view. It also has a lot of exagerated dialogue making it a great book for students to practice reading with prosody.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A.J. and the gang are graduating! But the out-of-control PTA president is turning the whole thing into a huge ceremony complete with fireworks, a petting zoo, and a flyover by the Blue Angels! Is moving up to third grade such a big deal? And what could possibly go wrong?

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this with my 6 yo son. The intentionally dopey style of AJ and his Third Grade gang got a couple of laughs from us but this is not a series we'll be running back to. I prefer my "naughty" child characters to have more heart. Junie B., where are you?

[Anna Salvesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really, really, really funny because there's this girl named Mrs. Dole who is the PTA president and she cries all the time- like when her son Ryan is going into 3rd grade and every time she sees him in school. Ryan hid under his chair every time his mom walked in.

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A.J. and the gang are graduating! But Mrs. Dole, the out-of-control PTA president, is turning the whole thing into a huge ceremony, complete with fireworks, a petting zoo, and a flyover by the Blue Angels! Why is moving up to third grade such a big deal? And what could possibly go wrong?

[David Rough · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little too silly, even for young readers. I was a little concerned with the rudeness of some of the characters and the disrespect shown toward adults. I know it is written with sarcasm and fun in mind - I just hope the young readers are mature enough to discern fun from danger.